Coronavirus Domestic Travel Restrictions for the United States

In recent months, many states within the United States have adopted new travel restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are planning travel within the United States, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, you should understand the Coronavirus domestic travel restrictions & guidelines that may be applicable to your trip.

The country is struggling with surges of reported cases of COVID-19 cases in some hotspots within the nation. As a result, the NY Times reports England is dropping its mandatory 14-day quarantine for visitors from more than 50 countries. However that quarantine stays in place for travelers coming from the United States “deepening the isolation of America and delivering another rebuke to President Trump for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.”

At PointMe, we are continuously monitoring the travel guidelines and protocols to ensure you have the most current information. Bookmark this site, for future reference, as we will update it as changes are announced.

We also have the latest travel information and resources for international destinations:

• Reopenings – Caribbean Coronavirus Travel Restrictions
• South America Coronavirus Travel Restrictions & Reopenings by Country
• Reopenings – Latin America Coronavirus Travel Restrictions by Country
• Reopenings – Europe Coronavirus Travel Restrictions by Country

The travel restrictions listed below are alphabetical by state or territory name. These are updated by destination when we learn of a change in policy or protocols.

Coronavirus Domestic Travel Restrictions– Accurate as of July 15, 2020

Alaska – COVID Testing & More for Visitors

Passengers traveling to Alaska who are over the age of two years old must take a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of departure. Passengers must provide documentation of a negative test result upon arrival in Alaska. If a test cannot be completed prior to departure, passengers will be tested for COVID-19 in the airport upon arrival in Alaska. If the result is negative, they are free to continue their travel. Be aware that test results may take up to 24 hours to process. Passengers who test positive will be referred for medical treatment and subject to quarantine. Passengers who choose (or refuse) a COVID-19 test may otherwise elect a mandatory 14-day quarantine. For more information, visit the State of Alaska COVID-19 Traveler Information.

Chicago – A City Stands Up on Its Own

While not the entire state of Illinois, Chicago’s Mayor Lori Lightfoot mandated those traveling to Chicago from certain ‘hotspot’ states are to be quarantined for two weeks starting July 6. Those hotspots are states where there are dramatic surges in reported COVID-19 cases. Lightfoot felt the Coronavirus domestic travel restrictions from persons arriving from other hotspots in the nation necessary as they might potentially jeopardize Chicago’s battle against COVID-19.

The order covers travelers from Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.

Connecticut

If traveling to Connecticut from Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, South Carolina, North Carolina, Utah, Tennessee, and Texas you are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine. Quarantine may be carried out in a home or hotel room. For more information, visit the Connecticut State Department of Public Health.

Florida

Passengers traveling to Florida from Connecticut, New York or New Jersey are subject to mandatory 14-day quarantine in a home or hotel room. Arriving passengers must be prepared to complete required documentation and/or provide consent to a health screening upon arrival. Check the Florida Department of Health for the most recent updates.

Hawaii – Paradise on Hold?

Passengers traveling to Hawaii are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine in a home or hotel room. Violation of the quarantine can result in legal action. There have been many examples of tourists (thinking they would venture out from their hotel rooms) being arrested. Additional restrictions may apply to intra-state travel. Please be prepared to provide required documentation and/or provide consent to a temperature check.

UPDATE: Hawaii recently reported 42 new cases of COVID-19; setting a new one-day record high since the pandemic began. This has apparently caused the state’s governor to reconsider relaxing restrictions on incoming visitors. Governor Ige had announced beginning August 1, Hawaii would also visitors who provided proof of a negative COVID-19 test result to avoid the mandatory 14-day quarantine.

However, with the spike in confirmed cases the governor is said to be reconsidering those measures. According to KHON TV2 (Honolulu) government leaders have said there have been “discussions of pushing the re-opening date back to August 15, September 1, or indefinitely.” An announcement is expected next week.

For more information, visit the Hawaii State Department of Health.

Maine

Travelers to Maine may elect to take a COVID PCR test less than 72 hours prior to departure and provide negative test results, in lieu of a 14-day quarantine upon arrival in Maine. Residents traveling from New Hampshire and Vermont are exempt from quarantine and COVID testing.  For more information, visit the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.

