How much does a 2-week trip to the USA cost from the UK? A realistic budget covering flights, hotels, car hire, food, ESTA, insurance and activities.

A two-week trip to the United States is a dream holiday for many families, but one of the biggest planning questions is simple: how much does a holiday to America actually cost?

The answer depends a lot on where you go, how you travel, and what kind of experience you want. Based on our own trips and realistic 2026 prices, these budget ranges give you a solid starting point for planning a two‑week USA trip from the UK, without nasty surprises along the way. For a two‑week trip to the USA from the UK, a realistic 2026 budget is £1,800–£3,500+ per person, depending on destination and travel style. Based on our own trips and current costs, most families will land in the middle of that range rather than at the very low end. The breakdown below gives you a clear idea of what to expect — and helps you plan without underestimating the true cost.

Our trips vary across different parts of America, in summer 2024 we flew into Denver and took a road trip through the Colorado Rockies, rafting and zip lining before continuing north to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, including a helicopter flight over the monument. From there we flew to New York City to explore the sights before returning to the UK.

Over Easter 2026 we travelled to Florida, spending the first week road tripping through Everglades National Park and the Florida Keys, snorkelling in Key Largo and driving down to Key West. The second week was dedicated to theme parks including Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay and Discovery Cove.

These were each very different trips, but together they give a good indication of what families should realistically budget for a two-week trip to the USA from the UK in 2026. This guide shares what we learned while planning our trip, with links to the exact places, tours, and tools we used or considered to make planning easier. Some links are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only ever share experiences we’ve personally used and genuinely enjoyed, and hope these links help you plan a trip that feels exciting and manageable rather than overwhelming.

The Big Cost: Flights

Flights are usually the single biggest cost for a US trip. Prices vary widely depending on destination, airline and time of year, but as a general guide for return economy flights from London:

• New York: £400 – £700 per person

• Florida (Orlando / Tampa): £450 – £800 per person

• Denver : £500 – £900 per person

• California: £500 – £950 per person

School holidays and direct flights can drive cost, so families travelling during peak periods should expect to sit towards the upper end of the range. One way to reduce costs is to consider nearby airports rather than the most obvious destination. For example, on our Florida trip we flew into Tampa, which was significantly cheaper than flying directly into Orlando, and then drove the rest of the way. A short additional drive can sometimes lead to noticeable savings on flights.

Car Rental (essential in the USA)

For many US trips, particularly road trips, car rental is essential. We normally do a price comparison through Trip, which allows you to compare multiple rental companies in one place.

Typical daily rental costs are roughly:

• Compact car: £35 – £55 per day

• Mid-size SUV: £50 – £80 per day

• Large SUV / family vehicle: £80 – £140+ per day

For a two-week trip this usually means £500 – £1,100 total, depending on the vehicle size and insurance package.

For more information on driving in the US, and importantly relating to cost how to manage tolls, see our guide to Driving in the USA: What Europeans Need to Know Before a Road Trip.

Hotels and Accommodation

Accommodation costs vary dramatically depending on location.

A rough guide for current prices:

• Roadside motels: £70 – £120 per night

• Mid-range hotels: £140 – £250 per night

• Major cities like NYC: £250 – £450+ per night

• Theme park hotel with fast passes £600 - £800 a night

One option that can work very well for families is renting a house. During our Florida trip we stayed in a large private home booked through Hotels.com, which is quite common in the Orlando area. We paid £1,355 for one week for a family of three, sharing a 10-bedroom home with three families. The property included a pool, games room and full kitchen, which made it excellent value compared with booking several hotel rooms.

Activities and Tours

Activity costs vary widely depending on the type of trip but can take up a significant chunk of the trip budget.

Typical activity prices might include:

• Airboat tours in the Everglades: £40 – £60 per person

• Rafting or zip lining: £60 – £70 per person

• Snorkelling in the Florida Keys £50 – 60 per person

• Helicopter tour of Mount Rushmore: £100 – £150+ per person

• US sky scraper £30 – 50 per person

Theme parks are a major cost in Florida. Typical ticket budgets are roughly:

• Universal Studios / Islands of Adventure: £300 – £600 per person depending on ticket type, if you want fast passes that is around £100 extra a day per person.

