Matteo Giordani
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted travel across the world, with many countries imposing border closures and travel restrictions. Within the United States, individual states have implemented various measures to curb the spread of the virus, including restrictions on interstate travel. While there haven't been any states completely closed to travelers, several states have had strict travel restrictions in place, such as mandatory quarantines and testing requirements. For example, as of April 2020, 17 states, including Alaska, Florida, and Hawaii, required a 14-day quarantine for travelers from other states. Additionally, the CDC issued travel advisories and restrictions for certain states, such as New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, urging residents to refrain from non-essential domestic travel. These measures aimed to reduce the movement of people and slow the spread of the virus. International travel has also been impacted, with the U.S. government largely shutting down international travel in March 2020, and the European Union recommending its external borders remain closed until mid-June 2020.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | July 2, 2020 |
| States with no state-wide travel restrictions | Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington State, West Virginia, and Wyoming |
| States with travel restrictions | Alaska, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. (Washington D.C. also has travel restrictions) |
| States with highest new daily cases | North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana |
What You'll Learn
Domestic travel restrictions
Alabama
There were
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International travel restrictions
As of May 2020, the US government was considering how and when to reopen the country to international travel, but the situation was still fluid and there were fears of a resurgence of the virus.
By October 2024, international travel restrictions are still in place, with the CDC recommending that people do not travel, especially when it is non-essential.
The following international travel restrictions are in place as of October 2024:
- US citizens can use any government-issued form of identification to travel between the US, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.
- A passport is required for all international travel. Passport cards are not accepted as a form of ID for international air travel.
- Some countries require a visa to enter, and some have additional requirements, such as proof of return travel, a visiting address, and sufficient funds for the duration of the stay.
- All children, regardless of age, must have a passport and any necessary travel documents.
- Some countries have specific requirements regarding passports, such as Brazil, which requires passports to be issued at least six months before arrival, and Chile, which requires nationals travelling to the US to have an E-passport in addition to a machine-readable passport.
- The US Department of Homeland Security requires eligible travellers to use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) when travelling to the US for less than 90 days.
- The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires all passengers flying to the US to provide their contact information within 72 hours of departure.
- Some countries have specific health and testing requirements, such as Nicaragua, which requires travellers to have had a Yellow Fever vaccine if they have departed from or connected through any African country in the last 30 days.
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State-to-state travel restrictions
As of June 24, 2020, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York require people arriving from states with high coronavirus rates to quarantine for 14 days. The New York Executive Order applies to all travelers entering from a state with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents or a 10% test positivity rate over a seven-day rolling average.
As of November 2, 2020, there were no statewide travel restrictions in most states, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming. However, some states had specific requirements for travelers. For example, Alaska required visitors to submit a Travel Declaration and Self-Isolation Plan online and quarantine for up to 14 days, unless they had a qualifying negative COVID-19 test. Hawaii mandated a 14-day quarantine for all incoming visitors and residents, unless they had a negative PCR test within 72 hours of departure.
As of November 2020, some states recommended or required quarantine for travelers from states with high COVID-19 rates. For instance, Kentucky recommended a 14-day self-quarantine for travelers from states with a positive coronavirus testing rate of 15% or higher, while Ohio advised a 14-day self-quarantine for travelers from states with a 15% or higher rate over a seven-day rolling average.
As of August 2024, while there were few outright bans on traveling within the states, many states had implemented their own restrictions and safety precautions. Some states required a COVID-19 test, quarantine upon arrival, or both. Other states had no restrictions at all.
It is important to note that the situation is constantly changing, and travelers should check all local travel advisories before planning their trips.
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Quarantine requirements
Alabama
Alabama does not have any travel restrictions.
Alaska
Visitors to Alaska must submit a travel declaration and self-isolation plan and arrive with proof of a negative COVID-19 test or purchase a test upon arrival and self-quarantine for 14 days.
Arizona
Arizona does not have any statewide travel restrictions.
California
California discourages travelers from outside the state from entering for non-essential purposes. Californian residents are also encouraged to avoid non-essential travel outside of their region.
Colorado
Colorado does not have any travel restrictions.
Connecticut
Connecticut does not have any travel restrictions.
Delaware
Delaware does not have any travel restrictions.
Florida
Florida does not have any travel restrictions.
Georgia
Georgia does not have any travel restrictions.
Hawaii
Hawaii requires visitors to fill out a "Safe Travel" screening 24 hours prior to their flight. Quarantine is mandatory for all visitors to Kauai. Visitors to other islands must provide a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of their trip to avoid quarantining.
Idaho
Idaho does not have any travel restrictions.
Illinois
Illinois does not have any travel restrictions.
