CNN staff
If you’re planning to travel to the United States, here’s what you should know and expect if you want to visit during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Grounds
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has lifted its requirement that travelers test negative for Covid-19 before entering the United States.
After nation-specific lockdowns throughout the pandemic, the United States reopened its borders to fully vaccinated visitors from other nations on November 8, 2021.
While the CDC still recommends that everyone 2 and older wear a suitable mask on public transportation, masks are currently not required on airplanes, trains, and other forms of public transportation.
What’s on offer
The size and scope of the United States gives travelers so many choices.
There are stunning landscapes (Alaska, Utah and the Maine coastline) and world-famous city breaks (New York, Las Vegas and Los Angeles).
There is cultural diversity (Boston, Memphis and San Francisco) and delicious food (Chicago, New Orleans and Charleston).
Finally, it has some of the best road trips in the world (California Highway 1, Route 66 and the Blue Ridge Parkway).
Who can go
The United States no longer has any Covid-related travel bans against specific countries.
Visitors 18 years of age and older who are not US citizens, US citizens, lawful permanent residents or green card holders must be fully vaccinated to enter. Children 17 years and older are excluded. Click here for other exceptions.
There are no restrictions on domestic travel within the United States. However, the CDC recommends that all domestic travelers be tested for Covid-19 as close to their departure as possible.
What are the limitations?
To be considered fully vaccinated, travelers must have received the second dose (or one dose for a single-dose vaccine) 14 days prior to arrival.
As of July 27, boosters should not be considered fully vaccinated.
The vaccine must either be approved by the US Federal Drug Administration or have an emergency use list from the World Health Organization (such as Astrazeneca). Mixed dose vaccinations will also be accepted. Find the full list of accepted vaccines here, along with acceptable ways to prove vaccination.
The vaccination requirement does not apply to US citizens, lawful permanent residents, or US nationals.
Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is currently not required in indoor public transport areas, including on planes, buses, trains and other forms of public transport. Learn more here under the heading “During Travel / Masks”.
All air passengers in the United States are required to provide contact information for airlines before boarding flights to the United States.
What is the situation with Covid?
Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, there have been approximately 90.9 million total cases and more than 1 million deaths in the United States (as of July 27). Find out more details with CNN’s Covid tracker.
As of July 27, more than 601.5 million vaccine doses have been administered across the country. This translates to 181 doses for 180 people. You can get CNN’s state-by-state breakdown here.
What can visitors expect?
The United States is now almost entirely open to the places tourists usually enjoy: national and state parks, museums, restaurants, entertainment venues, theme parks, and more.
It is important to check the rules of your destinations before travelling. This CNN guide provides links to Covid rules and safety information for each state.
Here is more detailed information on some popular tourist spots:
• New York City: The key to NYC requirements was removed on March 7. Proof of vaccination is no longer required for patrons of the city’s indoor dining, fitness and entertainment facilities. Learn more about visiting New York here.
• Las Vegas: Nevada lifted the indoor mask mandate on February 10. Learn more about visiting Las Vegas here.
• Hawaii: The Aloha State lifted its statewide indoor mask mandate on March 25. The Safe Travels program in Hawaii expired on the same day. Learn more about Hawaii here.
• Puerto Rico: The U.S. territory of Puerto Rico no longer requires domestic travelers to provide proof of vaccination or take a Covid-19 test prior to arrival, according to Discover Puerto Rico. Entry rules for international travel are the same as for the United States.
• Disney Parks: Both Disney Resorts (California and Florida) are open. Each park follows local regulations regarding Covid. In the United States, guests who are not fully vaccinated are encouraged to wear a mask indoors. Learn here about Disney parks in the United States and around the world.
More useful links
CDC website for international travel
Vaccination guidelines
Required documentation
Air travel rating
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Top image: South Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. (Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images) CNN’s Forrest Brown and Marnie Hunter contributed to this article.
