Know Your Travel Risk
Travel increases your chances of getting and spreading COVID-19. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
Some travel activities, like the transportation you choose and where you stay, can increase your risk of getting COVID-19. Your chances of exposure are higher if you come into close contact with others, especially people you don’t know, or use shared public facilities (like restrooms). COVID-19 is spreading in the United States and in many international destinations. Visiting locations where there are fewer cases of COVID-19 may be less risky for getting COVID-19 than visiting locations where there are more cases of COVID-19.
Before you travel, learn which travel activities are lower risk to protect yourself and others. Keep in mind that getting from one place to another is just one piece of the travel risk. Your activities and who you interact with before, during, and after travel may increase your risk.
Transportation
Your chances of getting COVID-19 while traveling depends not only on the length of the trip and the number of stops, but also on whether you and those around you take precautions, such as wearing masks and staying at least 6 feet away from other people. Airports, bus stations, train stations, and rest stops are all places travelers can be exposed to the virus through respiratory droplets or on surfaces. These are also places where it can be hard to keep your distance. In general, the longer you are around a person with COVID-19 (even if they do not have symptoms), the more likely you are to get infected.
When traveling on any public transportation, wear a mask for the duration of your trip, including while waiting in transportation hubs (airports, bus or ferry terminals, train or subway stations, seaports, or similar areas), while on public transportation conveyances (e.g., airplanes, ships, ferries, trains, subways, buses, taxis, ride-shares), and at your destination.
During car travel, making stops along the way for gas, food, or bathroom breaks can put you and your traveling companions in close contact with other people and frequently touched surfaces. If traveling in a RV, you may have to stop less often for food or bathroom breaks, but you could still be in close contact with others while staying at RV parks overnight and while getting gas and supplies at public places.
Traveling on buses and trains for any length of time can involve sitting or standing within 6 feet of others, which may increase your risk of getting COVID-19. If you choose to travel by bus or train, learn what you can do to protect yourself on public transportation.
Air travel requires spending time in security lines and airport terminals, which can bring you in close contact with other people and frequently touched surfaces. Most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on flights because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes. However, keeping your distance is difficult on crowded flights, and sitting within 6 feet of others, sometimes for hours, may increase your risk of getting COVID-19.
Traveling Abroad? Check CDC’s COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Destination before planning your trip.
- Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
- Short trips by car with members of your household with no stops along the way
- Longer trips by car or RV with one or more stops along the way
- Trips by car or RV with people who are not in your household
- Long-distance train or bus trips
- Direct flights
- Flights with layovers
- Traveling on a cruise ship or river boat
If You Decide to Travel
Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. If you do decide to travel, be sure to take these steps during your trip to protect yourself and others from COVID-19:
- Check travel restrictions before you go.
- Get your flu shot before you travel.
- Bring extra supplies, such as masks and hand sanitizer.
- Know when to delay your travel. Do not travel if you or your travel companions are sick.
- Wear a mask to keep your nose and mouth covered when in public settings, including on public transportation and in transportation hubs such as airports and stations.
- Avoid close contact by staying at least 6 feet apart (about 2 arm lengths) from anyone who is not from your travel group.
- Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol).
- Avoid contact with anyone who is sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
People You Are in Contact with During Travel
COVID-19 is spread mainly through close contact from person-to-person. Some people without symptoms may be able to spread the virus. The more closely you interact with others, the more people you interact with, and the longer those interactions, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread. Therefore, doing things and spending time with people you live with is less risky than doing things and spending time with people not from your household.
Are you, someone you live with, or someone you plan on visiting at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19?
Travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Anyone can get very ill from the virus that causes COVID-19, but older adults and people with certain underlying medical conditions are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. If you get infected while traveling, you can spread the virus to loved ones when you return, even if you don’t have symptoms.
