When you first start Red Dead Redemption 2, you don’t have access to any convenient fast-travel system. You can pay to ride a Stage Couch or Train, but they only take you to a very select number of stations. Certain towns have train stations — and you can buy tickets at the Post. If you’re feeling like riding a couch instead, you need to interact with the couch sign outside the train station. It costs a lot more, though.
If you’ve been investing money into your camp, you can unlock a third method. Once this method is unlocked, you’re free to use it as often as you want. There is no notification that you’ll unlock a new fast-travel method when you’re at your camp, or that there’s any good reason to waste valuable cash on the lodgings option. Well, there is a good reason — free fast-travel.
- NOTE: You can “fast-travel” hands-free to any location using the Cinematic Camera mode. This is not the free method below, but still useful for travelling shorter distances.
- Place a waypoint on your map and begin following the line.
- Hold down gallop [Cross / A] on your controller then turn on Cinematic Camera mode while on a waypoint path. Tap gallop to reach full speed for a moment, then release.
- You’ll continue to follow the path and follow the waypoint to your destination.
More Red Dead Redemption 2 guides on Gameranx:
- Red Dead Redemption 2: 15 Features You Might Not Know About | Beginner’s Guide
- Red Dead Redemption 2: Get Unlimited Ammo, Super Horses & More | Cheat Codes List
- Red Dead Redemption 2: Where To Find A Fairytale Hill House | Easter Egg Guide
- Red Dead Redemption 2: How To Earn Money Fast | Easy Cash Guide ($3,000+)
- Red Dead Redemption 2: All Legendary Hunting Locations | Master Hunting Guide
- Red Dead Redemption 2: Where To Find The Legendary Fishing Map | Fishing Guide
How To Unlock Free Fast-Travel | All Fast Travel Methods Guide
There are three fast-travel methods in RDR2 — train, stage couch, and the base camp map. The train and stage couch can be found at any post station. Each has a different line, so you can reach different places for a price. The base camp map, on the other hand, is totally free. You can unlock it as early as Chapter 2.
- To unlock free fast travel in your base…
- Unlock the Ledger in your base camp.
- Complete Strauss’s first main story mission to unlock the ledger in Chapter 2.
- Purchase the Lodgings Upgrades from the Ledger.
- Purchase Dutch’s Tent upgrade. ($220)
- Purchase Arthur’s Tent upgrade. ($325)
- After getting both upgrades, the fast travel map will unlock.
- Unlock the Ledger in your base camp.
You’ll need a total of $545 to purchase both upgrades. If you need money fast, checkout the guides linked above for a very simple method to earn $2000, or $1500 gold quickly.
The map is located on the side of Arthur’s Tent. You can travel to the following locations (as they’re unlocked) for free:
- Base Camp Fast Travel Locations:
- Valentine
- Emerald Ranch
- Blackwater
- Strawberry
- St. Denis
- Van Horn Trading
- Annesburg
- Rhodes
- Lagras
And that’s it! This is the most convenient way to travel huge distances in the game, and it’s absolutely worth unlocking early.