Continuity mistake: When Neal and Del are sitting at the counter eating breakfast at the Braidwood Hotel, talking about how they were robbed the night before, watch the plate of food in front of Neal. The food on the plate changes completely.
Continuity mistake: When Dell and Neal get dropped off to catch the train, there is a shot of the town they depart from. Later in the film, when their burned-out car is impounded, they catch a ride on a semi carrying dairy products, departing from the same town.
Revealing mistake: During the scene where Neal is trying to board his flight from New York to Chicago, the camera pans out to show a shot of the whole airport. But, you can see that the shot was taken in O'Hare airport, in Chicago, but he's supposed to be in New York at that point in the film.
Suggested correction: Yes, that external shot is not supposed to be in New York where they are, but Chicago which is full of snow and which is where they want to get, but can't get. So, I don't see the error there.
Continuity mistake: The size of the bed in Neal and Del's motel room changes overnight.
Continuity mistake: When Dell and Neal are sitting on the side of the highway in downstate Illinois, the sign says "Chicago 102" in one scene and "Chicago 100" in another.
Revealing mistake: When Steve Martin first calls home to tell his wife that the flight is delayed we see a lovely, cozy picture of the Page family enjoying a delicious, home cooked meal. However, in the shot where the kids are all sitting at the table the youngest child (back to camera) is being carefully 'watched' by a woman who is sitting on the floor next to his chair. I presume it is the actor's mother making sure that her little baby doesn't fall off the chair...
Visible crew/equipment: When Neil is looking for the car he hired in the car park, there is a tracking shot from Neil's POV moving along the backs of the cars. On the car in space V-2 you see the reflection of the camera on the dolly and some crew members moving.
Continuity mistake: Right after the close call going the wrong direction on the freeway and Steve Marting pulls his fingers out of the car's dashboard. The following shots show John Candy releases his grip of the steering. The top of the steering wheel has been completely push forward. All remaining shots of the car show the steering wheel in perfect alignment.
Other mistake: To go from Wichita, KS, to Chicago, they would go NE through KS, Missouri, Illinois. Kentucky is NOT on the route. They are pulled over by Kentucky State Police (Lenny). But this is the trip from Hell. Maybe they took the L O N G way East to Paducah, then back North to Chicago.
Visible crew/equipment: When Neil exits from the airport just after the employer told him "You are f***ed", some onlookers and a crew member moving the camera on the dolly track can be seen reflected on the glass of the entrance from which Neil comes out.
Audio problem: As Neil is talking to his coworker about getting on a plane, the audio is either different or synced wrong, as the coworker says something different. In the shot facing Neil his mouth doesn't match.
Plot hole: After the car burns, and they arrive at the motel, Neal only has $17.00 on him and nothing but melted credit cards, forcing him to give up his watch to help pay for the room. Del only has $2.00 but his watch doesn't quite flip the bill. At this point, between Neal and Del, they only have $2.00. However, when Neal invites Del into the room, so he doesn't freeze to death, they are eating Doritos and drinking shooters. Even in 1987 Doritos and a bunch of shooters must have cost more than $2.00. This is assuming Del didn't already have them in his trunk. But even if he did, at the end, Neal gets on his train, makes a return trip to find Del just where he thought he'd be, and then they'd both have to get back onto that train. After all, they both showed up at Neal's home. Once again, It would take money to get on that train. Four train fares with only $2.00. Neal's first trip, return trip, and Neal with Del for the last trip = four fares.
Continuity mistake: After the train breaks down, the scene apparently takes place in the late afternoon. The sun angle is low in the shots where Del is hauling his trunk across the field. We then see a wide shot and the sun is higher in the sky.
Continuity mistake: After leaving the El Rancho hotel. (when pulled over by the state police) Neil seams to find some new clothes, including a too small hunting hat, and scarf. On the walk home, Neil is carrying a large suit case, instead of his garment bag and brief case.
Continuity mistake: Neil returns to the station where he left Del at the end. As he gets off the train and goes into the station, it's not the same station he was at earlier. The background outside shows houses and trees. Where did the buildings of Chicago go?
Revealing mistake: When they are sitting in the bus station in Jefferson City - and then the next scene is the somewhat "speeded up" shot of the kid running up and down the aisles of the bus (before the "take a picture, it'll last longer" scene) - as the kid is running up and down the aisle, watch the woman in the front left seat. The handheld windmill that the kid is running with hits her in the head and her eyes "pop open" as to be surprised by the hit.
Factual error: In Wichita, when Del and Neal are getting picked up by Owen at the Braidwood Inn, there is a mountain right behind Owen. There are no mountains in Kansas.
Other mistake: When Neal checks his airline ticket it says he departs from N.Y.C. J.F.K. but the movie claims to have him flying out of LaGuardia.
Continuity mistake: When Neil is chasing the cab after Del stole it, the bags he is carrying change hands in different shots.
Continuity mistake: When Neal is racing Kevin Bacon for the taxi, he gets close to the cab and all lanes of traffic are at a standstill. Seconds later when he trips over the trunk, the lane he falls into is empty and a car has to brake hard to avoid hitting him, indicating it was travelling at speed already.
