In 2021, during the pandemic, Amtrak hit a low point in terms of annual ridership, welcoming a mere 12 million passengers across the country. But in the years since, ridership numbers have shot up to unprecedented highs. After setting an all-time record in 2024, America’s national rail provider eclipsed its record ridership totals again in 2025. Let’s dive into the details and examine what’s behind Amtrak’s surging popularity.

Ridership Levels Soaring to New Heights

In the company’s 2024 fiscal year (October 2023 to September 2024), Amtrak saw 32.8 million passengers take to the rails. The following year (October 2024 to September 2025), 34.5 million travelers rode aboard Amtrak, marking a 5.1% increase in ridership. The company also generated $2.7 billion in adjusted ticket revenue (a 10.4% increase) and $3.9 billion in total operating revenue (a 9.1% increase).

Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor — which connects Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., among other major cities — welcomed 1.14 million passengers alone, 8.1% more riders than in the year prior. Amtrak also saw a 4.2% increase in long-distance travel, thanks in large part to more than 500,000 rides aboard the Floridian line, which was introduced in late 2024 and connects Chicago and Miami.

Ridership also surged aboard state-supported train lines, including a whopping 140.7% increase on the Borealis line connecting the Twin Cities to Chicago (88,444 passengers in 2024 vs. 212,909 in 2025). Trains across California, Virginia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and many other states saw notable increases in ridership as well.

Why Are Ridership Numbers Increasing?

One can partially attribute the spike in ridership to substantial investments being made to maintain Amtrak’s infrastructure and ensure that trains run as reliably and efficiently as possible. 

A record $5.5 billion went toward Amtrak’s capital projects throughout the 2025 fiscal year, amounting to a 24% increase over the previous year. This included $1.1 billion for track, catenary, signal, and structural maintenance, as well as additional money toward maintaining bridges and tunnels that are essential to Amtrak. An additional $182 million was invested to modernize stations so they’d be in accordance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, which makes Amtrak more accessible than ever before.

The introduction of new Amtrak routes also boosted ridership. In late 2025, the Mardi Gras line restored Amtrak service between Mobile, Alabama, and New Orleans, Louisiana, for the first time in nearly two decades. Approximately 18,000 passengers rode aboard that line in its first month of operation. 

Furthermore, the company welcomed 60,000 monthly riders aboard its new NextGen Acela high-speed train; expanded its Capitol Corridor service between cities such as Sacramento, Oakland, and San Jose; and increased its Winter Park service to five days a week between the cities of Denver and Fraser, Colorado. 

Amtrak has also looked to advertising to boost its ridership. Unveiled in October 2024, the Retrain Travel campaign reminded people that they could avoid the stresses of flying and driving by riding the rails instead. Additionally, the company upgraded onboard amenities: Wi-Fi, food and beverage options, station signage, and other features meant to make the travel experience more pleasant than before. 

What’s Next for Amtrak?

In addition to the continued rollout of high-speed NextGen Acela trains, Amtrak plans to unveil its new, ultramodern Airo fleet in the coming fiscal year. These spacious trains will feature panoramic windows, travel up to 125 mph, and offer the best fuel-efficiency in Amtrak’s fleet. The Airo is set to debut on popular routes such as the Northeast Regional, Maple Leaf, Palmetto, and Keystone Service trains.

In other news, Amtrak is working in tandem with New Jersey Transit to complete construction on the Portal North Bridge Project, which aims to relieve congestion in the ultra-busy Northeast Corridor. And in June 2025, the company began work on the East River Tunnel Rehabilitation Project, which aims to help relieve traffic in and out of New York City.

Having successfully made 19 stations ADA accessible in 2025, Amtrak also plans to upgrade 50 more stations in 2026, with the goal of achieving system-wide accessibility by 2029. It’s all part of Amtrak’s ambitious goal to double ridership to around 66 million riders by 2040.

Featured image credit: Image courtesy of Amtrak 

The original idea behind toll roads was to provide a simple trade-off: Pay a little extra now to benefit from better roads and faster travel later. But since the emergence of the first paid highway in the U.S. in 1792, “a little extra” has skyrocketed to an eye-watering fee on some stretches of highway. Here’s a closer look at the eight U.S. toll roads that currently cost the most to drive end to end, as of 2026. 

