United States travel resources

Before you go

• Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries need an approved ESTA before travelling for up to 90 days; most other nationalities need a visa, but Canadian citizens generally do not. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) runs the official ESTA site. Its FAQ says private services do not speed up approval, and that third-party websites are not endorsed by, associated with or affiliated with the Department of Homeland Security or the US government. Approvals are typically granted for two years or until the passport expires, whichever is sooner, and a new passport needs a new ESTA. You need an e-passport. CBP’s ESTA page says an ESTA does not determine whether you are admissible: CBP officers decide on arrival.
• Report currency or monetary instruments of more than US$10,000 in total when you enter or leave the United States. CBP’s page on money says the threshold applies to a family or group collectively, not per person. You file FinCEN Form 105, electronically or on paper, and failing to file risks forfeiture and seizure of the money, and sometimes fines or imprisonment.
• Visitors from outside the US pay more at 11 national parks. The National Park Service’s nonresident fees page lists them as Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion. Each non-resident aged 16 or over pays a per-person fee on top of the standard entrance fee. NPS’s passes page says the nonresident fee does not apply with the Non-Resident Annual Pass, and that all other America the Beautiful passes are for US citizens and residents only. From 2026, fee-free days are for US residents only.
• Grand Canyon National Park needs no reservation or timed entry, according to the park. It says entrance fees are paid at the entrance stations, which accept credit and debit cards and America the Beautiful passes but not cash. You can also buy an entrance pass with cash or a card from businesses in Tusayan, the gateway town, or a private vehicle pass online from recreation.gov.
• On domestic flights, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) lists a foreign government-issued passport among the IDs it accepts at checkpoints, so your passport works as ID and you do not need a REAL ID driving licence.

Top destinations in the United States

• New York City: official site · Wikivoyage
• San Francisco: Wikivoyage
• Las Vegas: official site · Wikivoyage
• Grand Canyon: official site · Wikivoyage
• Hawaii: Wikivoyage

Travel resources

• Visit the USA (Brand USA)
• USA.gov Tourism
• National Park Service
• Amtrak (trains)
• Greyhound (buses)

Travel tips

1. In an emergency call 911 for an ambulance, the fire brigade or the police. The National 911 Program, run by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and linked in the quick facts, says to call 911 immediately in an emergency, and GOV.UK lists 911 for ambulance, fire and police.
2. Take out travel insurance that covers medical treatment. GOV.UK’s health advice says treatment is expensive, there are no special arrangements for British visitors and some hospitals ask non-US residents for a deposit. It also says UK prescriptions are not valid in the US.
3. Don’t leave your passport or valuables in a rental car, especially not in the boot. GOV.UK’s safety advice says gangs may target vehicles driven by people who look like tourists, and Canada’s travel advice warns of criminals who signal drivers leaving airports to stop, then grab exposed valuables. It advises driving slowly to a petrol station, police station or other safe and populated area instead of pulling over.
4. The drinking age is 21. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says all states have adopted a minimum legal drinking age of 21, and that driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher is illegal in every state except Utah, where the limit is .05. Cannabis is still an illegal drug under federal law, and GOV.UK says illegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties.
5. At the Grand Canyon, keep at least six feet (2 m) from the edge, stay on designated trails and never throw anything over the rim. The park’s safety page also gives the South Rim’s elevation as 7,000 feet (2,135 m) and advises drinking water or electrolyte drinks and resting in the shade in summer.
6. The National Hurricane Center gives the Atlantic hurricane season as 1 June to 30 November and the eastern Pacific season as 15 May to 30 November. GOV.UK says hurricanes can affect coastal regions. Follow local evacuation orders and ask your airline about disruption.