Interacting with household members only (indoors and outdoors)
Interacting with a few people who are not from your household, if:
- All are from the local area
- You meet outdoors
- All wear a mask
- All stay at least 6 feet away from people they do not live with
- No one shares food, drinks or personal items with people they don’t live with
Interacting with a few people, if:
- People are from neighboring or other communities
- You meet in an open, well-ventilated indoor space
- Most (not all) wear a mask
- Most stay at least 6 feet away from people they do not live with
- Most limit sharing of food and personal items with others
Interacting with crowds, especially if:
- People travel from distant communities or the crowd is made up of people from different places
- Spread of COVID-19 is high in the community
- You meet in a confined, poorly ventilated indoor space
- Few people wear a mask
- No one stays at least 6 feet away from people they do not live with
- People freely share food and personal items with others
Lodging
Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. Spending time with people you live with is less risky than doing things and spending time with people not from your household. When traveling overnight, check your accommodations’ COVID-19 prevention practices before you go.
- Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
- A house or cabin with people from your household (e.g., vacation rentals)
- Hotels or multi-unit guest lodgings (e.g., bed and breakfasts)
- Staying at a family member’s or friend’s home
- A house or cabin with people that are not in your household (e.g., vacation rentals)
- Shared spaces with many people and shared bathroom facilities (e.g., dormitory-style hostels)
Food
The more closely you interact with others, the more people you interact with, and the longer those interactions, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread. Your chances of getting COVID-19 while eating out also depends on whether you and those around you take steps to protect yourself and others, such as wearing masks and staying 6 feet away from people outside your household. Dining options that involve touching shared serving utensils, handles, buttons, or touchscreens also increase exposure risk. Before dining at a restaurant, check the restaurant’s COVID-19 prevention practices.
- Bringing your own food and drinks
- Using drive-thru, delivery, and curbside pick-up options
- Wear a mask when interacting with restaurant employees
- Picking up take-out food or drink inside of a restaurant
- Eating outside at a restaurant where:
- Distancing at least 6 feet is possible
- Servers and other restaurant staff wear masks
- Diners wear masks when not eating or drinking
- Self-service options that minimize touching of surfaces, such as touchless drink dispensers
- Eating inside at a restaurant where:
- Dining area is well ventilated
- Distancing at least 6 feet is possible
- Servers and other restaurant staff wear masks
- Diners wear masks when not eating or drinking
- Self-service options that require limited touching of surfaces, such as touch-screen drink dispensers or use of touchpads for ordering
- Eating inside at a restaurant where:
- Dining area is poorly ventilated
- Distancing at least 6 feet is not possible
- Where servers and restaurant staff do not wear masks
- Diners do not wear masks
- Self-service options that require extensive touching of surfaces, such as buffets
Camping
The more closely you interact with others, the more people you interact with, and the longer those interactions, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread. When camping, it is important that you follow steps to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
- Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
- Camping with people from your household only and not sharing facilities with persons outside of your household
- All wear masks when interacting with people they do not live with
- Camping with people from your household only, but sharing facilities with people outside of your household, where distancing at least 6 feet is possible
- Camping with friends or family who are not in your household and sharing tents or cabins with them
- Most (not all) wear a mask when interacting with people they do not live with
- Camping in large dormitory-style settings with many people and shared facilities
- Few wear a mask when interacting with people they do not live with
After You Travel
You may have been exposed to COVID-19 on your travels. You may feel well and not have any symptoms, but you can still spread the virus to others. You and your travel companions (including children) may pose a risk to your family, friends, and community after your travel.
- Consider getting tested with a viral test 3–5 days after your trip and reduce non-essential activities for a full 7 days after travel, even if your test is negative. If you don’t get tested, consider reducing non-essential activities for 10 days.
- If your test is positive, isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected.
Also take these actions for 14 days after you return from travel to protect others from getting COVID-19:
- Stay at least 6 feet/2 meters (about 2 arm lengths) from anyone who did not travel with you, particularly in crowded areas. It’s important to do this everywhere — both indoors and outdoors.
- Wear a mask to keep your nose and mouth covered when you are in shared spaces outside of your home, including when using public transportation.
- If there are people in the household who did not travel with you, wear a mask and ask everyone in the household to wear masks in shared spaces inside your home.
- Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness.
- Watch your health: Look for symptoms of COVID-19, and take your temperature if you feel sick.
Follow all state and local recommendations or requirements after travel.