8. New Jersey Turnpike

Price: $21.35 cash ($15.93 toll pass)
Distance: 117 miles

When it opened in 1951, the New Jersey Turnpike was the third-longest toll road in the United States. Stretching between Ridgefield Park and the Delaware Memorial Bridge, it provides a vital transport link between New Jersey’s suburbs and major cities like Newark, New York, and Philadelphia. 

The New Jersey Turnpike also regularly makes its way into pop culture. Simon and Garfunkel mentioned it in their song “America,” as did Bruce Springsteen in “Soul Trooper.” A sign reminding drivers to drive safely, painted on a storage cylinder in Linden, features in the opening sequence of The Sopranos. The turnpike is also known for rest stops and service areas honoring famous New Jersey residents, including Thomas Edison, Vince Lombardi, and Walt Whitman.

7. E-470 – Colorado

Price: $22.25 cash ($13.95 toll pass)
Distance: 47 miles

The E-470 is a semicircular beltway loop around the Denver metro area, connecting the suburb of Thornton and Douglas County. With a speed limit of 75 mph, it incorporates 23 interchanges and 101 bridges. It also forms part of a group of toll roads and express lanes that make Colorado the country’s fifth-most-expensive state for tolls. 

Designed for efficiency and to avoid downtown congestion, the E-470 was constructed in sections between 1991 and 2009. It has the potential to be widened to eight lanes and to incorporate multiuse recreational paths as well. 

6. Kansas Turnpike

Price: $22.92 cash ($11.46 toll pass)
Distance: 236 miles

Running southwest from Kansas City to South Haven, near the Oklahoma border, the Kansas Turnpike was built in just 22 months, beginning in December 1954. The goal was to create a safer journey between Kansas City, Topeka, and Wichita. Predating the interstate era, it now incorporates sections of I-35, I-335, and I-70 — welcoming around 120,000 daily motorists. 

Recent infrastructure developments saw the removal of toll booths in 2024 to make it a cash-free road; bills are instead mailed to the address associated with your license plate. Driving end to end offers views of far-reaching prairies and the Flint Hills, along with nearby attractions like the 8,000-acre El Dorado Lake and 11,000-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.  

5. Ohio Turnpike

Price: $22.75 cash ($15.50 toll pass)
Distance: 241 miles

Travel across the Midwest became easier in 1955 with the opening of the Ohio Turnpike. Some 10,000 workers took 35 months to complete the job. The east-west road now cuts across northern Ohio, linking with the Pennsylvania Turnpike in the east and the Indiana Toll Road in the west. Around 56 million vehicles traveled on the Ohio Turnpike in 2024, over five times more than in its inaugural year. 

Not only a commuter thoroughfare, the road also offers access to dozens of Ohio attractions. The thrilling roller coasters of Cedar Point on the shores of Lake Erie are a short side trip away, as is Cuyahoga Valley National Park, one of the country’s newest national parks. 

4. Florida’s Turnpike

Price: $23.97 cash ($19.05 toll pass)
Distance: 312 miles

With its slogan of “The Less Stressway,” Florida’s Turnpike winds over 300 miles through central Florida, offering a quieter alternative to its parallel interstates. From Miami Gardens, the roadway travels north to Wildwood in the Orlando area via interlinking expressways and parkways. The turnpike handles approximately 3 million daily customers, connecting Orlando and cities along the state’s east coast. 

In Orlando, Florida’s Turnpike passes by world-famous attractions such as Universal Studios Florida. Farther south, it runs along the Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area and wetlands of Fort Drum Wildlife Management Area, offering a glimpse of the state’s varied natural beauty. 

3. Texas State Highway 130

Price: $26.58 cash ($18.87 toll pass)
Distance: 91 miles

Texas State Highway 130 is a welcome alternative to the stop-and-go traffic of Interstate 35. The toll road stretches from Georgetown to Seguin, largely avoiding the congestion of Austin. The southern section, segments 5 and 6, has the highest legal speed limit in the nation at 85 mph. The highway as a whole utilizes open tolling, thus allowing drivers to cruise through without slowing for booths. 

