New York is closer than most people think. Here's what it actually takes to get here from wherever you are, so you can plan your Sing with the Stars night in the city.
At a Glance
| Where You're Coming From | Round Trip |
|---|---|
| Northeast (Boston, DC, Philly, Baltimore) | Under $30 |
| South (Florida, Georgia, Carolinas) | Under $80 |
| Midwest (Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, St. Louis) | Under $100 |
| Texas (Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio) | Under $100 |
| Mountain West (Denver, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City) | Under $120 |
| West Coast (LA, SF, Seattle, Portland, San Diego) | Under $180 |
A full weekend in the city, including where you sleep and what you eat, runs many people $100 to $300 all in. Details on every region below.
From the Northeast: Under $30
Boston. DC. Philly. Baltimore.
Buses run every hour for less than a dinner out and drop you in the middle of Midtown. DC, Philly, and Baltimore fares run $15-25 round trip on FlixBus and Greyhound if you book a few days ahead. Boston is slightly higher at $35-40 each way. You walk on, sit down, and step off in Midtown. No airport, no security line, no bag fees. Book Tuesday through Thursday for the lowest fares.
Where to book: flixbus.com or greyhound.com
From the South: Under $80
Florida. Georgia. The Carolinas.
Spirit and Frontier fly these routes constantly. Atlanta to NYC goes for around $60-76 round trip with a little flexibility. Miami and Orlando regularly come in at $70-80. Book six weeks out, fly on a Tuesday or Wednesday, and choose Newark (EWR) over JFK when given the option. Newark is almost always the better fare and gets you to Midtown just as fast via AirTrain.
Where to book: Google Flights, then book directly on the airline's site.
From the Midwest: Under $100
Chicago. Detroit. Cleveland. St. Louis.
Flights on this corridor run $75-100 round trip with any flexibility on dates. Detroit consistently comes in under $90. Chicago regularly lands in the same range on Spirit and Frontier. Book six weeks out on a Tuesday or Wednesday for the best numbers.
Where to book: Google Flights, then book directly on the airline's site.
From Texas: Under $100
Dallas. Houston. Austin. San Antonio.
Dallas to NYC runs $75-100 round trip on Spirit and Frontier with a little flexibility. Houston is closer to $90-120. Southwest is also worth checking here because they include two free checked bags, which closes the gap against budget carriers fast once you factor in bag fees. Search Southwest separately since they don't appear on Google Flights or Kayak.
Where to book: southwest.com and Google Flights side by side.
From the Mountain West: Under $120
Denver. Phoenix. Las Vegas. Salt Lake City.
Frontier is based in Denver and runs some of the lowest fares in the country on this route. Denver to NYC regularly comes in at $80-110 round trip. Phoenix and Las Vegas land in the same range. Salt Lake City runs slightly higher. Book six weeks out on a Tuesday or Wednesday for the best numbers.
Where to book: Google Flights, then book directly on the airline's site.
From the West Coast: Under $180
Los Angeles. San Francisco. Seattle. Portland. San Diego.
JetBlue and Alaska Airlines run these routes constantly, and both run flash sales worth watching. LA to NYC regularly dips to $150-170 round trip. The flight is five hours. Set a Google Flights price alert on your route today and forget about it. When it hits your number, book within 24 hours because those prices move fast.
Where to book: Set a Google Flights alert today. jetblue.com and alaskaair.com for direct booking.
5 Ways to Bring That Number Down
1. Fly into Newark (EWR).
Almost always $20-40 less than JFK or LaGuardia. The AirTrain connects directly to NJ Transit and gets you to Penn Station in about 30 minutes.
2. Book six weeks out on a Tuesday or Wednesday departure.
Midweek is consistently the lowest point on the pricing curve for both booking and flying. This one habit alone can move the number more than anything else on this list.
3. Search in incognito mode.
Some travelers report seeing prices shift after repeated searches on the same route. An incognito browser window takes two seconds and keeps things clean.
4. Set a Google Flights price alert.
Search your route, click the bell icon, and forget about it. When the fare drops you get an email. A lot of people end up booking a trip they weren't actively planning because the alert made it a simple yes or no decision.
5. Check your credit card points.
Chase Sapphire, Amex Gold, Amex Platinum, and Capital One Venture all transfer points to airline partners. A lot of people are sitting on enough points for a free round trip and haven't checked in a while. Worth two minutes to log in and look.
Already Planning a Trip to New York?
Many guests from out of town plan their Sing with the Stars night around an existing trip, whether that's a work trip where travel is already covered, a visit to friends, or another reason they're already heading this way. Adding an evening at Sing with the Stars to a trip you're already taking is an easy yes. The travel details are already sorted.
Most Sing with the Stars events run 5-7 PM or 8-10 PM. Guests in the Northeast or a short flight away can head home the same night if they prefer and are often back by 1 or 2 AM at the latest. A weekend trip is great, but it's not the only way to make your night happen.
What a Weekend Actually Takes
- Getting here: $30-180 round trip depending on where you're coming from
- Staying: $0 if you're with a friend. $45-60 per night for a hostel bunk in Manhattan. Split an Airbnb in Brooklyn three ways and it's around $50 per person per night.
- Getting around: $2.90 per subway ride. It goes everywhere. You don't need a cab.
- Eating: $15-25 per day eating like a New Yorker. Street food, delis, bodegas, pizza slices. Some of the best food in the world at prices that will surprise you.
A two-night weekend, all in: many people land somewhere between $100 and $300.
And if you prefer premium air travel, boutique hotels, and reservations at great restaurants, New York of course delivers on that too.
The Only Thing Left to Do
Set a Google Flights alert for your route today. When the fare drops to a number that feels right, say yes. And if you have any questions about planning your visit, just reply to this message.