A Guide to All 50 States’ COVID-19 Travel Restrictions
COVID-19 Interstate Travel Restrictions
We’re already one month into 2021 and not much has changed in terms of the epidemiological situation here in the United States.
Below is a state-by-state breakdown of what travelers need to know about quarantine rules and travel restrictions if they’re planning a trip. For the number of coronavirus cases in each state and local protocols, please see their official state or health department websites listed for the most updated information.
Alabama
Alabama Department of Public Health
As of February 1, Alabama had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors.
Alaska
Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
All non-Alaskan residents over the age of ten who wish to bypass the state’s mandatory 14-day quarantine will need to take a molecular-based COVID-19 test within 72 hours of their departure and upload their negative results into the Alaska Travel Portal, where they’ll also need to submit a Travel Declaration and Self-Isolation Plan.
—Those who are still awaiting their test results must upload proof that they’ve taken the test and then continue to quarantine until results are reported.
—Visitors who didn’t test prior to traveling can take a test upon arrival at a cost of $250 but must quarantine at their own expense until results arrive. A second test, to be taken between five and 14 days after arrival, is recommended, but not required.
Arizona
Arizona Department of Health Services
As of February 1, Arizona had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors.
Arkansas
State of Arkansas COVID-19 website
As of February 1, Arkansas had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors.
California
While California doesn’t have statewide restrictions on inbound travelers and Governor Gavin Newsom’s regional stay-at-home order was lifted on January 25, certain local orders remain in effect.
—San Francisco has ordered a mandatory, 10-day quarantine for travelers coming from outside the nine-county Bay Area region.
—In Santa Clara County, travelers originating from more than 150 miles away must quarantine for 10 days upon arrival.
—Out-of-state visitors over the age of 16 traveling to Los Angeles County must fill out this online form, acknowledging that they have read and understood the L.A. County Department of Public Health’s travel requirement and the state of California’s Travel Advisory. Failure to submit this form prior to or upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport, Van Nuys Airport, or Union Station is punishable by a fine of up to $500.
—Those who intend to visit California should continue to monitor the latest local restrictions for their destination city.
Colorado
Official State of Colorado COVID-19 Info
While Colorado doesn’t have statewide travel restrictions, Pitkin County (home to ski resort towns Aspen and Snowmass) set its own requirements, as of December 14. Travelers spending one or more nights in the area must complete a Pitkin County Traveler Affidavit, and those aged 10 or over are required to have a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of arrival. Visitors may also test once they’re in Pitkin County but must quarantine until results arrive. NAAT or PCR tests are preferred, but antigen tests will also be accepted. Those without a test must quarantine for a full 10 days.
Connecticut
Travelers entering Connecticut from any state besides New Jersey, New York or Rhode Island must quarantine for 10 days and complete the Connecticut Travel Health Form upon arrival.
—Travelers can bypass the quarantine requirement by taking a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of entering Connecticut and receiving a negative result. They may also test after arrival but must remain quarantined pending the arrival of test results.
—Failure to submit the Travel Health Form or to complete testing/quarantine could result in a civil penalty of $500 per violation.
Delaware
Delaware Division of Public Health, Coronavirus Response
As of February 1, Delaware had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors.
District of Columbia
Washington D.C. COVID-19 website
Anyone traveling to Washington D.C. from a state or jurisdiction that has more than 10 daily cases per 100,000 people must arrive carrying negative results from a COVID-19 test administered no more than 72 hours prior to entering the District.
—Those visiting for more than three days will need to test again, within three to five days after their arrival.
—Visitors from Maryland and Virginia are exempt from this order.
—Those entering D.C. to attend a family emergency or a funeral do not need to obtain a negative test prior to arriving but must restrict their activities to those related to the emergency.
Florida
As of February 1, Florida had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors.
Georgia
Georgia Department of Economic Development
As of February 1, Georgia had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors.
Hawaii
Hawai‘i State Department of Health
Hawaii’s Pre-Travel Testing Program allows passengers to bypass the state’s mandatory 10-day quarantine period by taking a Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) through one of the state’s Trusted Testing Partners within 72 hours of their arrival. Interisland travelers are also currently subject to quarantine restrictions, but, in some cases, testing out of quarantine is an option. Links to county-specific details can be found here.
—Travelers must upload their test results to the state’s online Safe Travels form and complete a health questionnaire within 24 hours of their departure. They’ll then receive a QR code via email to present to airport screeners upon arrival.
—Travelers are required to upload their negative test results or have them on hand prior to their departure if they want to skip Hawaii’s default mandatory 10-day quarantine.
—At least 25 percent of travelers who use the Pre-Travel Testing option will also be randomly selected to receive a non-optional second test upon arrival at the airport, free of charge.
