The majority of people in the United States are under a form of stay-at-home order to try to squelch the deadly coronavirus pandemic, yet some still have their reasons for wanting to drive across parts of the country.
In the last days, The New York Times has heard from people who have older parents in need of assistance, a new grandmother in Ohio whose daughter in North Carolina wants help with the baby, and those who were scheduled to move to a new job or home, all seeking advice on whether a road trip was advisable or even feasible.
The Constitution guarantees the right to enter one state and leave another, but jurisdictions can require quarantines or statements of purpose. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease doctor, has said the White House coronavirus task force “literally every day” considers the possibility of restricting domestic travel in certain areas.
With the situation in such flux, anyone considering a long-distance drive should follow the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and also research the situation in the states, counties, and cities that they will be visiting for closures, restrictions, food options and hotel reservations.
Here is the situation as of April 10 in each of the contiguous 48 states and the District of Columbia. Additionally, Alaska and Hawaii are requiring anyone arriving to quarantine for 14 days.
Driving restrictions: Statewide stay-at-home order except for essential activities.
Restaurants: No dine-in service.
Hotels: Allowed to remain open.
Other: All beaches closed.
Driving restrictions: Statewide stay-at-home order except for essential activities.
Restaurants: There is a statewide order prohibiting dine-in service in any county with confirmed cases of COVID-19, which currently includes all counties in Arizona.
Hotels: Allowed to remain open.
Other: A mandatory 14-day quarantine for most travelers arriving by air from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut went into effect on April 9.
Driving restrictions: An executive order from Gov. Asa Hutchinson prevents individual jurisdictions in the state from issuing shelter-in-place orders, so some areas are implementing curfews instead. Both Little Rock and Jonesboro limit travel from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Restaurants: No dine-in service.
Hotels: Hotels, motels, and vacation rentals are open only to authorized guests.
Other: Casinos are closed, and state parks are open only for day use.
Driving restrictions: Stay-at-home order in effect for all but essential activities.
Restaurants: No dine-in service.
Hotels: More than 150 hotels are providing discounted housing to health care workers helping coronavirus patients, and 800 others are potentially eligible for participation in the state’s leasing program.
Other: Many state and national parks are closed. Travel to rural outdoor destinations is discouraged.
Driving restrictions: Shelter-in-place order in effect for all but essential activities. On April 9, officials in Gunnison County, home to Crested Butte Mountain ski resort, issued a public health order prohibiting all nonresidents, including nonresident homeowners, from remaining in the county until at least April 30.
Restaurants: No dine-in service.
Hotels: Not ordered to close.
Other: Rocky Mountain National Park is closed. Nonessential travel to rural destinations is discouraged because of limited medical facilities.
Driving restrictions: A shelter-in-place order is in effect for all but essential activities. Any person coming into Connecticut by any mode of transportation is strongly urged to self-quarantine for 14 days.
Restaurants: No dine-in service.
Hotels: Lodging for leisure, vacation, and other nonessential purposes is prohibited.
Other: Gov. Ned Lamont has strongly encouraged all Connecticut residents to avoid out-of-state travel.
Driving restrictions: Anyone from out of state traveling into Delaware is ordered to self-quarantine for 14 days, unless they are just transiting. Law enforcement officers are authorized to stop vehicles with out-of-state license plates to ask about recent travel and inform them of the quarantine requirement, unless they are driving on I-95, I-295, or I-495. A shelter-in-place order is in effect for all but essential activities.
Restaurants: No dine-in service.
Hotels: All short-term rentals in the state are banned through May 15, with the exception of rentals to health care providers, journalists, those with public housing vouchers and victims of domestic violence.
Driving restrictions: A stay-at-home order for all but essential activities is in effect. Travel is allowed for nonresidents to return to their homes outside of Washington, D.C.
Restaurants: Some are open for takeout and delivery.
Hotels: Have not been ordered to close.
Driving restrictions: The governor is requiring most individuals who enter Florida from states with substantial community spread — including New York, New Jersey and Connecticut — to self-quarantine or self-isolate for 14 days or the duration of their trip, whichever is shorter. Roadside checkpoints are set up on interstates, and, in addition, anyone from Louisiana will be ordered to quarantine for 14 days. A shelter-in-place order is in effect except for essential trips.
