Travel After Camp

So...when camp is done and dusted, America and it's vast landscape of hills, canyon, desert, tarmac and water, is yours to go and explore.

When you leave the gates of camp on that final and tearful day, you are on your own. It'll be your responsibility to get yourself back to your departure airport for your return flight home - whenever that may be.

Between the last day of camp and your return flight, this is your time to travel and travel you should. America is a fantastic country with a plethora of things to do and see; so much so that in 5 summers of working at camp and travelling afterwards, I never came close to seeing all 50 states (and probably never will!). This is the first point to bare in mind when thinking about your travels: you cannot and will not see the whole country in one trip, so it's highly advisable not to try!

On the last day of camp, you are likely to be driven to the closest big city or local bus/train station where you will begin your adventure. The good news for you is that travelling by bus or train in the United States is decidedly easy & safe; and also reasonably priced. Bus companies such as Greyhound offer passes which include unlimited travel in certain areas/times and you should pay a visit to their website for further information. Similarly, Amtrak offer a train pass which enables you to travel speedily and easily from city to city and state to state and again, the wise and prepared traveller should visit their website.

Internal flights in the United States are fairly reasonably priced, if booked with enough notice but ultimately, like the airline industry as a whole, hikes in taxes and security surchages have increased the cost of domestic US travel over the past few years. Recommended airlines include Jet Blue and Virgin America. Applicants need not worry about ESTA or visa requirements when travelling within the US; the visa is only required to enter the US on your initial entry. An important point to note is that you are recommended against leaving the US and attempting to apply for re-entry on your J-1 visa if you are into your Grace Period, which begins at the end of your placement. The Grace Period allows you to remain in the US for 30 days or less and you should not exceed your stay as it can affect your future entry into the US.

For safety purposes, we would advise against travelling alone and also advise against hitch-hiking, despite the fact it is legal in a number of States. Always notify friends or family of your whereabouts and keep to areas which are considered safe and use a similar level of caution as you would for any area or situation that is unfamiliar to you.

Please visit our Top 10 places to see, in the travel section of our marketing site for our tips and advice on where to check out, in the US.

Should you wish to be expertly guided around the US and ensure you maximise your time, money and experience, then please also visit Camp America Treks (with Intrepid); where as a Camp America participant you are entitled to 15% discount on over 20+ fantastic treks.