It’s also part of one of the largest toll networks in the U.S., covering around 850 miles and over 50 individual tolled roads. Within easy reach from State Highway 130 is the Circuit of the Americas, the venue for the United States Grand Prix. 

2. New York State Thruway

Price: $39.66 cash ($22.66 toll pass)
Distance: 570 miles

The New York State Thruway (officially named the Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway) is the backbone of New York’s toll system. Carrying major stretches of I-87, I-90, and I-287, it links New York City’s northern border with Yonkers, travels up to Albany and Buffalo, and then continues to the New York-Pennsylvania border. 

As well as being among the priciest roads for an end-to-end trip, it’s also one of the country’s busiest toll roads. Some 338 million vehicles used the New York State Thruway in 2024, generating $1.1 billion in toll revenue. From Yonkers, the roadway loosely follows the course of the Hudson River to Albany, with glimpses of the Catskill Mountains between Kingston and Saugerties.

1. Pennsylvania Turnpike

Price: $120.74 cash ($60.27 toll pass)
Distance: 361 miles

Costing around three times as much to travel end to end as its nearest competitor, the Pennsylvania Turnpike is the priciest toll road in the U.S. This is partly due to a 2007 state law obliging the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to make yearly payments to the state’s transportation department for improving public transit in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and other cities. 

Built in 1940, the Pennsylvania Turnpike is often called “America’s First Superhighway.” From Lawrence County, it cuts through the Appalachian Mountains en route to the Delaware River-Turnpike Toll Bridge, where it becomes the New Jersey Turnpike. 

About the data: Prices are for end-to-end travel for passenger cars on the specified toll road, as sourced by Reddit user ixvst01 and verified by Daily Passport. The first price shown is the cash (pay-by-plate) rate; the price in parentheses is the discounted amount for having a transponder or highway pass. Bridges, tunnels, express lanes, and national park roads are excluded. 

You’ve been checking your flight itinerary for weeks and finally scored a great upgrade offer. But one minute, you’re looking forward to extra legroom and a glass of wine before takeoff, and the next, right before you board, you find your seat has been given away and you’re back in coach. You’ve been downgraded — and though it’s rare, airlines do really do this, even if you bought a premium fare from the beginning. Here’s what to do when it happens and what you’re entitled to. 

What It Means To Be Downgraded

There’s a key difference between getting downgraded and having your seat changed from an aisle seat at the front of the economy-class cabin to a middle seat at the back of the plane. While you might consider that a downgrade in your experience, in travel terms, “downgrade” refers specifically to being involuntary bumped from a higher class of service to a lower one. 

In the example above, you’re still seated within the same cabin, so airlines don’t owe you any compensation. Per their contracts of carriage, airlines don’t guarantee a specific seat assignment within the same cabin. But if you’re moved, for instance, from Delta Comfort to Main Cabin, or from United Polaris (long-haul business class) to Premium Plus (premium economy), that constitutes a downgrade. 

Why You Might Be Downgraded

There are several reasons an airline may need to move you out of the seat you paid for. The most common is overbooking a flight, according to Anton Radchenko, CEO at AirAdvisor, a company that helps passengers claim compensation for flight disruptions. In an interview with CNN, he shared this was the reason he had been downgraded twice in the past. 

Other reasons might include a last-minute aircraft swap to a model with a smaller first-class cabin, a broken or inoperative seat, or an off-duty crew member who requires the seat to commute to their next assignment. 

In some cases, you may be downgraded due to operational reasons — for instance, missing your connecting flight after your inbound flight arrived late. If the next available flight doesn’t have any seats remaining in the cabin you booked, you may be reaccommodated in a lower class of service than the one you paid for. 

How Do Airlines Decide Whom To Downgrade First?

Each airline has a specific process for how they determine who will be downgraded. While these policies aren’t usually published, AirAdvisor notes that “their decision is based on a combination of a passenger’s status as a frequent flyer, their seating class, and when they checked in.”

