Yes, there are travel restrictions in place for travel within the United States. However, the restrictions vary from state to state, and essential workers are usually exempt.

Currently, 93% of the world’s population is living in countries with travel restrictions because of the coronavirus outbreak, according to Pew Research Center. Many countries have closed their borders completely.

U.S. borders are closed to people who are foreign nationals arriving from China and many European countries like Ireland, Sweden, and the U.K. There are also restrictions on traveling within the U.S., which have been imposed in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Domestic Travel Adversaries and Restrictions

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Domestic Travel Advisory asking residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to remain in their respective states for 14 days unless travel is essential. The advisory does not apply to workers in “critical infrastructure industries” like trucking, public health, financial services, and food supply.

Domestic travel restrictions are rare, and some people might wonder why interstate travel has been limited even though the coronavirus outbreak is already affecting all states. The CDC explained that the goal is to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in crowded travel settings such as airports.

The federal government’s authority to order quarantines and travel bans is mainly derived from the commerce clause of the U.S Constitution. Additionally, section 264 of the Public Health Service Act grants the feds authority “to take measures to prevent the entry and spread of communicable diseases from foreign countries into the United States and between states.”

States Have Issued Their Own Travel Restrictions

States also have broad authority to use police powers such as ordering quarantines and travel bans to protect the health and welfare of their citizens, which is also granted by the Constitution. In addition to the advisory issued by the CDC, states have implemented their own restriction, as follows:

In addition to these state orders, some counties and local municipalities have imposed their own restrictions and protocols as well. The orders related to COVID-19 are continually changing and being updated. Check with the CDC and your local government to make sure you are up-to-date with the latest.

  • Answers to Your Legal Questions About COVID-19 (FindLaw’s Learn About the Law section)
  • Shelter in Place Laws (FindLaw’s Learn About the Law section)
  • What Are the U.S. Government’s Quarantine Powers? (FindLaw’s Law and Daily Life blog)
  • Can You Be Legally Forced to Self-Quarantine in the United States? (FindLaw’s Learn About the Law section)

You Don’t Have To Solve This on Your Own – Get a Lawyer’s Help

Civil Rights

Block on Trump’s Asylum Ban Upheld by Supreme Court

Criminal

Judges Can Release Secret Grand Jury Records

Politicians Can’t Block Voters on Facebook, Court Rules