Massachusetts

All persons arriving in Massachusetts (including Massachusetts residents returning home) are instructed to self-quarantine for 14 days. However, beginning July 1, 2020, travelers from Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, New York, and New Jersey arriving in Massachusetts are exempt from this directive and need not self-quarantine for 14 days.  In addition, workers designated by the federal government as essential critical infrastructure workers are exempt from the directive to self-quarantine for 14 days if traveling to Massachusetts for work purposes.  All persons are instructed not to travel to Massachusetts if they are displaying symptoms of COVID-19. For more information see the Massachusetts traveler’s information.

Minnesota

The state of Minnesota is asking passengers check their temperature a day prior to their travel and review the Symptom Screening checklist. Minnesota is asking potential visitors to stay home if they don’t feel well or if anyone in their household is experiencing symptoms. For more information, visit the Minnesota Department of Health.

New Jersey

Customers traveling to New Jersey from Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, South Carolina, North Carolina, Utah, Tennessee and Texas are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine in a home or hotel room. For more information, visit the New Jersey Department of Health.

New Mexico

Passengers traveling to New Mexico for leisure purposes will be subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine. Understandably, the state’s self-quarantine order does not apply to certain essential travel, as defined by the state, or persons traveling into New Mexico to conduct business activities.  For more information, visit the New Mexico Department of Health.

New York

Passengers traveling to New York from Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, South Carolina, North Carolina, Utah, Tennessee, and Texas are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine in a home or hotel room. For more information, visit the New York State Department of Health.

UPDATE: New York’s Governor Cuomo just added Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio and Wisconsin—areas where COVID-19 is currently spiking—to the list of states whose residents face quarantine restrictions if they travel to the state of New York.

Utah

Passengers traveling to Utah as a final destination will be required to complete a travel declaration form. Likewise, transiting passengers are not subject to the same requirements. For more information, visit the Utah Department of Health.

Vermont

Passengers traveling to Vermont are subject to a 14-day quarantine upon or arrival. In lieu of that, arriving persons may be subject to a 7-day quarantine followed by a negative test when you arrive. For more information, visit the Vermont Department of Health and Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing.

US Territories – Caribbean COVID-19 Travel Restrictions

There are two locations in the Caribbean that are considered United States domestic destinations; Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Puerto Rico

Condado Beach, Puerto Rico

As part of the Puerto Rico’s four-phased reopening plan, the island territory formally reopens for in-bound tourists on July 15. At that point, travelers with a negative molecular COVID-19 test will be welcomed to the island.

Passengers traveling to Puerto Rico will be quarantined for 14 days and must present a completed Puerto Rico Department of Health form upon arrival. Alternatively, passengers traveling to Puerto Rico may take a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of departure and provide a negative test result upon arrival, in lieu of the mandatory 14-day quarantine.  For more information, visit the Puerto Rico Department of Health.

Where to Stay in Puerto Rico:

Here are my favorite hotels:

• The Condado Plaza Hilton
• Embassy Suites by Hilton San Juan – Hotel & Casino
• Fairmont El San Juan Hotel
• Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino
• Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

U.S. Virgin Islands

For the US Virgin Islands, there are no COVID-19 travel-related quarantine restrictions at this time. Check the United States Virgin Islands Department of Health for the most recent updates.

Final Thoughts

Is It Time for Domestic Travel?

We are seeing surges of reported COVID-19 cases in several states which are discouraging for travelers. In response, many state governments are pro-actively taking precautions to protect its citizens. It’s important to know the Coronavirus domestic travel restrictions that some states have in place.

If you want to test the waters, below are a few domestic ideas penned by our staff:

• Post-COVID Travel Deals: Beautiful West Coast Choices
• 10 Famous Hotels in the US on My Must-See List
• Post-COVID Travel Deals: Too Good To Pass Up

Here’s hoping the country and our travels are headed to a ‘New Normal’ soon. By the way, if you know of any travel restrictions we’ve missed, please let us know in the comments so we can update them.