Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on Upgraded Points.
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, we analyzed domestic airfare data to identify the cheapest long-distance flights across the U.S.
By looking at routes exceeding 1,800 miles, we highlight 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.
The following are the cheapest long-distance domestic flight routes (over 1,800 miles) in the U.S. The analysis was conducted using data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. For more information on the data, see the methodology section.
20. Las Vegas, NV (LAS) – Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL)
- Average One-Way Fare: $225.85
- One-Way Distance: 2,174 miles
- Average Passengers per Day: 893
- Largest Carrier: Spirit Airlines
- Lowest-Cost Carrier: Spirit Airlines
19. Columbus, OH (CMH) – Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
- Average One-Way Fare: $223.94
- One-Way Distance: 1,995 miles
- Average Passengers per Day: 510
- Largest Carrier: Spirit Airlines
- Lowest-Cost Carrier: Spirit Airlines
18. Chicago, IL (ORD) – Oakland, CA (OAK)
- Average One-Way Fare: $222.37
- One-Way Distance: 1,855 miles
- Average Passengers per Day: 56
- Largest Carrier: Southwest Airlines
- Lowest-Cost Carrier: Spirit Airlines
17. Charleston, SC (CHS) – Long Beach, CA (LGB)
- Average One-Way Fare: $221.23
- One-Way Distance: 2,206 miles
- Average Passengers per Day: 13
- Largest Carrier: Southwest Airlines
- Lowest-Cost Carrier: Southwest Airlines
16. Chicago, IL (MDW) – Oakland, CA (OAK)
- Average One-Way Fare: $220.20
- One-Way Distance: 1,855 miles
- Average Passengers per Day: 361
- Largest Carrier: Southwest Airlines
- Lowest-Cost Carrier: Southwest Airlines
15. Los Angeles, CA (LAX) – Pittsburgh, PA (PIT)
- Average One-Way Fare: $219.46
- One-Way Distance: 2,136 miles
- Average Passengers per Day: 539
- Largest Carrier: Spirit Airlines
- Lowest-Cost Carrier: Spirit Airlines
14. Long Beach, CA (LGB) – Tampa, FL (TPA)
- Average One-Way Fare: $217.07
- One-Way Distance: 2,158 miles
- Average Passengers per Day: 31
- Largest Carrier: Southwest Airlines
- Lowest-Cost Carrier: Delta Air Lines
13. Cleveland, OH (CLE) to Las Vegas, NV (LAS)
- Average One-Way Fare: $211.42
- One-Way Distance: 1,846 miles
- Average Passengers per Day: 813
- Largest Carrier: Frontier Airlines
- Lowest-Cost Carrier: Frontier Airlines
12. Cleveland, OH (CLE) – Long Beach, CA (LGB)
- Average One-Way Fare: $209.97
- One-Way Distance: 2,073 miles
- Average Passengers per Day: 28
- Largest Carrier: Southwest Airlines
- Lowest-Cost Carrier: Southwest Airlines
11. Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL) – Phoenix, AZ (PHX)
- Average One-Way Fare: $208.42
- One-Way Distance: 1,972 miles
- Average Passengers per Day: 534
- Largest Carrier: Spirit Airlines
- Lowest-Cost Carrier: Spirit Airlines
10. Akron-Canton, OH (CAK) – Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
- Average One-Way Fare: $204.26
- One-Way Distance: 2,073 miles
- Average Passengers per Day: 28
- Largest Carrier: Breeze
- Lowest-Cost Carrier: Breeze
9. Asheville, NC (AVL) – Las Vegas, NV (LAS)
- Average One-Way Fare: $201.76
- One-Way Distance: 1,824 miles
- Average Passengers per Day: 116
- Largest Carrier: Allegiant Air
- Lowest-Cost Carrier: Allegiant Air
8. Long Beach, CA (LGB) – Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL)
- Average One-Way Fare: $200.84
- One-Way Distance: 2,343 miles
- Average Passengers per Day: 24
- Largest Carrier: Southwest Airlines
- Lowest-Cost Carrier: Delta Air Lines
7. Long Beach, CA (LGB) – Orlando, FL (MCO)
- Average One-Way Fare: $200.19
- One-Way Distance: 2,218 miles
- Average Passengers per Day: 86
- Largest Carrier: Southwest Airlines
- Lowest-Cost Carrier: Southwest Airlines
6. Long Beach, CA (LGB) – Miami, FL (MIA)
- Average One-Way Fare: $191.45
- One-Way Distance: 2,343 miles
- Average Passengers per Day: 17
- Largest Carrier: Southwest Airlines
- Lowest-Cost Carrier: Southwest Airlines
5. Chicago, IL (MDW) – San Francisco, CA (SFO)
- Average One-Way Fare: $169.99
- One-Way Distance: 1,855 miles
- Average Passengers per Day: 245
- Largest Carrier: Southwest Airlines
- Lowest-Cost Carrier: Frontier Airlines
4. Akron-Canton, OH (CAK) – Las Vegas, NV (LAS)
- Average One-Way Fare: $169.20
- One-Way Distance: 1,846 miles
- Average Passengers per Day: 90
- Largest Carrier: Breeze
- Lowest-Cost Carrier: Breeze
3. Newark, NJ (EWR) – Oakland, CA (OAK)
- Average One-Way Fare: $148.61
- One-Way Distance: 2,614 miles
- Average Passengers per Day: 175
- Largest Carrier: Spirit Airlines
- Lowest-Cost Carrier: Spirit Airlines
2. Provo, UT (PVU) – Sanford, FL (SFB)
- Average One-Way Fare: $100.78
- One-Way Distance: 1,898 miles
- Average Passengers per Day: 65
- Largest Carrier: Allegiant Air
- Lowest-Cost Carrier: Allegiant Air
1. Las Vegas, NV (LAS) – Sanford, FL (SFB)
- Average One-Way Fare: $92.24
- One-Way Distance: 2,034 miles
- Average Passengers per Day: 27
- Largest Carrier: Allegiant Air
- Lowest-Cost Carrier: Allegiant Air
Methodology
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.
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