Final answer:
Before the expansion of the railroad, most people traveled out West using covered wagons on trails like the Oregon Trail.
Step-by-step explanation:
Prior to the expansion of the railroad, most people traveled out West using covered wagons. These wagons were commonly used on trails such as the Oregon Trail, Santa Fe Trail, and California Trail. Thousands of settlers, including Americans and immigrants, made the journey west in wagon trains, enduring a slow and dangerous trek that took several months to complete.