Restaurants: No dine-in service.
Hotels: Those offering vacation rentals are prohibited from taking on new reservations and from accepting new guests, in most cases. Hotels, motels, inns, time-shares, and resorts are exempt.
Other: Theme parks and other attractions are closed, as are many beaches. The Florida Keys are closed to visitors.
Driving restrictions: A shelter-in-place order is in effect for all but essential activities.
Restaurants: No dine-in service.
Hotels: New short-term vacation rentals are suspended from April 9 through April 30; this does not apply to hotels, motels, extended-stay lodging or campgrounds.
Other: Beaches are open, but visitors must follow social-distancing guidelines.
Driving restrictions: A stay-at-home order is in effect for all but essential activities. Some counties have individual orders. Anyone arriving in Blaine County from out of state, for instance, must isolate for 14 days, regardless of whether they are a resident or visitor.
Restaurants: No dine-in service.
Hotels: Blaine County, home to Sun Valley, has banned hotel and short-term rentals to those from outside the county unless they are performing essential functions.
Other: Leisure travel in Idaho is discouraged. Idaho state parks are closed to camping through May 15. Many hot springs, campgrounds and parking areas in Boise National Forest are closed.
Driving restrictions: A stay-at-home order is in effect for all but essential activities.
Restaurants: No dine-in service.
Hotels: No closure order.
Other: State parks, recreation areas, and historic sites are closed, as are Chicago’s entire Lakefront Trail, adjacent parks, 606 Trail and Riverwalk.
Driving restrictions: A shelter-in-place order bans all but essential activities and travel. For instance, nonresidents are allowed to return to their homes outside of the state, but are “strongly encouraged to verify that transportation out of Indiana remains available and functional before such travel.”
Restaurants: No dine-in service.
Hotels: Hotels and motels remain open only for lodging and food delivery or carryout.
Other: Campgrounds throughout Indiana are closed except to those who live in R.V.s or in campgrounds with no other viable place of residence. No overnight stays are allowed in state parks.
Driving restrictions: None.
Restaurants: No dine-in service.
Hotels: No closure order.
Other: Casinos, campgrounds and all other nonessential businesses have been ordered closed.
Driving restrictions: A stay-at-home order is in effect for all but essential activities. Depending on the date of travel, home quarantine for 14 days is required for those who recently visited Connecticut, Louisiana, Colorado, California, Florida, New York, Washington, Illinois, and New Jersey.
Restaurants: Remain open with social distancing of six feet between tables or bar stools. No self-service, unpackaged food such as salad bars or buffets.
Hotels: Have not been ordered closed.
Driving restrictions: Residents or nonresidents of Kentucky who enter the state must self-quarantine for 14 days. Exceptions are made for those traveling for employment, for work related to the state of emergency, for essential supplies, for health care, to care for a vulnerable person, or when required by a court order. Residents are encouraged to stay home and limit in-person contact.
Restaurants: Closed except for drive-through, delivery and, in some instances, takeout.
Hotels: Have not been ordered closed.
Other: Kentucky State Parks are closed for overnight stays.
Driving restrictions: Statewide stay-at-home order except for essential activities.
Restaurants: Only drive-through, curbside, and delivery service allowed.
Hotels: Allowed to remain open.
Other: Concert, music halls and other places of public amusement have been closed.
Driving restrictions: Gov. Janet Mills has ordered all travelers arriving in Maine, except for those providing essential services, to self-quarantine for 14 days. Visitors are also advised not to travel to Maine from a Covid-19 hot spot or if they are displaying symptoms of the coronavirus. A “Stay Healthy at Home” directive prohibits travel except for essential activity.
Restaurants: No dine-in service.
Hotels: All lodging operations, including hotels, motels, bed-and-breakfasts, inns, Airbnb rentals, R.V. parks, and campgrounds have been suspended, except for those serving vulnerable populations.
Driving restrictions: A stay-at-home order is in place except for essential activities. Residents of Maryland who travel outside of the state are instructed to self-quarantine for 14 days.
Restaurants: Takeout or drive-through only.
Hotels: Have not been ordered closed.
Other: Campgrounds are closed, except for those living in R.V.s at campgrounds who have no other viable place of residence. Casinos are closed.
