Help With Travel Restrictions In Various States

Uncle Phil

Uncle Phil

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I would like to do my Highway 6 ride which runs from Massachusetts to California, but trying to figure out the 'rules' is a bit confusing. If you live or have travelled/overnighted in these states, please post what are the 'travel restrictions'. The states are -

Pennsylvania-X
Massachusetts-X
Ohio-X
Illinois-x
Nebraska-X
Colorado-X
Utah-X
California -X
New Mexico-X

I only plan to spend a night in a motel in each of those states but some state websites imply that you cannot even if you are just overnighting on the way to somewhere else.
I really wanted to do Alaska this year, but it does not appear that Canada will be open in time (June/July) for 'touring' (yes I know for transitioning to Alaska but I want to stop and see stuff). All help will be appreciated. Thanks.
 
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In Utah there are no travel restrictions. Motels are open as are most eating establishments. They want you to wear a mask in just about any building you go into, but in rural Utah masks are starting to disappear. You see more of them in the Urban areas. The one place where things are pretty tight is on the Indian Reservations, especially the Navajo reservation which was hit hard by the Rona. Oh, gas has gone up .40 - .60 cents a gallon since January. Can't imagine why.
 

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I have come and gone into California and back to UT for the past year without any problems. I have been about a dozen times. It was strange going through Vegas in April/May at the height of the lockdown. There was virtually no traffic on I 15 going through the main part of town. My dad traveled from OH to my place in UT in Sept. No problems traveling. Most hotels were open and glad to get the business. You will not have any problems traveling to any of those states. Things are opening up and just make sure you have a mask with you, you will be fine.
 
I just returned from a trip to CA. The state recommended "no unnecessary travel" to the area, but I rented a house for two weeks and stayed pretty much there except for groceries etc. I had no problems staying in hotels along the way. I also visited Silicon Valley a few months ago as I had an urgent issue. There was a 14 day quarantine requirement in place, but no enforcement really. I did my best to adhere, but had to venture out of my hotel for my urgent appointment. As someone else stated: bring your mask and you'll likely be just fine
 
Uncle Phil. If you carrying a proved of your Covis-19 Vaccines shots passport you should be-able to ride anywhere in States. Right?
 
TipSTer said:
Uncle Phil. If you carrying a proved of your Covis-19 Vaccines shots passport you should be-able to ride anywhere in States. Right?
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Tip - It sort of 'depends' on the state. As I traveled last year all over what was 'acceptable' and what was not varied all over the place.
 
In Rural Illinois you can stay almost anywhere with little restrictions. Masks are recommended at most of them. I'm not sure about Chicago, but everything else is starting to open up.
 
Uncle Phil said:
Tip - It sort of 'depends' on the state. As I traveled last year all over what was 'acceptable' and what was not varied all over the place.
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I hesitated to post this, because it doesn't directly answer your question. But the experiences might be helpful anyway, and if not for you, perhaps for others.

I did just under 15,000 miles last year with most of it being during the lockdowns. One of the trips was from Seattle to the Badlands, crossing Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota. Several other trips were from Washington to Oregon. I'll probably do much the same this year too.

The "official" rules were that only essential travel was permitted, but no one enforced it. In fact, it made for some wonderful traveling. Yellowstone was wide open. Few RVs.

When I went to the Kawasaki Bun-Cooler in Kamiah, ID, I was wondering what I'd encounter. It was May when the "cancelled" rally was held. No road blocks anywhere, and if you think about it, how could they? People live and work on both sides of state borders. When I got to the KOA resort, I was really surprised. All the RV sites at the KOA were filled...with travelers from Washington. Supposedly we were all supposed to quarantine for two weeks...but no one said anything. The reality of what was posted on the state's website, was totally different than the reality.

I made hotel reservations for each day, asking the owners about any issues. Travel itself wasn't an issue. Gas wasn't an issue. Food was. Potty breaks were.

Restaurants were no longer available to eat inside. At one stop, I got to a Wendy's a few minutes after the indoor dining was closed. The worker there directed me to the drive-thru...which turned out to be a problem because I had walked from the motel. In several places, I found the best way to get a meal, was simply to stop in a grocery store and pick up something from the deli. It was possible...I just had to be resourceful.

Bathroom breaks were different. Before, I'd stop at a MacDonald's and walk in the side door to the toilet. With indoor dining being out of the question through much of the riding season, I had to find some other way. Grocery stores were essential...and all had a toilet for their customers. Again, you just had to think outside of the box.

I suspect things will open up quickly. The natives are restless. And for all the nay-saying the MSM and Fauci are doing, when you have the state next to yours with no restrictions and they are doing just fine...you really want your local gov't to relax the restrictions.

Alaska might still be an issue because you have a border crossing and want to combine it with some sight-seeing. But travel within the USA looks still feasible.

