How to Get Around Without a Car — Public Transit & Apps
Complete guide on buses, trains, subway, Uber, and Lyft to get around the U.S. without needing a car.
Most major cities have buses and subway. Google Maps is your best tool — type your destination and select the public transit icon. Local agency apps (MTA in NY, CTA in Chicago, METRO in Houston, LACMTA in LA, WMATA in DC) also offer real-time routes. A monthly pass costs $30-$130 depending on the city.
To travel between cities without a car: Greyhound (greyhound.com) covers 2,400+ destinations and is most established. Flixbus (flixbus.com) has tickets from $1 with modern buses. Megabus (us.megabus.com) is affordable in the East and Midwest. No federal ID needed — you can use a foreign passport or consular ID.
Amtrak (amtrak.com) connects 500+ cities in 46 states. It's more comfortable than the bus and cheaper than flying for short routes. Most popular corridors: Northeast (Boston-NY-DC), Pacific Surfliner (LA-San Diego), Coast Starlight (LA-Seattle). No federal ID needed to buy tickets or board.
As a passenger, you only need the app and a payment method (card, PayPal, or cash in some cities). Download Uber (uber.com) or Lyft (lyft.com). You can pay with a prepaid debit card if you don't have a bank account. UberX is the most economical option. Share rides with UberPool/Lyft Shared to save more.
For domestic flights: Spirit, Frontier, and Southwest are the cheapest airlines. Compare prices on Google Flights (flights.google.com). To fly, you need a valid ID — foreign passport works at all airports. If you have a REAL ID compliant state driver's license, you can also use it. Buy 3-6 weeks ahead for best prices.