How much does a trip to the United States cost?

A tailor-made trip to the United States with travoHolidays starts from about US$3,077 per person for an 8-night Southwest road trip and about US$4,126 per person for a 9-night New York, San Francisco and Yosemite itinerary, based on two sharing and excluding international flights. On top of that, budget for official charges such as the ESTA (US$40.62 as of November 2026) or a visa, and national park fees, which now include a US$100 per-person surcharge for non-residents at 11 popular parks.

Our US package prices

The figures below are travoHolidays package prices, November 2026. They are per person, based on two people sharing, land only (international flights excluded), and they vary by travel date, hotel choice and room type. Your specialist will quote the exact price for your dates.

Both itineraries can be lengthened or reshaped. The road trip links the Grand Canyon with the canyon country of the Southwest, while the city-and-nature trip pairs New York City with San Francisco and Yosemite. You can browse every option on our United States page.

Official entry costs: ESTA and visas

Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries travelling for tourism for 90 days or less need an approved ESTA instead of a visa. A notice published in the US Federal Register on 1 October 2026 set the ESTA fee at US$40.62 per authorisation from 16 October 2026 (if an application is refused, the charge is US$10.62). The US State Department says an ESTA is usually valid for two years, or until your passport expires. Apply only through the official ESTA website run by US Customs and Border Protection, as unofficial sites add their own charges.

Travellers who are not eligible for the Visa Waiver Program need a B1/B2 visitor visa from a US embassy or consulate. Visa application fees, and any additional charges introduced under recent US legislation, are published by the State Department and can change, so check the official visa fee page when you apply.

National park fees and the non-resident surcharge

Most of the big western parks charge an entrance fee valid for seven days. At both the Grand Canyon and Yosemite, the National Park Service lists US$35 per private vehicle, US$30 per motorcycle and US$20 per person for those arriving on foot or by bicycle, with under-16s free.

As of November 2026, non-US residents aged 16 and over pay an extra US$100 per person at 11 parks: Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion. The surcharge also applies on commercial tours. The alternative is the America the Beautiful annual pass, which costs US$250 for non-residents (US$80 for residents) and covers entrance fees, including the surcharge, for the passholder's vehicle or the holder plus three adults where fees are per person. On a trip that includes two or three of these parks, the pass often works out cheaper.

Some famous sights are not covered by park passes. The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island charge no NPS entrance fee, but the official ferry costs US$26 for adults aged 13 and over, US$23 for seniors and US$17 for children aged 4 to 12, according to the park service.

Cost components at a glance

What drives the price, and how to save

• Season: July, August and the main holidays push up hotel rates in cities and near park gateways. May, early June, September and October usually offer better value; see our month-by-month US guide.
• Hotel location: staying inside or right beside a park, or in central Manhattan, costs more than staying a short drive away.
• Trip length and pace: fewer, longer stops cut one-way car-hire charges and domestic flights.
• Park strategy: if you will visit two or more of the 11 surcharge parks, compare the US$250 non-resident pass with paying per park.
• Hotel class: moving between four-star and three-star hotels in New York, San Francisco and Las Vegas changes the total more than most other choices.
• Currency: everything is priced in US dollars (USD), and sales tax is generally added at the till rather than shown in the price.

Getting a firm quote

Published package prices are a starting point. Your specialist can price hotel upgrades, extra nights in Las Vegas or Zion, and pass-versus-per-park options for your exact route. If you are still choosing where to go, our first-time visitor's guide to the US covers routes by trip length. When you are ready, request a tailored quote and we will price it for your dates.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. Federal Register — Certain DHS immigration-related fees: FY2027 adjustments for inflation
2. US Department of State — Visa Waiver Program
3. National Park Service — Nonresident fees
4. National Park Service — Grand Canyon fees and passes
5. National Park Service — Yosemite fees and passes
6. National Park Service — Statue of Liberty fees