—Further requirements exist on a county level, most notably on Kauai, which demands the full 10 days’ quarantine unless you’re staying at a designated “resort bubble” hotel and receive a negative test result after spending 72 hours confined to your resort.
Idaho
As of February 1, Idaho had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors.
Illinois
Illinois Department of Public Health
While Illinois doesn’t have statewide travel restrictions, Chicago’s Emergency Travel Order applies to anyone entering or returning to the city from states identified as having a significant degree of community-wide COVID-19 spread. As of the latest update on January 26, the Travel Order applies to 49 states and two U.S. territories.
—Those coming from any state-designated “Orange” must obtain a negative COVID-19 test result no more than 72 hours prior to arrival in Chicago or quarantine for a 10-day period (or the duration of their time in Chicago, whichever is shorter).
—Anyone traveling from a state on the “Red” list must quarantine for a 10-day period or the duration of their time in Chicago, whichever is shorter.
Indiana
As of February 1, Indiana had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors.
Iowa
As of February 1, Iowa had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors.
Kansas
Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Visitors to Kansas who have either been on a cruise ship or river cruise on or after March 15, 2020; and those who attended mass gatherings or events (500 people or more) where attendees did not socially distance (six feet apart) and wear masks must quarantine upon arrival. Travelers who meet either of these criteria must isolate from seven to 10 days, depending upon whether or not they get tested for COVID-19 on Day Six of their quarantine. Those who receive a negative result after testing on their sixth day will be released from quarantine on Day eight, instead of Day 11.
Kentucky
As of February 1, Kentucky had no statewide travel restrictions, although the state Public Health department is discouraging out-of-state leisure travel and urging residents who choose to travel to quarantine for 14 days upon their return, or follow CDC guidance for alternative options to shorten the quarantine period.
Louisiana
Louisiana Department of Health
As of February 1, Louisiana had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors.
Maine
State of Maine COVID-19 Response
Travelers to Maine will need to either quarantine for a full 10 days or provide a negative COVID-19 test result from a sample taken no more than 72 hours prior to arrival. Both PCR and antigen tests are acceptable.
—Visitors may also test after entering Maine, but must quarantine until they receive results.
—Travelers will also need to complete a Certificate of Compliance form indicating they have received a negative test result, that they will complete the 10-day quarantine or that they have already completed their quarantine.
—Only residents of New Hampshire and Vermont are exempted from Maine’s testing and quarantine requirements.
Maryland
Travelers to Maryland are required to provide the negative results of a COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of their arrival, or to test immediately upon arrival and self-quarantine pending the results.
—Travelers are also encouraged to test a second time at least 72 hours after entering Maryland. Those coming from Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. are exempt from this order.
—Per the governor’s executive order, persons who violate the rules are subject to imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of $5,000.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts COVID-19 website
Anyone over the age of 10 entering Massachusetts from a high-risk state (defined as having 10 or more daily cases per 100,000 people) must fill out and submit the Massachusetts Travel Form, and complete a 10-day quarantine. There is also an option to bypass quarantine by providing a negative COVID-19 PCR test result from a sample taken no more than 72 hours prior to their arrival in the state.
—As of February 1, Hawaii remains the only U.S. jurisdiction that is considered low-risk and therefore isn’t subject to these travel restrictions.
—Failure to comply with these rules could result in a civil fine, assessed at $500 per day.
Michigan
As of February 1, Michigan had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors.
Minnesota
As of February 1, Minnesota had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors, but the state health department writes that “any unnecessary travel is highly discouraged”.
*For more detailed and local information, check Minnesota’s official website.
*There is a statewide mask mandate requiring everyone to wear masks while inside business establishments or indoor public spaces, and in outdoor public spaces when social distancing is not feasible.
Mississippi
Mississippi State Department of Health
As of February 1, Mississippi had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors.
Missouri
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
As of February 1, Missouri had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors.
Montana
Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services
As of February 1, Montana had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors.
Nebraska
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
As of February 1, Nebraska had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors.
Nevada
State COVID-19 website: Nevada Health Response
As of February 1, Nevada had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire COVID-19 website
Visitors to New Hampshire who are coming from states outside of New England (Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut or Rhode Island) will need to self-quarantine for 10 days. There is, however, a “test-out” provision, which allows those who are asymptomatic and obtain a negative PCR test on or after day seven of quarantining to end their isolation early.
—Travelers are exempt from quarantine and testing requirements if they’ve been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and more than 14 days have passed since receiving the second dose of their vaccine.
—Those who tested COVID-19 positive within the past 90 days and have recovered from the infection are also exempt, provided they have proof.
