Ready for some good news on a Friday? The CDC’s updated travel recommendations announced that because fully vaccinated travelers are less likely to get and spread Covid-19, “people who are fully vaccinated with an FDA-authorized vaccine can travel safely within the United States.”
Can I travel once I’ve been vaccinated?
The CDC has announced that domestic travel is safe for vaccinated travelers, so you’ll be able to travel without restrictions once you’ve gotten your vaccine. (Of course, you can travel without a vaccine as well, you’ll just need to follow testing and/or quarantine requirements.) You’re considered fully vaccinated once it’s been 14 days or more after your second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine, or after the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. If you’re fully vaccinated, here’s what you need to know about traveling:
If you’re vaccinated, you do not need to:
- Get a Covid-19 test before or after domestic travel (unless required by state health authorities—i.e. follow individual state guidelines regarding testing for vaccinated travelers. If there isn’t any specific state guidelines, then the CDC’s guidelines apply).
- Quarantine after traveling domestically.
- Get tested before leaving the US (unless required by your destination. See Covid-19 travel requirements by country before traveling.)
- Quarantine after traveling internationally.
If you’re vaccinated, you still need to:
- Follow state-by-state guidelines for domestic travel, as it relates to vaccinated travelers (i.e. some states still require testing, even if you’re vaccinated).
- Get a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours before arriving or returning to the US after international travel, per the CDC guidelines.
- It’s recommended that vaccinated travelers still get tested for Covid 3-5 days after returning from international travel.
- Follow preventative guidelines like wearing a mask in public spaces and practicing social distancing.
Can I travel if I’m not vaccinated?
The CDC still recommends postponing non-essential travel until you’ve been vaccinated. However, all US states are open for domestic travel, some with testing or quarantine requirements. At the time of writing, there are 32 states with no testing or quarantine requirements for visiting.
Where can I travel right now?
All travelers—vaccinated and un-vaccinated alike—can see what your travel options are by checking our updated lists of travel requirements and restrictions. Find out where you can go with our state-by-state guide to US travel restrictions and our complete list of where Americans can travel internationally.
Looking for flights? We’ve got cheap summer flights both in the US and internationally—where are you going to travel next?