To avoid the chance of a downgrade happening, check in for your flight as soon as it opens and be sure you’re at the gate on time before boarding starts. It also pays to hold elite status with an airline, as those passengers tend to be last to be downgraded. You might even consider a more expensive fare, as those who purchase lower fares have higher odds of being bumped. It’s generally also more likely the airline will bump solo passengers to avoid splitting up companions and families.  

Keep in mind, however, that downgrading is relatively rare — and you have options if it does happen — so paying more to reduce the likelihood of something that’s already unlikely may not be worth it. 

What Are Your Rights if You’ve Been Downgraded? 

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, passengers who are downgraded to a lower class of service are entitled to a refund. If you choose not to travel or accept an alternative form of compensation from the airline (such as travel credits or vouchers), you can get a full refund of the price you paid, which is due back to your credit card within seven days after you reject the airline’s offer. 

If you choose to still fly on a downgraded segment, airlines are required to refund you the difference between the original fare you paid and the downgraded fare. Importantly, the fare difference should be calculated based on the time you originally booked, not the time you were downgraded. Beyond that, the DOT doesn’t stipulate airlines offer you anything else, but some carriers may offer miles or a voucher as a goodwill gesture. 

If you’re traveling within Europe, however, downgrades are handled a bit differently. Under what’s known as EU 261, a broad set of regulations around flight disruptions, airlines in Europe are required to refund between 30% and 75% of the ticket price for involuntary downgrades, based on the distance of your flight. 

Why It’s Important To Be Proactive

As we’ve already noted, downgrading is rare. But if it happens to you, it’s important to act quickly and be proactive about receiving the compensation you deserve. 

Ideally, the airline will notify you of the situation, but it’s also a good idea to regularly check your itinerary details before the departure date. If you notice you’ve been moved to a lower class of service, take action immediately — the sooner you reach out to the airline, the higher the likelihood they’ll be able to reaccommodate you in a premium seat on another flight within a reasonable time frame.

If you find out at the gate, speak with the gate agent or customer service desk about your options. Sometimes, an airline’s app or website may show you alternative arrangements, which you should book as quickly as possible before other customers take them. In either case, make sure you get written confirmation of the downgrade and hold onto your boarding pass, which you may need in order to get a refund. 

If you still choose to fly and are owed a refund, you may have to seek it out yourself on the airline’s website (for example, Delta’s refund request form). And even though U.S. airlines aren’t required to provide anything beyond the refund of the fare difference, it doesn’t hurt to ask for additional compensation and explain your reasoning with your request.

The secret’s finally out: Once-overlooked Greenland, a self-governing country that’s part of the realm of Denmark, is finally starting to garner the attention it deserves as a tourist destination. The world’s largest island delivers on a wide variety of adventures against a backdrop of some of the most spectacular landscapes on the planet. When you consider that along with the opportunity to gain unique insight into life in the Arctic, it’s not hard to see why Greenland has become an increasingly tempting prospect for overseas travelers. If you’re thinking of hopping on a plane to join them, we’ve compiled a list of tips that will help first-time visitors get the most out of their trip to Greenland.

Take Advantage of Improved Connections

Greenland is investing heavily in infrastructure in order to improve accessibility and harness its tourism potential. Nuuk’s new international airport opened in November 2024, with a longer runway that made transatlantic flights possible for the first time, including seasonal nonstop service with United from Newark, New Jersey. 2026 is set to be another landmark year for Greenland aviation, with a new runway and terminal opening at Ilulissat Airport and a significant upgrade to the facilities of Qaqortoq Airport on track to open by the end of the year.  

Don’t Be Overly Ambitious With Your Itinerary

Greenland is a huge country — roughly three times the size of the state of Texas — so distances between towns can be considerable. And as approximately 80% of its land area is covered in ice, inland infrastructure is minimal. To move from place to place, you’ll usually be faced with a choice of air or sea travel. Because of that (not to mention Greenland’s often unpredictable weather), packing too much into your itinerary is likely to result in frustration. Instead, stick to one region and focus on the activities and experiences you can have there. 

