U.S. State by State Quarantine and Testing Rules

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Last Updated 3 years ago

As of 2021, there are still some U.S. states that are requiring both visitors or residents returning home to quarantine or fulfill testing requirements. Yes, they seem to change the rules every time you blink. No, you’re not alone in feeling utterly lost and confused by all the regulations.

We’ve created this easy guide to state-by-state quarantine and testing rules in the U.S. that doesn’t require a law degree to decipher or brain surgery to understand.

Below you will see a complete list of U.S. states, what types of entry requirements or restrictions they have, and everything you need to know before you travel there as a tourist or return home there as a resident.

So that we don’t constantly repeat ourselves, almost every state that does require a test and/or quarantine for persons entering has exemptions for essential travel, like cross border workers, healthcare professionals, education, etc. If you are an essential worker or traveler, research the individual state you want to enter to find out your exemption details (all states below are linked to their official government pages)

Note: While we do our best to only use official government sources and keep this article as accurate as possible, changes and modifications are constant. It’s your responsibility to research the rules and regulations pertaining to your own travel itinerary and the below list should just be used as a helpful guide to point you in the right direction. Please adhere to all government advisories and recommendations.

U.S. States with Quarantines or Testing Requirements  

Alaska

14-Day Quarantine and/or Molecular Test Highly Recommended

All travelers (both residents and tourists) arriving in Alaska must submit a travel declaration and self-isolation plan on the Alaska Travel Portal.

As of March 2021 arrivals are no longer required to show proof of a negative test, but are still being highly encouraged to do so.

Alaska Source

Colorado

Mandatory Form

While the state of Colorado does not have any specific travel rules, ski towns like Aspen have made their own requirements for visitors.  Prior to March 2021, proof of a negative PCR test was required, but has now been dropped.

As of March 5, 2021 travelers to areas like Pitkin County will need to fill out a form acknowledging they know and understand the covid-19 policies of the area. Tests are still encouraged, but not mandatory.

Pitkin County Source

Kansas

14-Day Quarantine Required For Some Arrivals

Kansas is requiring a 14-day quarantine for travelers or residents coming from certain states, all cruise or river boat travel, and certain international countries.

The list is quite the mix of U.S. states and foreign countries and is updated frequently.

They have also added a way to shorten the 14-day quarantine down to 7-days, with a negative PCR test on the 7th day. 

Kansas Source

New Mexico

14-Day Quarantine Recommended

Any individual traveling to New Mexico from states deemed high-risk based on COVID-positivity rates are being asked to self-quarantine for 14 days from the date of their entry into New Mexico or for the duration of their stay in the state, whichever is shorter.

This advice went from ‘required' to ‘recommended' in March 2021.

New Mexico Source

Hawaii

10-Day Quarantine and/or Testing Required

Hawaii has been one of the strictest states when it comes to entry requirements.

All arrivals must fill out a Hawaii Safe Travels Form online, preferably before 24 hours to departure. 

No matter if the traveler is a resident or a tourist, they are required to quarantine for 10-days, but now have an option for pre-arrival testing to circumvent the quarantine requirement.

The type of test required is a Nucleic Acid Covid-19 test and it can only be performed by a list of approved testing partners, listed on Hawaii’s state site. The test must be performed, with results available, within 72 hours of departure into Hawaii. 

Travel between most islands is still restricted with the same 10-day quarantine or 72-hour nucleic acid test requirements in place.

Hawaii Source

Kentucky

14-Day Quarantine Recommended

All international arrivals or returns, no matter the country, entering into Kentucky are being asked to quarantine for 14 days.

As for out of state travel, the health department of Kentucky is asking all passengers, both residents and tourists, to quarantine for 14 days.

On December 14, 2020, the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) revised its travel guidance to discourage all out-of-state leisure travel until further notice.

Kentucky Source

Ohio

14-Day Quarantine Strongly Recommended

Ohio is advising all passengers arriving, both tourists and residents, to quarantine for 14-days if they are coming from a state with a rolling 7-day average infection rate over 15%.

Ohio’s department of health site states the advisory is “intended as guidance and is not a mandate.”

Ohio Source

New York

10-Day Quarantine Recommended For Unvaccinated Travelers

As of April 10, 2021, New York has now removed the mandatory 10-day quarantine and is now suggesting that unvaccinated passengers still self isolate, but at their discretion.

Travelers must still complete the Traveler Health Form, unless they have only left for a time period shorter than 24 hours, or are coming from a state that’s contiguous to New York. Contiguous states are Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont.

New York Source

Maryland

Testing and Quarantine Recommended

As of March 2021, the 10-day required quarantine and testing rules to enter/return to Maryland have been dropped. The state is now recommending testing and quarantine, but it's no longer mandatory.

Maryland Source

Pennsylvania 

10-Day Quarantine and/or Testing Recommended

Both visitors to Pennsylvania and residents returning home from select high-risk states are now recommended to quarantine for 10-days. The requirement to isolate/test was dropped March 10, 2021

Pennsylvania Source

New Jersey

10-Day Quarantine Strongly Recommended

New Jersey is asking visitors or residents returning from all states to quarantine for 10-days upon arrival. 

