5 Exotic Destinations Americans Can Fly To Without A Passport

Applying for a passport and dealing with the logistics of a trip abroad might take away from the spontaneity of a trip. Fortunately, there are plenty of destinations that United States citizens can get to without having one in their pocket. Several airlines serve these cities, meaning that loyalty program members will also have an opportunity to earn some miles on their trips to various destinations outside of mainland US.
5 Alaska
Major commercial airports: 2
Major commercial airlines serving flights between mainland US and Alaska:
Alaska Airlines
Delta Air Lines
United Airlines
American Airlines
Calling Alaska an exotic destination might be atypical, but there is some truth to it. After all, the state, nicknamed ‘The Last Frontier,’ has plenty of sites to explore, offering breathtaking views of nature seemingly wherever you turn your head.
Getting to Alaska is relatively straightforward. The state is served by two major airports, Anchorage Ted Stevens International Airport (ANC) and Fairbanks International Airport (FAI). According to the Alaskan Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF), the two airports comprise the Alaska International Airport System.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace I Simple Flying
Data from the aviation analytics company Cirium showed that of all of the major commercial airlines serving Alaska, Alaska Airlines is the largest in terms of its flight scheduled in March 2024. In total, the airline has scheduled 3,077 flights, which originate from the US and end up landing in Alaska during the month.
Related Alaska Airlines Flight Map 2024: The Airline’s Top Routes & Destinations Alaska Airlines’ three busiest hopes are on the west coast and are separated by relatively short distances.
4 Guam
Major commercial airports: 1
Major commercial airlines serving flights between mainland US and Guam:
United Airlines
As pointed out by Guam Tourism, the island is a difficult place to summarize in just a few words since it is much more than miles of sandy beaches, waterfalls, coconut trees, and coral reefs. There are unparalleled sunsets, starry night skies, and rolling mountains and valleys ready to be explored by US citizens.
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
Interestingly, only United Airlines operates domestic flights from/to Guam Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport (GUM), connecting the airport with two destinations during the month: Honolulu Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and Saipan International Airport (SPN).
However, if you do have a passport, there are plenty of exciting destinations to connect to from GUM, including cities in Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Micronesia, and Palau. In total, the airport has 659 monthly one-way flights scheduled during the month.
3 Puerto Rico
Major commercial airports: 3
Major commercial airlines serving flights between mainland US and Puerto Rico:
JetBlue
Frontier Airlines
Spirit Airlines
American Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Delta Air Lines
United Airlines
Avelo Airlines
Sun Country Airlines
Unlike the previous two entrants, whose shores touch the Pacific Ocean, Puerto Rico’s beaches greet the waters of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, with plenty of airlines serving the three major airports on the island.
These are Rafael Hernández International Airport (BQN), Mercedita International Airport (PSE), and the largest, Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport (SJU), where the majority of the island’s commercial flights land.
Photo: The Toidi | Shutterstock
Increasing numbers of airlines are focusing on adding capacity to Puerto Rico. For example, Frontier Airlines announced it would open a crew base at SJU, generating nearly $84 million annually in local wages. The low-cost carrier said it was the fastest-growing airline in Puerto Rico, offering flights from all three airports on the island.
2 Hawaii
Major commercial airports: 3
Major commercial airlines serving flights between mainland US and Hawaii:
Hawaiian Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Alaska Airlines
United Airlines
Delta Air Lines
American Airlines
Hawaii is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places to visit without a passport as a US citizen since the islands offer seemingly everything one would want from a weeks-long holiday or a quick weekend getaway.
Surprisingly, not many airlines serve routes to the islands in March, with the country’s major low-cost carriers, except Southwest Airlines, being absent from the three major airports serving three different Hawaii islands.
Photo: Kent Raney | Shutterstock
What is unique about flights to Hawaii is that some carriers, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, and United Airlines, deploy widebody aircraft, such as the Boeing 777, to connect the islands with the mainland US. Oftentimes, these prominent US-based airlines save their twin-aisle aircraft for international flights.
1 US Virgin Islands
Major commercial airports: 2
Major commercial airlines serving flights between mainland US and US Virgin Islands:
American Airlines
Spirit Airlines
Delta Air Lines
United Airlines
JetBlue
Sun Country Airlines
Frontier Airlines
Last on the list are the US Virgin Islands, located relatively close to Puerto Rico. Still, the islands have their