How much to budget for a trip to the USA: planning a 2- or 3-week road trip
Flights, cars, lodging, meals, park passes: itemized ranges and three sample budgets for two people traveling 15 or 21 days, based on October 2026 data.
By Erika Müller · · 7 min read
A two-week trip to the United States costs between $2,750 and $7,700 for 2 people, depending on your travel style and the season. The price of a U.S. trip depends on every logistical choice: a low-season flight does not cost the same as one in July, an NPS campground is not a lodge, and national parks are covered by an $80 pass. Here is a cost breakdown with ranges based on October 2026 prices.
How much does a trip to the USA cost for 2 people? The range by travel style
The three travel styles below define the ranges that follow. Shoestring: low-season flights, NPS campgrounds, supermarket groceries, and picnics. Mid-range: standard flights, motels, and a few restaurant dinners. Comfort: direct high-season flights, NPS lodges, and daily sit-down restaurant meals.
The table below summarizes the costs for 2 people over 15 days. At the indicative October 2026 exchange rate, 1 euro is worth about $1.10. Exchange rates fluctuate and can change the budget by 10% to 15%.
| Category | Shoestring budget | Mid-range budget | Comfort budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round-trip flights (x2) | $990-$1,430 | $1,540-$1,980 | $1,980-$2,640 |
| ESTA + insurance | $154-$275 | $154-$275 | $154-$275 |
| Car + gas | $935-$1,210 | $935-$1,210 | $1,100-$1,540 |
| Lodging (14 nights) | $253-$462 | $847-$1,595 | $1,705-$4,180 |
| Meals + tips | $605-$825 | $1,100-$1,540 | $2,090-$2,970 |
| Activities + park entrance fees | $165-$330 | $440-$660 | $660-$1,100 |
| Total (2 people, 15 days) | ~$2,750-$3,850 | ~$4,950-$6,050 | ~$7,700 and up |
Whether you follow a 15-day itinerary in the American West or a 3-week road trip, variable costs such as lodging, meals, and gas increase with the length of the trip, while flights and the ESTA stay the same.
Flights, ESTA, and travel insurance: what you pay before leaving
Round-trip flights from France. In the low season (March, April, September, and October), expect to pay $495 to $715 per person for a flight with a layover. Outside peak periods, the range rises to $770-$990. In July, direct flights cost $990-$1,320 per person (2025 data). Booking 3 to 6 months ahead usually helps you find better fares. An open-jaw ticket, arriving in Los Angeles and departing from Las Vegas or San Francisco, optimizes your itinerary without backtracking.
ESTA. The authorization has cost $21 per person since May 2023, or $42 for 2 people. It is valid for 2 years for stays of up to 90 days. Apply at esta.cbp.dhs.gov, the only official website, at least 72 hours before departure. Third-party sites charge fees without adding any value.
Travel insurance. A medical emergency in the United States can cost more than $100,000. Budget $55 to $165 per person, or $110-$330 for 2 people over 15 days. Our article on travel insurance for the United States covers medical coverage limits and the plans worth comparing.
Cars, gas, and lodging: the three main road-trip costs
Car rental. A standard sedan in Los Angeles or Las Vegas costs $50-$80 per day, or $750-$1,200 for 15 days before CDW insurance. If your credit card does not cover the deductible, add $15-$25 per day. Our guide to renting a car in the United States explains insurance terms and comparison-site pitfalls.
Gas. For a 1,865-mile road trip in the West, budget $200 to $350 depending on the vehicle. Gas stations inside the parks charge more than those in gateway towns, so fill up before entering. For current prices per gallon, our tracker of gas prices by state is updated regularly.
Lodging. Roadside motels outside park areas cost $60-$100 per night. In gateway towns (Springdale for Zion, Tusayan for the Grand Canyon, and Moab for Arches), prices rise to $100-$180 in high season. NPS lodges (Bright Angel Lodge at the Grand Canyon and Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone) charge $120-$300 per night and require reservations 6 to 12 months in advance. NPS campgrounds cost $15-$30 per night; reservations are made through recreation.gov and are often necessary months ahead at Yosemite or Zion during the season. Renting an RV ($150-$250 per day) eliminates the lodging category and becomes cost-effective after about ten days.
