Every year, I take a trip from Birmingham to Pittsburgh to visit family. There is no easy way to get there. I've driven it before and it can be scenic if I take the Eastern route through Appalachia. The Western route offers a chance to visit Louisville, Nashville or Cincinnati for a night. Problem is that it's just too long to do in one day. Either way is about 11 hours driving time plus at least 2 stops for food. You're looking at north of 12 hours even without traffic jams. You really need to get 3 hours in on the first day to make it. I can hit the road after work then it's manageable on the 2nd day.
What I usually do fly out of Birmingham. I leave home 2 hours before the flight departs then it's about an hour and a half to Charlotte for a connecting flight, which is also about an hour and a half. Factor in the layover and the trip into town and it's about 8 hours total by plane. Not much time savings but at least I can make it in one day. Of course, I run the risk of a delay and missed connection.
A third option is to drive 2.5 hours each way to Atlanta for a direct flight. I need to leave at least 5 hours before my flight. If it's in the morning, I almost have to stay in a hotel the night before. Not fun. Nashville also has a direct flight but it's an even worse drive and I've never opted for that.
If there was a bullet train similar to the ones in Japan, I could get there in about 4 hours. I would do that in a heartbeat. That sounds much easier than driving or flying. In Japan, many people take the bullet train from Tokyo to Osaka or Kyoto in just over 2 hours. The cost is about $90 US for a one way ticket. Western Europe also has a good rail system. It's affordable and the speed appears to be comparable to car travel but I still plan to use it. It certainly seems both safer and cheaper than renting a car and driving in a strange country or countries.
If I am going to California, I would probably still opt for a plane ticket. A trip to a city like Memphis, Atlanta, Nashville or Gulf Shores that can easily be done in a single day? I'd probably stick to old fashioned car travel with the possible exception of Atlanta. What about a trip to cities like Dallas, Chicago, Tampa, Daytona or Miami? In that case, high speed rail has appeal especially if there is no direct flight as is the case for Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Kansas City. Also, it would be nice if I don't have to wait in a long line at security and a car is unnecessary. If I am staying on the beach with a boardwalk full of restaurants and convenience stores or going to a city with a good subway system, I don't need to rent a car.
There has been talk about a nationwide high speed rail network in the United States but it has never gained any serious traction. I did take a train from Connecticut to NYC and there's talk about a line from Los Angeles to San Francisco. LA to Phoenix or Vegas? I haven't heard anything about that. Sure, it would cost quite a bit to build but if we could cut back on military spending and continue to eliminate waste, it could be done.
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