Driving restrictions: All travelers arriving in Massachusetts are instructed to self-quarantine for 14 days unless they are essential workers. Visitors should not travel to the state if they have symptoms of COVID-19. People are asked to stay at home except for essential activities.
Restaurants: No dine-in-service.
Hotels: Lodging for leisure or vacation is prohibited, but it is allowed when necessary for an essential service.
Driving restrictions: People may enter or leave the state to go to their residence. Travel to a vacation rental is banned. After Friday, travel between two residences within Michigan prohibited in most instances. A stay-at-home order bans all but essential activities.
Restaurants: Takeout food is allowed.
Hotels: Have not been closed.
Driving restrictions: A stay-at-home order limits all but essential activities.
Restaurants: No dine-in service. Social distancing rules must be followed when picking up food.
Hotels: Have not been closed.
Driving restrictions: People should avoid nonessential gatherings in groups of more than 10 where they are in proximity to each other.
Restaurants: Can remain open if they can have no more than 10 people gathered in proximity.
Hotels: Have not been ordered closed.
Driving restrictions: A stay-at-home order allows only for essential activities.
Restaurants: Takeout, delivery or drive-through.
Hotels: Have not been ordered to close.
Driving restrictions: Travelers from out of state for nonwork-related purposes must self-quarantine for 14 days or the duration of their visit, whichever is shorter. A stay-at-home order directs people to stay at home as much as possible.
Restaurants: No dine-in service.
Hotels: Have not been ordered closed.
Driving restrictions: Travelers to the state from areas of widespread transmission should self-quarantine for 14 days, and all out-of-state travelers (excluding commuters who are driving across state lines for work) are asked to quarantine, if feasible. A Directed Health Measure limits public gatherings to 10 people.
Restaurants: Takeout, delivery or curbside service only. Lines must socially distance.
Hotels: Not ordered to close.
Driving restrictions: People arriving in Nevada from out of state are asked to self-quarantine and monitor their health for 14 days after arriving. All people are asked to stay at home except for essential activities.
Restaurants: No dine-in service.
Hotels: Hotels and motels are closed.
Other: Casinos are closed.
Driving restrictions: Statewide stay-at-home order except for essential activities.
Restaurants: No dine-in service.
Hotels: All lodging is restricted to vulnerable populations and essential workers.
Driving restrictions: Statewide stay-at-home order except for essential activities.
Restaurants: Drive-through, delivery, and takeout only.
Hotels: Have not been ordered to close.
Other: All state parks, forests and county parks are closed. Casinos are closed.
Driving restrictions: All travelers from outside the state are asked to self-isolate for 14 days and monitor themselves for any symptoms. Statewide stay-at-home order except for essential activities.
Restaurants: Takeout and delivery only.
Hotels: Hotels, motels, R.V. parks and other places of lodging shall not operate at more than 25 percent of maximum occupancy.
Driving restrictions: Statewide stay-at-home order except for essential activities.
Restaurants: Takeout and delivery only.
Hotels: Not asked to close.
Driving restrictions: While North Carolina’s borders are open, some counties have imposed entry restrictions or curfews. Statewide stay-at-home order except for essential activities.
Restaurants: Takeout and delivery only.
Hotels: Have not been ordered to close.
Driving restrictions: Those arriving in North Dakota must quarantine immediately for 14 days or the duration of their stay, whichever is shorter. Some exemptions apply, including for commuters and some essential workers.
Restaurants: No dine-in service.
Hotels: Not ordered to close.
Other: Buildings at rest areas have been closed, although the parking lots remain open.
Driving restrictions: People stopping in the state are asked to self-quarantine for 14 days unless they are traveling for an essential reason, such as health care, taking care of a vulnerable person, or a child custody arrangement. Statewide stay-at-home order except for essential activities.
Restaurants: No dine-in service.
Hotels: Have not been asked to close.
Other: Campgrounds are closed except for those living in R.V.s with no other place to go.
Driving restrictions: Requires people arriving from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Louisiana, California and Washington to quarantine for 14 days. A statewide shelter-in-place order applies only to those 65 and older and those with underlying medical conditions. Some cities, like Oklahoma City and Tulsa, have issued broader stay-at-home orders.
Restaurants: Curbside pickup and delivery only.
Hotels: Have not been asked to close.
Driving restrictions: Statewide stay-at-home order except for essential activities.
Restaurants: Takeout or delivery only.