First-Time Visitors Should Focus on the West

Western Greenland itineraries typically make the most sense if you’ve never traveled to the island before. A significant proportion of Air Greenland’s domestic flight network is concentrated across that region. Meanwhile, the Sarfaq Ittuq coastal ferry shuttles back and forth between Ilulissat and Qaqortoq, connecting 12 settlements in the west of Greenland throughout the warmer months. Whether you plan on booking an organized tour or traveling independently, better transport links will make getting around a whole lot easier if you stick to the western part of the island.

Make Sure You See the Highlights

Set your sights on Disko Bay if you’re keen to encounter the majestic, 4-mile-long Ilulissat Icefjord. Some of the icebergs here stand more than 300 feet tall, and many of them calve from the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier into the sea, which UNESCO calls “a dramatic and awe-inspiring natural phenomenon.” You can also spot whales, seals, and walruses as you cruise along this magnificent waterway. 

In summer, consider paddling a kayak to witness sunset colors reflected in the ice. Or, from January to April, venture inland and hunker down for the night in an authentic igloo.

Winter is also the best time to try your hand at activities such as snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and dog-sledding in coastal settlements like Sisimiut and Kangerlussuaq. Make the most of the dark skies as you marvel at the ethereal northern lights before finishing up in Nuuk, the capital. There, you can check out the Greenland National Museum to gain insight into the history and culture that has shaped a nation, as well as the challenges presented by rising global temperatures when you live surrounded by ice.

Plan Your Trip as Far Ahead as Possible

With increased interest in Greenland, those who organize their trip well in advance will benefit from more affordable prices and a greater choice of accommodations and tours. Tina Lauritsen of Greenland Travel says it’s best to plan your trip as early as possible using a specialist travel agency that knows the area well: “The first rule when traveling to Greenland? Book your accommodation and then flight tickets.” That’s especially important if you hope to visit small settlements such as Ilulissat in peak season, when demand often outstrips supply.

Visit an ATM While You’re in Nuuk or Ilulissat

Although contactless and card payments are increasingly common, many Greenlandic settlements are very small, and businesses may have a tradition of requiring payment in cash. You’ll find ATMs in larger cities such as Nuuk and Ilulissat, but not everywhere, so it’s a good idea to withdraw some Danish kroner (Greenland’s currency) when you have the opportunity. A few tourist stores may accept U.S. dollars, but the acceptance of foreign currency isn’t widespread.

Tipping Isn’t Expected But Is Always Welcome

Unlike in the U.S., gratuities aren’t expected when taking a tour, catching a cab, or dining out. The price you pay includes service. That said, if the service you receive is truly exceptional, offering an additional tip is likely to be warmly welcomed. In these instances, leaving a small amount in cash is the best way to go. 

Be Respectful When Taking Photographs

In a country as beautiful as Greenland, you’ll be reaching for your camera often. It’s polite to ask locals if you can take their photograph, though you might be refused, particularly where tourist numbers are highest. In that case, do as they ask. When photographing wildlife, be sure to keep a reasonable distance to ensure you don’t unwittingly disrupt breeding or feeding patterns. Also be sure not to move any objects or plants — leave everything as you found it.

Prepare To Encounter Bugs During the Summer

Despite Greenland’s northerly location, summer visitors are likely to encounter midges and mosquitoes. They typically appear between June and August when the weather is at its mildest, and they don’t survive the first frosts come fall. If you plan to vacation here during the summer, it’s wise to take precautions, especially if you are prone to being bitten or expect to spend extended periods outdoors. It’s usually possible to buy repellent, nets, and bite cream in large towns, but you’ll probably want to bring your own just to be sure. 

Does thinking about travel make you happier? According to a recent survey, even just planning a vacation can do wonders for our mood and mental health. In April 2025, Talker Research polled 2,000 Americans who had traveled within the last year and found that 68% of them agreed that the anticipation of their next trip was as good as the trip itself. However, 78% of participants felt that the journey home was the worst part, reflecting the stress that travelers often feel transiting through airports. So, what can be done to improve the passenger experience? Let’s take a look at what the world’s best airports have in common.

