Postal Service

The locations of the post offices in each town in this guide are listed in the appropriate "Fast Facts" sections. You can send mail from your hotel or the post office. Mail in the United States must have a five-digit postal code (or ZIP code), after the two-letter abbreviation of the state to which the mail is addressed.

If you aren't sure what your address will be in the United States, mail can be sent to you, in your name, c/o ("care of") General Delivery at the main post office of the city or region where you expect to be. The addressee must pick up mail in person and must produce proof of identity (driver's license, passport, etc.). Most post offices will hold your mail for up to 1 month, and are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm, and Saturday from 9am to 3pm.

At press time, domestic postage rates were 23¢ for a postcard and 37¢ for a letter. For international mail, mailing a first-class letter of up to 1 ounce costs 80¢ (60¢ to Canada and to Mexico), a first-class postcard 70¢ (50¢ to Canada and Mexico), and a preprinted postal aerogramme costs 70¢.