Indiana
Indiana does not have any travel restrictions.
Iowa
Iowa does not have any travel restrictions.
Kansas
Kansas does not have any travel restrictions.
Kentucky
Kentucky does not have any travel restrictions.
Louisiana
Louisiana does not have any travel restrictions.
Maine
Maine requires all visitors to self-quarantine for 10 days, except for essential workers and visitors from New Hampshire and Vermont. Visitors who have tested negative for COVID-19 in the previous 72 hours are exempt from the quarantine requirement.
Maryland
Maryland requires travelers from out of state to obtain a negative COVID-19 test or quarantine for 10 days, with some exemptions.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts does not have any travel restrictions.
Michigan
Michigan strongly discourages out-of-state travel. People arriving from out of state should self-quarantine for 14 days.
Minnesota
Minnesota does not have any travel restrictions.
Mississippi
Mississippi does not have any travel restrictions.
Missouri
Missouri does not have any travel restrictions.
Montana
Montana does not have any travel restrictions.
Nebraska
Nebraska does not have any travel restrictions.
Nevada
Nevada does not have any travel restrictions.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire requires all visitors traveling to the state for more than a same-day trip to self-quarantine for 14 days, with some exemptions.
New Jersey
New Jersey does not have any travel restrictions.
New Mexico
New Mexico discourages out-of-state leisure travel. Visitors from out of state are encouraged to self-quarantine for 14 days or follow CDC guidelines to shorten the quarantine period.
New York
New York does not have any travel restrictions.
North Carolina
North Carolina does not have any travel restrictions.
North Dakota
North Dakota does not have any travel restrictions.
Ohio
Ohio does not have any travel restrictions.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma does not have any travel restrictions.
Oregon
Oregon recommends that visitors from outside the state self-quarantine for 14 days. Oregonians are also encouraged to avoid non-essential travel outside their region.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania does not have any travel restrictions.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island does not have any travel restrictions.
South Carolina
South Carolina does not have any travel restrictions.
Tennessee
Tennessee does not have any travel restrictions.
Texas
Texas does not have any travel restrictions.
Utah
Utah does not have any travel restrictions.
Vermont
Vermont does not have any travel restrictions.
Virginia
Virginia does not have any quarantine requirements for people arriving in the state from other US or international locations.
Washington
Washington recommends that visitors from outside the state self-quarantine for 14 days. Residents are also encouraged to avoid non-essential travel outside their region.
West Virginia
West Virginia does not have any travel restrictions.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin does not have any travel restrictions.
Wyoming
Wyoming does not have any travel restrictions.
Please note that these requirements may change over time, so it is important to check the official sources for the most up-to-date information.
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Travel advisories
As of July 2023, there are no nationwide travel restrictions across the US, and many states are allowing unrestricted travel from their own state or for visitors arriving from other states with high infection rates. However, there are currently travel restrictions in 18 states, and some states have closed certain businesses.
International travel
The US government largely shut down international travel in March 2020, and restarting it will likely be a longer, more piecemeal process. Borders remain shut to travellers from China and Europe, and there is a temporary ban on most travellers from China, the source of the coronavirus outbreak. Similar restrictions were put on travellers from Europe in March 2020. Non-essential travel across borders with Canada and Mexico was also halted in March 2020.
Domestic travel
The CDC issued the first national travel restrictions for New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut on 30 March 2020. Alaska, Florida, and Georgia were the first three states to institute restrictions on state-to-state travel. Currently, 17 states require a 14-day quarantine if you are staying after travelling from another state, including Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, and West Virginia.
Business closures
Several states have recently decided to re-close, or significantly restrict certain businesses. For example, nightclubs, bars, and movie theatres have been closed in some states.
Travel restrictions
Beginning on 24 June 2020, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York required people arriving from states with high coronavirus rates to quarantine for 14 days. The states that were included were Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah, but the list was expanded on 30 June 2020 to include California, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, and Tennessee.
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Frequently asked questions
There are no states that are entirely closed to travelers, but there are some states that have certain restrictions in place.
As of October 2020, 18 states had travel restrictions in place. These were: Alaska, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Washington D.C. also has travel restrictions.
Visitors to Alaska must provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test and a travel declaration, or pay $250 for a Covid-19 test and self-quarantine until they receive a negative result.
Visitors to Connecticut from a state with a higher infection rate than 10 per 100,000 people must quarantine for 14 days, unless they can provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken in the past 72 hours.
All travelers to Hawaii over the age of 5 must provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken no earlier than 72 hours before their flight.
Yes, as of October 2020, 32 U.S. states had no state-wide travel restrictions. These included Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington State, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
