The United States is organized as fifty states, and most first trips only use two or three of them. Distances that look modest on a map of Europe are domestic flights here. New York to Chicago is a short hop in the air and a lost morning once you add the airport. New York to Los Angeles is five hours flying plus a time change. English is the working language in most of the country; Spanish is widely used across the south and southwest, including on official signs and at counters.
The walkable cities sit mostly on the coasts and the Great Lakes. Between them, the usual tool is a plane or a rented car. Amtrak is serious on the Northeast Corridor between Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, and much thinner everywhere else. National parks are their own holiday. Several well-known ones have dropped timed vehicle entry for 2026, though Rocky Mountain still uses a reservation in the middle of the day in summer. Check the park you are actually visiting rather than a general rule.
Sales tax is added at the register, not printed on the shelf. Tips are how restaurant staff are paid. A credit card works almost everywhere; some small counters still prefer cash. Pack for the climate on your ticket. Florida in August and Colorado in August are different countries that share a passport.