• Discovery Cove: £180 – £260+ per person depending on experienced included

For families visiting several parks, theme park tickets can easily reach £700 – £1,200 per person. Prices vary dramatically across the year, one piece of advice is trying to tag tickets on to Black Friday deals in November can levy some savings.

How much spending money do you need when in America?

If you assume you have pre paid for your activities and tours before you go the main expenses left are food costs and perhaps some souvenirs and outlet shopping. We spent around £250 at the outlets during our recent visit to Florida, we did not spend much on souvenirs. This will vary between families so I recommend you set a budget before you go, it helps to give the kids their own budget to spend on souvenirs ($30 - 50 works well) and let them be in charge (then when its gone, its gone!).

Food Costs

Food costs depend heavily on how often you eat out. Typical daily food budgets might look like this:

Eating out regularly

• Adults: £40 – £70 per day

• Children: £20 – £35 per day

Mix of restaurants and self-catering

• Adults: £20 – £35 per day

• Children: £10 – £20 per day

Self-catering can be easy in the US. Many places we have stayed offered BBQ facilities, which was a fun and surprisingly authentic way to cook meals during a road trip. Alcohol can significantly increase food spending, so it is worth budgeting separately.

How much cash do you need for 2 weeks in America?

Although most places accept cards, it is still useful to carry some cash for tips and small purchases. Tipping is expected in many situations in the US, particularly in restaurants, which we explain in more detail in Tipping in America Explained for British Families. We noticed tipping culture was especially strong in New York City, where it often felt expected even when the service was not particularly good. Outside major cities it felt less noticeable.

On our recent trip to the Florida we used less than £100 in cash across the whole 2 week trip, all that was used on tipping.

It’s also sensible to think about how you protect your money when travelling. After experiencing card fraud ourselves during a trip, we now take extra precautions, which we explain in Credit Card Safety Abroad: How Mine Was Cloned Without Leaving My Sight (And How We Protect Our Money Now).

Essential Extras

There are several costs families often forget when budgeting for a US trip.

ESTA

All UK travellers must apply for an ESTA travel authorisation before entering the United States. This currently costs around $40 per person and is required for adults and children. Our full guide explains this in more detail in ESTA, Visas & Entry Rules for UK Families Visiting the USA.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is essential when visiting the US because healthcare costs are extremely high. We recommend Just Travel Cover, which compares multiple insurers so you can choose the policy that best fits your trip. A two-week worldwide family policy typically costs £80 – £250+, depending on ages and medical history. You can read more in Travel Insurance for the USA: What Families Should Know Before Travelling.

eSIM or Mobile Data

Many families now use an eSIM for mobile data. Expect to pay around £20–£25 for two weeks of data. Without an eSIM, UK roaming charges can reach £5 per day, so this is often a worthwhile saving.

Airport Parking

Airport parking can vary significantly depending on the airport and time of year. Booking early can make a noticeable difference.

For example:

• Gatwick Easter 2026: £77 (long stay)

• Heathrow Summer 2024: £250 (long stay)

So How Much Should You Budget?

Based on our trips and typical travel costs in 2026, a rough guide for a two-week US trip from the UK would be:

Budget trip:
£1,800 – £2,400 per person

Mid-range family trip:
£2,500 – £3,500 per person

Theme park or big city trip:
£3,500 – £4,500+ per person

Final Thoughts for budgeting a 2 week family trip to the United States of America

A two-week trip to the United States is rarely a cheap holiday, but it offers an incredible variety of experiences for families. Whether you are road-tripping through national parks, exploring major cities like New York, or visiting the theme parks of Florida, the key is planning your budget carefully and allowing for the extra costs such as ESTA fees, insurance and activities. With realistic expectations, the USA can deliver one of the most memorable family trips you will ever take.

If you’re still deciding whether the destination works well for children, our guide to Is the USA Good for School-Aged Children? explains why the country can be such a great option for family travel.

Planning a Family Trip to the USA

If you’re planning a family trip to the United States, we’ve created a collection of practical guides based on our own experiences travelling there with a child. In our USA Travel Hub, you’ll find advice on everything from ESTA requirements and travel insurance to driving, healthcare and managing jet lag with kids, alongside destination guides for places we’ve explored including New York, Colorado, South Dakota and Florida. It’s a useful starting point for parents researching how to plan a smooth and enjoyable family trip to the USA.