Meals, tips, and activities: your daily on-the-ground budget
Meals. Budget $25-$35 per person per day for picnics and fast food. For a mid-range trip with diners and a few sit-down restaurants, plan on $40-$55. For a comfort trip, $70-$100. Displayed prices do not include sales tax: 7.25% in California and 8.25% in Nevada. Add an 8% to 12% cushion to all non-NPS costs.
Tips. At a sit-down restaurant, 15% to 20% of the pre-tax bill is standard, not an optional reward. With one sit-down meal per day for 2 people, budget $150 to $250 over 15 days. To find out who should receive a tip, how much to leave, and when you can decline, our article on phones, payments, and tipping in the United States covers the subject in detail.
Activities. A helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon costs $150-$400 per person, while a guided 4x4 tour in Monument Valley costs about $70-$100. Over 15 days, plan on $200-$400 per person for paid activities, excluding park entrance fees.
The America the Beautiful Pass and park entrance fees: the often-overlooked budget lever
Without the pass, entering each national park costs $30-$35 per vehicle. A Utah-Arizona itinerary including Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, and the Grand Canyon adds up to $155-$175 in individual entrance fees.
The America the Beautiful Pass costs $80 per vehicle per year and covers all NPS federal lands. It pays for itself as soon as you visit your third fee-based park. On a 5- to 6-park Utah-Arizona road trip, the savings reach $110-$130. Buy it at any park entrance or at store.usgs.gov.
The pass covers entrance fees, not campgrounds, which must be booked separately through recreation.gov. Details on special cases (national monuments, federal recreation areas, and federal beaches) can be found in our guide to the America the Beautiful Pass.
Our take: a shoestring budget is possible, and the park pass is essential from the third park onward
Shoestring couple, 15 days: budget $2,750-$3,850 by combining low-season flights ($495-$715 per person), NPS campgrounds ($15-$30 per night), and the America the Beautiful Pass ($80). The main challenge is not the budget but booking: Yosemite and Zion fill up 4 to 6 months ahead in summer.
Mid-range couple, 15 days: $4,950-$6,050 (standard flights, motels, a few restaurant meals, and a park pass). This is the most common profile among French-speaking road trippers.
Comfort couple, 15 days: $7,700 and up (direct high-season flights, NPS lodges, and daily sit-down restaurant meals).
What we do not recommend: traveling in July on a shoestring budget. Lodging costs 50% more than in March or September, and inexpensive campgrounds are booked months ahead.
For 21 days: add $1,100-$1,650 to a shoestring budget, or $1,650-$2,200 to a mid-range budget. Flights and the ESTA remain unchanged.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the ESTA cost in 2026?
The ESTA has cost $21 per person since May 2023, or $42 for 2 people. It is valid for 2 years and multiple stays of up to 90 days.
Is the America the Beautiful Pass worth it for a national parks road trip?
The America the Beautiful Pass is worthwhile as soon as you visit your third fee-based park. For a 5- to 6-park Utah-Arizona itinerary, it saves about $110-$130 compared with individual entrance fees, for a cost of $80 per vehicle.
How much should we budget for tips over 15 days?
Tips at sit-down restaurants (15% to 20% before tax) come to $150-$250 for 2 people over 15 days, assuming one sit-down meal per day.
What budget do 2 people need for 3 weeks in the USA?
For 3 weeks in the USA, budget an additional $1,320-$2,200 over a 15-day trip, depending on your travel style, mainly for lodging, meals, and gas. Flights and the ESTA remain unchanged.
Can you take a road trip in the United States on a shoestring budget?
A road trip in the United States is possible from $2,750 for 2 people over 15 days by combining low-season flights, NPS campgrounds ($15-$30 per night), picnics, and the America the Beautiful Pass. The key is to book campgrounds 4 to 6 months ahead.