• If travel is unavoidable, travelers should consider getting tested with a viral test (not an antibody test) 1-3 days before the trip and again 3-5 days after the trip.
• If travelers test positive, they should self-isolate for at least 10 days and should postpone travel during that time.
• If travelers test negative, they should quarantine for a full 7 days after travel.

While no forms are mandatory, the state of New Jersey is asking for a voluntary survey to be filled out

New Jersey Source

Connecticut

Testing and Quarantine After Returning Recommended

As of Marh 19, 2021 the 10-day quarantine is no longer in place.

Connecticut is asking all returning or visiting persons to follow CDC guidelines, which include testing 3-5 days after traveling, all while staying home for 7 days. This is recommended and not required.

Connecticut Source

Massachusetts

10-Day Quarantine Advised

As of March 22, 2021 the 10-day mandatory quarantine has been removed and has been replaced with a 10-day quarantine advisory/recommendation. The form has also been removed.

They're advising that anyone who takes a test and receives a negative result while doing their recommended quarantine can end it early.

Massachusetts Source

New Hampshire

10-Day Quarantine Recommended

As of March 21, 2021 the below advice went from ‘required' to ‘recommended':

Residents returning home or visitors entering New Hampshire from out of state or abroad are recommended to self-quarantine for 10-days upon arrival. If the person is asymptomatic and has a negative PCR test on or after day 7 of quarantining, they may shorten or end their quarantine at that time. Fully vaccinated passengers or recovered passengers are exempt from the recommendation.

New Hampshire Source

Vermont

Testing Required for Unvaccinated Passengers

Vermont is requiring all unvaccinated visitors and residents returning to bring proof of a negative PCR or antigen test, taken no longer than 3 days before arrival.

As of April 9, 2021, vaccinated travelers are exempt from the testing requirements.

Vermont Source

Maine

10-Day Quarantine and/or Testing Required

Maine requires all visitors or residents returning home complete a 10-day quarantine unless they can show proof of a negative PCR or Antigen test, taken within 72 hours of arrival.

All arrivals into the state will have to fill out the certificate of compliance, which will also be needed in order to check into any hotel or accommodation. 

Maine does have a few neighboring states who are exempt from the quarantine and/or testing requirements. Currently, they are: New Hampshire and Vermont.

Maine Source

California

10-Day Quarantine Recommended for unvaccinated travelers (LA County)

Unvaccinated persons arriving in LA Country from other states or countries, including returning California residents, should quarantine for 10 days. A travel form must also be filled out for any traveler entering LA county from out of state/country over the age of 16.

The previous stay at home order was lifted January 25, 2021.

Californians are encouraged to stay home or in their region and avoid non-essential travel to other states or countries at this time. 

California Source

Oregon

14-Day Quarantine Strongly Recommended

As of November 13^th, Oregon is asking residents to avoid non-essential travel out of state and is strongly advising all visitors or residents returning to complete a 14-day quarantine.

Oregon Source

Rhode Island

14-Day Quarantine and/or Testing Required

Rhode Island has a few steps travelers to complete.

Forms: Out-of-state visitors are to complete this certificate of compliance with out-of-state travel quarantine/testing requirements and out-of-state travel screening form upon arriving in Rhode Island. If staying in a hotel, the completed certificate of compliance is required to show the front desk at check-in.

14-Day Quarantine: If you are traveling to Rhode Island from a U.S. state with a positivity rate of higher than 5%, you must quarantine for 14 days and self-monitor for symptoms.

Testing To End Quarantine Early: Arrivals also have the option of bringing a negative PCR test taken no longer than 72 hours before arrival to circumvent quarantine completely – or – Have a test done during quarantine, in which a negative result will end quarantine early.

Rhode Island Source

Illinois

10-Day Quarantine and/or Testing Required (for Chicago Only)

State-wide there are no restrictions, but Chicago has implemented their own rules.

They have developed a color-coded map with all states listed under yellow, orange, or red level of risk. Travel from yellow states requires NO quarantine and/or testing. Orange is a choice between a 10-day quarantine or bringing a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours before arrival. Red is a blanket 10-day quarantine.

The list is expected to be updated weekly.

Illinois Source

Washington

14-Day Quarantine Strongly Recommended

As of November 13, 2020, Washington State strongly recommends people arriving in Washington from other states or countries, including returning Washington residents, should practice self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival.

Washington Source

Washington DC

Testing Strongly Recommended

Washington DC is asking all visitors or residents who have been out of state or the country to get tested within 3-5 of arrival.

The state site says “Private institutions such as universities, employers, hotels, hospitals, congregate care facilities, and houses of worship may ask visitors about their recent travel and may require a record of a negative COVID-19 test before allowing admittance to their facility.”

Residents returning from out of state or abroad should self-isolate for 14-days, or take a PCR test 3 days after return, of which a negative result will end isolation early. 

Visitors from Maryland and Virginia are exempt

Washington DC Source

States Without Quarantines or Testing Requirements (at this time!)

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Louisiana
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Oklahoma
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Virginia
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming 

Read More: See all the countries that have reopened for American tourists, plus the best travel insurance for US residents that covers covid

Sources: all sources are linked in each state section

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Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.