FAQs
Travel
Knowing whether it’s COVID-safe to travel can be hard. If the trip you're planning has some risk, your COVID tools can help keep you safer on the road. If you're planning to travel and want to know if your trip might put you at risk of catching COVID, take the COVID Risk Quiz.
Travel Basics
If there's a lot of COVID in the places you're going to or traveling through, these questions can help you figure out how risky your planned trip is.
Riskier | Less Risky | |
|---|---|---|
Are most people vaccinated there? | No | Yes |
Does this area have a mask requirement? | No | Yes |
Will I need to take an airplane, train, bus, or other public transportation? | Yes | No |
If so, are masks and/or proof of vaccination required on the public transportation I'll be using? | No | Yes |
Do the places I'm traveling to or through require testing? | No | Yes |
How much time will I have to spend in hubs like airports, train stations, or bus stations? | More time | Less time |
Will I spend lots of time indoors with others or in crowded outdoor places? | Yes | No |
Your COVID tools can help make travel less risky:
Staying up to date on vaccines.
Wearing a high-quality, well-fitted mask.
If possible, spending less time on public transportation such as airplanes, trains, or buses.
Staying out of crowds as much as you can.
Spending as little time indoors in public places as you can.
Avoiding small indoor spaces without a lot of fresh air.
If you feel that the travel is too risky, it’s always okay to decide not to go.
Some airports have mask mandates — you'll need to check the rules for the ones you'll be visiting before you travel. Once a plane is running, the air inside it is carefully filtered. However, the air isn't filtered in the jetway or in the plane while it's sitting on the tarmac. Dr. Joseph Allen, an expert on air quality, explains how airplane air filtration works in this thread. You can improve your own safety by using your COVID tools:
Being up to date on vaccines.
Making sure your mask is high quality and fits well.
Wearing your mask during boarding, and keeping it on until the plane starts moving.
Staying farther away from other people while in the airport.
Avoiding touching your eyes or nose.
Getting tested 3 - 5 days after returning from travel — or earlier if you develop symptoms.
Each time you use a rapid test, report your result — whether you test positive or negative.
If you had symptoms, you can travel once 5 full days have passed since your positive test, as long as you're feeling better, are fever-free without using medication, and you can wear a good mask whenever you're around people indoors in public and on public transportation. Learn more about when you can stop isolating.
If you did not have any symptoms, you can travel after 5 full days have passed since your positive test, as long as you can wear a good mask whenever you're around people indoors in public and on public transportation. Learn more about if you need to isolate.
Every household in the US can order four free rapid tests at covidtests.gov or by calling 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).
You can find a free testing site near you on the CDC's No-Cost COVID-19 Testing locator. Tests available at these sites may be rapid tests or PCR tests.
If you need a PCR test, you can get low- or no-cost testing at community health centers and pharmacies around the US. (Find a community-based testing location here.)
You may be able to get free tests through your local health department.
The Rockefeller Foundation is offering free rapid COVID tests to individuals in certain ZIP Codes through their Project ACT program while supplies last.
Private commercial health insurance will reimburse you for up to 8 tests per person per month purchased online or in stores. Check with your insurance provider for their reimbursement policy.
Military beneficiaries can get up to 8 free tests per month at military hospitals or clinics.
People with Medicare Part B can get up to 8 free rapid tests per month at health-care facilities and participating pharmacies.
State Medicaid and CHIP programs are required to cover the cost of tests. Check with your state Medicaid or CHIP agency for details.
ProjectN95.org is a trustworthy online source for rapid tests and other protective equipment.
Everyone traveling in the US should consider taking a test no more than 3 days before they travel, especially if they live in areas where COVID levels are high. The closer the test is to the time you leave on your trip, the better. If you haven't had COVID-19 in the past 90 days, you can take either a PCR test or a rapid test. If you had COVID during that time, use a rapid test. Each time you use a rapid test, report your result — whether you test positive or negative.
Some transportation companies, places to stay, and tourist activities may require testing, too, especially for people who aren't vaccinated.
Travel in the US
Everyone traveling in the US should consider taking a test no more than 3 days before they travel, especially if they live in areas where COVID levels are high. The closer the test is to the time you leave on your trip, the better. It can be either a PCR test or a rapid test. Some tourist activities may require testing, too. Each time you use a rapid test, report your result — whether you test positive or negative.
In the US, each public transportation system has its own rules regarding masks. Hubs like airports and train stations have their own rules, too. Your air, rail, bus, or cruise carrier may also have its own requirements. If there's a lot of COVID going around the place you’re traveling to — or traveling through — you can improve your COVID safety by using your COVID tools:
Being up to date on vaccines.
Wearing high-quality, well-fitted masks when you're indoors in public places or outdoors in a crowd.
Staying outside in public areas when possible.
Staying farther away from other people.
Avoiding touching your eyes or nose when in public.
It's also a good idea to have a back-up plan in case you test positive for COVID while you're traveling, which could delay your return trip.
The CDC COVID County Checker has up-to-date information on COVID levels around the US, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. You can find information about other US territories on the map in the CDC's COVID Data Tracker.
Everyone traveling in the US should consider taking a test no more than 3 days before they travel, especially if they live in areas where COVID levels are high. The closer the test is to the time you leave on your trip, the better. If you haven't had COVID-19 in the past 90 days, you can take either a PCR test or a rapid test. If you had COVID during that time, use a rapid test. Each time you use a rapid test, report your result — whether you test positive or negative.
Some transportation companies, places to stay, and tourist activities may require testing, too, especially for people who aren't vaccinated.
International Travel
The CDC website on international travel has up-to-date information on the COVID situation around the world. Each country has its own rules about COVID and travelers. Certain regions or cities do, too. Your air, rail, bus, or cruise carriers may also have their own requirements. If there's a lot of COVID going around the place you’re traveling to — or traveling through — can improve your COVID safety by using your COVID tools:
Being up to date on vaccines.
Wearing high-quality, well-fitted masks when you're indoors in public places or outdoors in a crowd.
Staying outside in public areas when possible.
Staying farther away from other people.
Avoiding touching your eyes or nose when in public.
It's also a good idea to have a back-up plan in case you test positive for COVID while you're traveling, which could delay your return trip.
The CDC website on international travel has up-to-date information on the COVID situation in countries around the world.
Check the CDC website on international travel for the testing requirements of the countries you're visiting. Each country has its own rules about COVID and travelers. Certain regions or cities do, too. Your air, rail, bus, or cruise carriers may also have their own requirements.
If you are a US citizen, you do not need to be vaccinated to return to the US from another country. If you are not a US citizen, proof of vaccination is required.
Check the CDC website on international travel for the testing requirements of the countries you're visiting. Each country has its own rules about COVID and travelers. do, too. Your air, rail, bus, or cruise carriers may also have their own requirements.
You don't have to test before coming into the US, but the CDC recommends that you take one 3 - 5 days after you get here. If you haven't had COVID-19 in the past 90 days, you can take either a PCR test or a rapid test. If you've had the virus during that time, you'll need to take a rapid test.
Each time you use a rapid test, report your result — whether you test positive or negative.
For more details, see the CDC website on returning from international travel.