Hotels: Not ordered to close.
Other: The entire Oregon state park system closed. No daytime or overnight visitors are permitted.
Driving restrictions: Statewide stay-at-home order except for essential activities.
Restaurants: No dine-in service.
Hotels: Not ordered to close.
Driving restrictions: Any person entering Rhode Island by any mode of transportation after visiting another state for a nonwork-related purpose must self-quarantine for 14 days unless they are a public health, public safety or health care worker. Rhode Island State Police and National Guard have checkpoints set up to ask drivers if they plan to stay or are passing through. The state is under a stay-at-home order except for essential activities.
Restaurants: No dine-in service.
Hotels: Not ordered to close.
Other: State beaches and parks are closed. Seasonal campground openings are being postponed until at least May 1.
Driving restrictions: Individuals entering South Carolina from an area with widespread or ongoing community coronavirus transmission should stay home for 14 days. By order of the governor, those locations include New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and the city of New Orleans. The state is under a stay-at-home order except for essential activities.
Restaurants: No dine-in service.
Hotels: Hotels and other lodgings are prohibited from making or accepting new reservations from people from any area identified in a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention travel advisory as having extensive community transmission. Essential workers are excluded.
Other: Public beach access points are closed.
Driving restrictions: Residents are asked, but not ordered, to stay home when possible, and not to congregate in groups larger than 10 people.
Restaurants and hotels: Most businesses are open.
Driving restrictions: Statewide stay-at-home order except for essential activities.
Restaurants: No on-site dining.
Hotels: Have not been asked to close.
Other: Tennessee State Parks are closed through April 14, at least.
Driving restrictions: People arriving in Texas by car from Louisiana, must self-quarantine for 14 days, or the duration of their trip, whichever is shorter. Additionally, most people arriving from California, Washington or the cities of Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, and Miami, must also self-quarantine. That restriction does not apply to certain essential workers and the military. Statewide stay-at-home order except for essential activities.
Restaurants: People are encouraged to use pickup options for food and avoid eating in restaurants.
Hotels: Not ordered to close.
Driving restrictions: Travelers entering the state must share their travel plans and report any coronavirus symptoms as they arrive. Drivers crossing state lines at the five most common entry points will get a text message telling them how to comply. The statewide “Stay Safe, Stay Home” directive is similar to a stay-at-home-order but doesn’t close businesses or come with enforcement.
Restaurants: Takeout or delivery.
Hotels: Have not been required to close.
Other: State residents are supposed to self-quarantine for 14 days after traveling. Some cities, including Salt Lake City, have enacted their own stay-at-home orders.
Driving restrictions: Residents and nonresidents entering Vermont for anything other than an essential purpose must self-quarantine for 14 days. State residents are encouraged to self-quarantine if they are traveling from an area that has a similar order in place. Vermont is under a statewide stay-at-home order except for essential activities
Restaurants: Takeout service only.
Hotels: Vacation rentals, hotels, and other lodging have been ordered to close except for those needed for COVID-19 response.
Driving restrictions: Statewide stay-at-home order except for essential activities.
Restaurants: Takeout and delivery only.
Hotels: No order for hotels to close.
Driving restrictions: The state’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order has banned gatherings and temporarily closed nonessential businesses.
Restaurants: No dine-in service.
Hotels: Not ordered to close.
Other: All state parks are closed.
Driving restrictions: Avoid nonessential travel. Those age 60 and older or with underlying health conditions should avoid nonessential public places.
Restaurants: No dine-in service.
Hotels: Not ordered closed.
Other: Casinos are closed.
Driving restrictions: State officials recommend canceling or postponing all nonessential travel, including within the state. Statewide stay-at-home order except for essential activities. Residents who traveled outside their local community in the past 14 days are asked to stay home and monitor themselves for symptoms for 14 days upon return.
Restaurants: Takeout and delivery only.
Hotels: Not required to close.
Other: Several counties in Wisconsin have issued travel advisories for seasonal and second-home owners.
Driving restrictions: Passage through the state is allowed, but nonresidents who are in-state for reasons other than work must self-quarantine for 14 days or the duration of the visit, whichever is shorter.
Restaurants: Delivery or takeout only.
Hotels: Not ordered closed.
Source: msn.com, cbc.ca, msnbc.com
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