As travelers gear up for spring break or begin making early summer vacation plans, many find that rising costs make getaways feel out of reach. However, despite elevated airline prices in recent years, budget-conscious travelers still have options for long-distance domestic travel. Some flight routes spanning over 1,800 miles continue to offer surprisingly affordable fares, providing opportunities to explore more distant destinations without breaking the bank.
To help travelers find the best deals, Upgraded Points analyzed domestic airfare data to identify the cheapest long-distance flights across the U.S. By looking at routes exceeding 1,800 miles, the analysis highlights the most budget-friendly ways to cross the country while still enjoying a change of scenery. Whether you’re hoping for a beach escape, a city adventure, or a visit to family and friends, these routes can help make travel more affordable, even as expenses elsewhere continue to rise.
Recent Trends in Long-Distance Airfares
After rising sharply post-COVID, long-distance airfares have decreased. Image Credit: Upgraded Points
Long-distance airfares have moderated over the past 2 years following their post-COVID-19 surges. In 2022, airfare prices for one-way domestic trips over 1,800 miles spiked due to pent-up demand and rising fuel costs, reaching a high of $400 in Q2 2022. However, fares have steadily declined since then, with the most recent data showing an average fare of $326 in the second half of 2024. This drop signals a more budget-friendly environment for travelers booking cross-country trips.
Looking at longer-term trends, airfare prices are actually more affordable today than they were a decade ago when adjusted for inflation. In 2014, the average inflation-adjusted airfare for long-distance domestic flights hovered around $420 per one-way ticket, compared to the $326 we see today. While travelers may feel the pinch of rising costs in other areas, airfare — at least for longer routes — has become relatively cheaper in real terms over the past 10 years.
The Cheapest U.S. Flight Segments Over 1,800 Miles
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For travelers looking to cover long distances without overspending, several flight routes offer exceptionally low fares. The most affordable route is between Las Vegas (LAS) and Sanford, Florida (SFB), where the average one-way fare is just $92 for a journey spanning 2,034 miles. Allegiant Air dominates this route, providing budget-friendly options for those traveling between Florida and Nevada.
Following closely behind is another Sanford trip — the Provo, Utah (PVU) to Sanford (SFB) route — with an average fare of just $100. Again, Allegiant Air operates this low-cost connection, making it an affordable choice for travelers between Utah and Florida. Among the more well-known coast-to-coast options, Newark, NJ (EWR) to Oakland, CA (OAK) stands out with an average fare of $149, primarily serviced by Spirit Airlines.
Other affordable long-haul routes include Akron-Canton, OH (CAK) to Las Vegas (LAS) ($169) and Chicago (MDW) to San Francisco (SFO) ($170). Notably, Southwest Airlines appears multiple times on the list, competing with low-cost carriers like Allegiant, Breeze, and Spirit. For those traveling between the Los Angeles area and Florida, Southwest offers several relatively low-cost options at around $200 or less each way.
With a mix of major cities and less conventional airport pairings, these routes demonstrate that long-distance travel can still be budget-friendly, especially when flying with lower-cost carriers.
This analysis was conducted by Upgraded Points — a company that compares travel and credit card rewards programs — using data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. For a complete breakdown of average airfares for more than 1,000 long-distance domestic flight routes in the U.S. (over 1,800 miles), see the original post: The Cheapest Long-Distance Flights in the U.S.
Methodology
Photo Credit: Nieuwland Photography / Shutterstock
This study uses data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ Domestic Airline Consumer Airfare Report. The analysis focuses on one-way trips exceeding 1,800 miles, aggregated as directionless airport pairs. Airfares include nonstop and connecting itineraries and are calculated using a weighted average of passenger volume from Q4 2023 to Q3 2024, the latest available data. Distance is measured as the nonstop mileage, regardless of whether a nonstop flight is available.
To improve relevance, only segments averaging at least 10 passengers per day with available fare data were included. For each segment, the airline with the greatest market share (largest carrier) and the airline offering the lowest average fare (lowest-cost carrier) were identified based on the most recent quarter of available data. For additional context, the airfare data for all segments was aggregated at the airport level to highlight which airports tend to offer the lowest fares for long-distance flights.
For complete results, see The Cheapest Long-Distance Flights in the U.S. on Upgraded Points.