How Airports Play Their Part in Traveler Happiness

Given the survey results, it’s clear that many airports have a lot of runway, so to speak, to create a better environment for travelers. A 2025 analysis by J.D. Power, an organization that specializes in consumer insights and behavior, identified three key areas that airport managers should focus on: the provision of comfortable seating, water bottle filling stations, and quiet areas — all of which make time at an airport feel like less of an ordeal. Of course, this is in addition to efficiency basics like minimizing queuing time at bottleneck points (such as security screening) and maintaining impressive on-time performance statistics.

Make the Airport Feel Less Like an Airport

However, if we take a closer look at the airports that travelers view the most favorably, those that invariably earn rave reviews have a common element: the airport experience. In short, making an airport feel less like a transit hub and more like a visitor destination can pay dividends. 

And one particular airport has been a consistent high achiever: Singapore Changi. It was named the World’s Best Airport for 2025 in the Skytrax World Airport Awards, the 13th time it has topped the prestigious list. When interviewed about the most recent win, Changi Airport CEO Yam Kum Weng said, “It is indeed gratifying to receive this recognition, and this certainly encourages us to continue to strive to provide the best travel experience.”

What Does Singapore Changi Airport Do Differently?

Alongside the usual check-in desks, security screening facilities, gates, and baggage carousels, travelers at Changi encounter spaces they wouldn’t usually associate with airports. 

The calming influence of nature plays a significant role: Within the airport and the attached Jewel entertainment and retail complex, you’ll find the world’s highest indoor waterfall, a butterfly garden, an outdoor bamboo garden, a canopy park, a topiary walk, a cactus garden, and even a hedge maze.

Art installations dot the airport’s terminals, and there’s an emphasis on having fun. Among a plethora of opportunities for young ones to let off steam, Changi provides a bouncing net, climbing wall, mirror maze, and slides. In fact, no matter your age, you’ll probably be having such a good time when boarding is called that you won’t want to leave.

Other Airports Following Changi’s Lead

Singapore’s commitment to creating an airport experience that doesn’t feel like an airport experience is a move that hasn’t gone unnoticed by other major hubs.

For instance, Doha’s Hamad Airport, which took the top spot from Changi in the Skytrax awards in 2022 and 2024, has also gone all out to woo passengers. A golf simulator in this Qatari hub is an effective antidote to hours spent in a cramped aircraft cabin, while the airport’s Vitality Wellbeing and Fitness Center contains squash courts and a swimming pool. For those content simply to stretch their legs, myriad art installations enhance terminal buildings bursting with retail stores. 

Meanwhile, at Seoul’s Incheon Airport, Korean culture is celebrated with a museum devoted to K-pop as well as regular live performances of Gugak, a traditional form of music. Closer to the U.S., the Vancouver Aquarium maintains a 30,000-gallon tank in the city’s international airport terminal, containing more than 5,000 marine creatures native to British Columbia. Spot wolf eels, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, colorful fish, and anemomes before you head to the gate.

The Best U.S. Airports for Experience-Based Activities

Looking for a happy airport experience within the U.S.? Consider heading to Las Vegas, where Harry Reid International doubles as an aviation museum with exhibits spread throughout Terminal 1, such as a Red Thunderbird and a history-making 1958 Cessna 172. It’s also one of only two U.S. airports (the other being Reno-Tahoe International Airport) where passengers over 21 years of age can try their luck on slot machines. 

In Texas, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport plays host to regular live music gigs; check the schedule on the airport website to see who’s playing when your flight departs. For those with an interest in architecture, LAX’s Theme Building in Los Angeles is a must-see, and Detroit’s funky LED tunnel is a pleasant diversion for those switching terminals at the city’s airport. 

Meanwhile, adjacent to JFK’s Terminal 5 in New York City, you’ll find the TWA Hotel, where you can relax in the faithfully restored sunken lounge designed in the 1960s by Eero Sarineen, as well as a cocktail bar housed inside a vintage Lockheed Constellation L-1649A. You can also learn about the history of Trans World Airlines, in particular its mid-20th-century heyday, in a museum curated by the New York Historical Society.