With COVID-19 cases decreasing in many parts of the country, you may be looking forward to getting out and about this spring break. But before you hit the road, remember that COVID-19 is not gone. No one wants to ruin a vacation by getting sick or having to quarantine. Below we offer some tips to help you and your family stay healthy while traveling.
1. Get Vaccinated and Boosted
Before your trip, you and everyone traveling with you who is eligible, should be up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccination is still the best way to protect against COVID-19, and current guidelines strongly encourage waiting to travel until you have received all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, including any booster dose(s) when eligible. Visit our COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker to learn more about available vaccines and timing for boosters.
Find a COVID-19 vaccine or booster: Search vaccines.gov, text your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find locations near you.
If you are NOT up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines, get tested with a viral test as close to the time of departure as possible (no more than 3 days) before you travel. Test when you return as well.
2. Know Before You Go
Understand the COVID-19 situation where you are going. Check the COVID-19 Community Level and plan to follow the guidelines for protecting yourself in low-, medium- and high-risk levels. See if there are local COVID-19 requirements for vaccination, testing and masking.
If you are traveling outside the U.S., the CDC has a search tool that allows you to get travel health notices and recommendations, including entry and exit requirements for any destination. All international air passengers, regardless of vaccination status, must show a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 1 day before travel to the United States.
Be sure to pack your COVID-19 vaccination card or take a picture of the card with you while you travel no matter where you go.
3. Bring a Mask
Masks are still required on public transit in the U.S.—airplanes, buses, trains, etc.—as well as inside those transportation hubs until at least mid-April (when the federal mask mandate is set to expire). If COVID-19 community levels are high, you or your travel companions are at increased risk, such as those who are immunocompromised or unvaccinated, keep your masks on for that extra layer of protection. This includes children between the ages of 2 and 5 who are not able to get vaccinated. Learn more about masks.
4. Practice Good Health Habits
- Wash your hands often
Scrub with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If you are unable to wash your hands, using hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol is a good alternative. - Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
It allows the germs on your hands to reach moist, porous surface tissue where the germs can enter your body and cause infection. - Avoid crowded indoor spaces
It is hard to avoid crowded situations on public transportation, which is why a mask is recommended. Once you get to your destination, opt for activities outdoors and in spaces with good ventilation.
5. Watch for Symptoms and Test
Monitor yourself during your trip and if you think you were exposed or have any COVID-19 symptoms, take a test. It is a good idea to bring along a rapid home test. Every home in the U.S. is eligible for another 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests. Get them at: Covidtests.gov. Remember, it is free to get tested, even if you do not have insurance.
If you plan to gather with family and friends that are unvaccinated, immunocompromised and/or at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness, consider testing for COVID-19 beforehand.
If you test positive or develop COVID-19 symptoms: isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected. Contact your doctor right away, especially if you are at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19 so you can discuss treatment options. Do not travel if you are sick, test positive for COVID-19 and are isolating, had close contact with a person with COVID-19 and are still quarantining, or are waiting for a COVID-19 test result. Learn more about what to do if you test positive.
Blog last updated: August 21, 2023
