Last week we covered fun places in Europe to do a quick 23-hour layover, but you can do the same within North America before or after your trip as well!
Since all passengers transiting through the US have to clear immigration and customs, it can be quite annoying for many based outside of the US, but if you’re based in the US and on your way out or in, it’s still very possible to spend a full day in several cities.
Keep in mind that trips to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean are very much international, so the sub-24-hour layover can be invoked in any city that has reliable connectivity out of the country, even on a short trip connecting in a city not normally considered a “gateway”. And you get lounge access with alliance status too!
Finally, on a housekeeping note, I’ve uploaded the database to Google Docs. Feel free to comment below or on the sheet directly if there are any inaccuracies. I’ll also be putting some analysis together once the dataset is more rounded out.
San Diego—SAN
In addition to a really convenient airport, San Diego also has a ton of great beaches.
Probably the American city with the closest airport to its downtown, San Diego has a great local beer scene, Mexican food and a hopping nightlife. While people joke that you can walk to the airport, it’s more likely a 5 minute cab ride. Check out the beaches at Coronado Island, or live music in the Gaslamp district. Also, because the airport isn’t hub-captive, airfare is relatively cheap and you can mix and match flights on different carriers to onward destinations.
San Francisco—SFO
With a number of great parks and over a dozen diverse neighborhoods, it’s hard to get bored in San Francisco. Local tip: Spend a day in the Mission/Castro/Hayes Valley areas instead of Fisherman’s Wharf to get a real taste of the city.
Great food, beautiful scenery and many quirky, walkable neighborhoods. San Francisco has a lot of opportunities to unwind between flights. Since BART takes you right from the city center into the international terminal, it is very possible to stop in for some farm-to-table food, have a few drinks in the Mission and still catch your flight to Asia.
Boston—BOS
Boston has a ton of history, a great old city center and tons of fresh seafood!
With the airport so close to downtown and several redeye departures to Europe, Boston can make for an excellent city to explore on the way over. Check out the Faneuil Hall market or catch a Red Sox game. The Silver line will take right in and out of town, and because this city also isn’t hub captive, you have more airlines options to mix and match if you choose. Avios to Dublin anyone?
Vancouver—YVR
One of the prettiest cities in North America, Vancouver also has a mild climate, so a jog around Stanley Park in January isn’t out of the question.
Revamped with a direct train into downtown for the Olympics, Vancouver has it all. Efficient immigration, great Asian and seafood, wonderful neighborhoods and night life up and down Granville and Davie Streets make Vancouver one of the easiest cities in North America to stretch your legs. Take a run along the waterfront and Stanley Park to take in the views and fresh air before you get back in that cabin again.
Las Vegas—LAS
Take your chances at the tables or a quick helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon!
With McCarran Airport literally right on the Las Vegas Strip, a very short cab ride will get you right next to all the gambling you can handle. Try a few hands of blackjack and catch a show while you wait for your connection. You’ll also be surprised at the connectivity, with a few flights to Asia (Korean) and Europe (BA, Virgin Atlantic and Air Europe) as well as Mexico and Canada.
Runners Up:
- Newark – EWR
- Seattle – SEA
- Chicago – ORD
- Minneapolis – MSP
- Mexico City – MEX
All fantastic cities, with minor issues like winter and/or a longish commute into downtown, but still very doable transfers on public transit and interesting places to see.
Cities to Avoid:
- Houston
- Dallas
- Miami
- Los Angeles
- Washington D.C. (IAD)
- Denver
- Detroit
- Toronto
No shortage of bad cities for a quick layover in North America! These airports are either not known for efficient service, connections can be harrowing or they are either so far from downtown too much time would be eaten by transit or a car rental would be required for even basic mobility. They are possible, but not recommended.
Finally, keep in mind that renting a car or using a shared ride shuttle are possible in almost every city listed (and can be much more attractive in the US than in other countries), but it’s hard to reliably list in a database since everyone has access to different rates (if you’re paying more than $50, reach out in the comments to get some help!) and rideshares are often quote-based and take a variable amount of time and usually try to pick you up 3-4 hours before your flight, negating the value of this type of layover.