Chris
 
Erdoc48 said:
Gas prices are up quite a bit in SC as well. I wonder if it has to do with the pipeline killing deal from the Federal government.
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I think it has more to do with the unprecedented winter storms of 3 weeks ago shutting down refineries and the electrical power infrastructure grid in TX. When a hurricane does this for a few days to just the coast of TX or LA gas prices spike, when most of the state of TX is virtually shut down for weather for two weeks the effects will be greater and more long term. As as nation we haven't ever seen logistics issues like we are seeing now and I've been in it for 40 years. Many truck lines, including my employer - the 4th largest truck line in the US - did not pick up or deliver freight to most of TX and OK for the better part of three weeks. This on top of record demand for capacity in every transportation mode of truck, rail, air, and ocean. Transportation rates in many long haul lanes has doubled, then tripled, then on and on to 5 times or more of the freight rates 1 year ago. Covid has changed how goods are sold and delivered in the USA and these elevated freight prices will be passed on in 2021 to all of us. On the other hand energy costs are always very volatile and jump all the time based on simple remarks of those national leadership, domestic or foreign, much less national and international events.
 
Chris - I did the same thing - out west is not much of an issue other than doing take-out -

Uncle Phil - West 2020

Up east it seems to be a little different so that is where I am concerned the most - Massachusetts/New York/Pennsylvania.
The issue becomes when you stop for the night - just passing through does not seem to be a problem.
 
I'd think unless you got your shots, it would be best to be very careful. Getting sick on an extended trip is the pits. Unless, of course, you don't believe in the virus. In that case, YMMV.
 
From my experience and info from my family, restrictions are in theory only. Unless you travel out of state to an area designated as a no no by your home state. Then, if you return and come down with COVID, you must quarantine, etc., that is, if they know where you were. Some parts of Canada are a bit more strict. If out of one of their designated safe areas, one must quarantine at one of the government’s hotels for a couple of weeks to the tune of a couple of grand. To my knowledge, the biggest penalty in the US is reading the signs on the interstate about coming from a high risk area,

Greg
 
I have traveled to PA and Ohio a few times during the pandemic, and both seem to be pretty open. PA had a strict mask policy( at least in the county where I was mostly) and folks were really good about following it. I felt a little safer up there, than in GA, where mask usage is at best sporadic. I did notice they have less than 10% of the new cases we have too. As Daboo said, it was tough to find restrooms sometimes, due to fast food places only having drive thru service.
Ohio was close to PA in their restrictions, but a little looser ( of course, with more new cases.)
 
PA and NY just backed down some of the more strict requirements. As long as you're not planning to hang out "downstate" where the fearmongering is more rabid, you'll be fine.

"In a COVID-19 status briefing held yesterday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that Americans who have been fully vaccinated within the prior three-month period are now exempt from New York’s quarantine and testing requirements for out-of-state travelers."

"HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- Gov. Tom Wolf has announced that one restriction in Pennsylvania due to COVID-19 is being lifted, while others are being revised.
The following is in effect as of Monday, March 1:
-Outdoor events are now limited to a 20% maximum occupancy, no matter the venue size.
-Indoor events are now limited to 15% maximum occupancy, no matter the venue size.
Wolf said the new occupancy limits are permitted only if attendees and workers can keep six feet of physical distance between them.
Mask wearing, social distancing and hand hygiene must be enforced.
Additionally, the state is doing away with a requirement that people who are traveling to Pennsylvania from another state, as well as Pennsylvania residents who are returning home from out of state, must test negative for the virus within 72 hours prior to arrival.
Under the order, people who refused to be tested were required to quarantine for 14 days.
"There is light at the end of the tunnel. COVID-19 cases are on the decline, and more are being vaccinated," Wolf said. "Thank you for wearing masks, keeping your distance, planning for vaccines, and doing whatever it takes to slow the spread of COVID. Your actions are making a difference."
This comes the same day as Philadelphia, which sets its own COVID-19 restrictions, eased some of those measures."
 
Uncle Phil said:
I would like to do my Highway 6 ride which runs from Massachusetts to California, but trying to figure out the 'rules' is a bit confusing. If you live or have travelled/overnighted in these states, please post what are the 'travel restrictions'. The states are -

Pennsylvania
Massachusetts
Ohio-X
Illinois-x
Nebraska
Colorado-X
Utah-X
California -X
New Mexico

I only plan to spend a night in a motel in each of those states but some state websites imply that you cannot even if you are just overnighting on the way to somewhere else.
I really wanted to do Alaska this year, but it does not appear that Canada will be open in time (June/July) for 'touring' (yes I know for transitioning to Alaska but I want to stop and see stuff). All help will be appreciated. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Hey! Im from boston! Leaving for “out there” early april. Went across to utah and everywhere else last sept. Had no problem. Rhere are many anti maskers out there tho. Had no prob w motels and ordered to go mostly. I must have hit 20 states and it was fine. Remember this was well before the vaccine and people were much more frightened than now. I wear a mask and will keep one in my pocket while im riding. I just got my first shot and feel a ton of relief, but i understand so many have not, so ill continue with caution and respect.
hope your trip goes as well as mine did last year.
 
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