New Jersey
New Jersey COVID-19 Information Hub
Returning residents and travelers coming from any U.S. state or territory beyond New Jersey’s immediate region (New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Delaware) are advised to self-quarantine at their home, hotel, or other lodgings for 10 days if they haven’t been tested or their test results are pending. Those who take a viral COVID-19 test prior to arrival in New Jersey and receive negative results should still quarantine for a full seven days.
New Mexico
New Mexico Department of Health
Anyone traveling to New Mexico from states or territories that are deemed high-risk must quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. High-risk states are defined as having a five-percent or higher positivity rate or a positive test rate higher than 80 per one million residents, as measured over a seven-day rolling average). At last update on January 27, all U.S. states and jurisdictions were considered to be high-risk.
New York
All visitors and returning residents entering New York from any U.S. state and territory other than those that are noncontiguous with New York state must complete a mandatory 10-day quarantine.
Alternatively, they can “test out” with proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within the 72-hour window prior to their arrival. They must then quarantine for three days upon arrival in New York and then test again on Day Four. If the results of both these tests are negative, the traveler may then exit quarantine early.
—Travelers from states that are contiguous with New York (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont) are exempt from its Travel Advisory.
—Travelers subject to this advisory must also complete a Traveler Health Form. Any arrivals who exit the airport without completing the form are subject to a $10,000 fine. Those entering New York via other means of transport, including cars, buses and trains, must fill out the form online.
North Carolina
North Carolina COVID-19 Information Hub
As of February 1, North Carolina had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors.
North Dakota
North Dakota Department of Health
As of February 1, North Dakota had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors.
Ohio
Travelers entering Ohio from states reporting positive testing rates of 15 percent or higher (as calculated on a seven-day rolling average) are “advised” to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. As of the list’s latest update on January 27, there were 12 impacted states. The list of affected states is updated online each Wednesday.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State Department of Health
As of February 1, Oklahoma had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors.
Oregon
Oregon, California and Washington have jointly issued a travel advisory, which includes a recommendation that out-of-state travelers and returning residents should quarantine themselves for 14 days after arrival in the state.
Pennsylvania
Travelers entering Pennsylvania, including returning residents, are required to quarantine for 10 days upon arrival, or to have taken a COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to entry and received a negative result. The order is enforceable as a disease control measure under the Disease Prevention and Control Law, and those who fail to comply may be fined up to $300.
Rhode Island
State of Rhode Island Department of Health
Anyone coming to Rhode Island from states having a COVID-19 positivity rate higher than five-percent must quarantine for 14 days or provide proof of a negative result from a COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to arrival in the state. You may also test following entry into the state, but must quarantine until receiving negative results.
—Rhode Island’s ‘restricted states’ roster, last updated on February 1, includes 24 U.S. states and territories.
—Note that out-of-state travelers who have been vaccinated are not exempt from Rhode Island’s quarantine and testing requirements.
—Out-of-state visitors must also complete a certificate of compliance and an out-of-state travel screening form upon arriving in Rhode Island.
South Carolina
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
As of February 1, South Carolina had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors.
South Dakota
As of February 1, South Dakota had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors. However, some road routes through Native American tribal lands may be closed and affected travelers will need to find alternatives.
Tennessee
As of February 1, Tennessee had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors.
Texas
Texas Department of State Health Services
As of February 1, Texas had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors.
Utah
As of February 1, Utah had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors.
Vermont
Anyone entering Vermont from out of state, including returning residents, must either complete a 14-day quarantine, or take a COVID-19 PCR test on or after Day Seven to end their quarantine early through a negative test result.
—Travelers entering Vermont in a personal vehicle are afforded the option to complete their quarantine and testing requirements in their own state, prior to travel, in order to be allowed to move freely upon their arrival in Vermont.
—Travelers entering Vermont who have not completed a pre-arrival quarantine must complete either a 14-day quarantine or a seven-day quarantine followed by a negative test.
—All out-of-state travelers utilizing lodging, camping and short-term rental properties must sign a Certificate of Compliance or affirm a compliance statement via a digital check box at the time of reservation and check-in attesting that they meet the quarantine requirements.
Virginia
As of February 1, Virginia had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors.
Washington
Washington State Department of Health
As of February 1, Washington had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors. As is the case in Oregon and California, Washington state does recommend that travelers adhere to a 14-day quarantine and discourages non-essential travel.
West Virginia
West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources
As of February 1, West Virginia had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Department of Health Services
As of February 1, Wisconsin had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors.
Wyoming
As of February 1, Wyoming had no statewide travel restrictions in place for U.S. visitors.