How and Where to Stay up to Date on COVID-19 Impacts to Tourism Across the West
Navigating COVID-19 Induced Uncertainty in Your Area
Across the 13 western US States, the COVID-19 virus is having a recognizable impact on everything from daily life for local residents, health care, travel, tourism, and everything in between. To cope with the impact, each state is reacting according to their specific conditions and need. Some states are more strict than others, and each is approaching the spring & summer tourism seasons in different ways. To negotiate this unprecedented uncertainty, we are collecting the best resources to keep track of each state’s current situation, and how you can keep track with the particular evolving changes that affect you and your plans.
If you’re contemplating the impact of the virus on your spring & summer outdoor season, bookmark this page on Basin & Range Magazine for ongoing reference.
Federally Managed Public Lands: Closures and Updated Guidance
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM):
- Entrance fees temporarily suspended.
- Coronavirus Guidance: Visitors should contact or visit the website of their local BLM state or district office for the latest office hours and availability, which are subject to change as this situation evolves.
- National Park Service (NPS):
- Entrance fees temporarily suspended.
- Parks are being closed on a case-by-case basis. Visitor services at parks that remain open will be limited or suspended and may only include law enforcement and trash removal.
- US Army Corp of Engineers:
- All USACE-managed campgrounds are closed.
- Coronavirus Guidance: Visitor centers, beaches, special events, and USACE-sponsored events such as shore sweeps, interpretive programs, Kids to Parks Day, Earth Day events, public meetings and other public gatherings at all USACE-managed sites and facilities have also been closed and/or put on hold.
- US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS):
- Coronavirus Guidance: There is no uniform guidance for all USFWS managed Public Lands, rather each state is managing according to local need.
- Here’s how to check with individual units: https://www.fws.gov/home/state-by-state-closures.html
- US Forest Service (USFS):
- Certain areas and facilities on National Forests are closed
- Coronavirus guidance: Be sure to check with each individual National Forest or Grassland to verify availability of services before you depart.
- US Bureau of Reclamation (USBR): There is no overall, general guidance.
- Individual tourist attractions like Hoover Dam and similar are close to the public until further notice.
- USBR refers to the Recreation.Gov website for localized recreational service impacts.
- Recreation.Gov:
- Coronavirus Guidance: Each agency that makes reservations available on Recreation.gov will decide when and where closures and event cancellations are implemented.
State by State Guidance and Contact Info
As Spring unfolds to Summer we will see parts of the country begin to roll out plans to open businesses and communities again. This gradual re-opening will be variable depending on which region you plan to visit. Each state and each region will approach this re-emergence according to their needs. Be sure to plan ahead and stay informed on up to date travel advisories before making any plans or booking any vacations ahead of time.
Here’s a list of each of the 13 western state’s most relevant and most important resources for understanding all advisories and travel restrictions.
- Alaska
- AK COVID Travel Resource Page
- Proclaimed a Public Health Disaster Emergency Declaration on March 11, 2020.
- Travel Restrictions are in place at least until April 21, 2020
- AK Governor COVID-19 Health Mandate from March 23, 2002
- Arizona
- AZ COVID Travel Resource Page
- AZ Governor’s full Executive Order (April 9, 2020).
Summary statement: As of Thursday, April 9, 2020, all persons who arrive in the State of Arizona from an area with substantial community spread, including but not limited to, the New York Tri-State Area (Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York) through any airport in the state must immediately self-quarantine for 14 days from the time of entry into the State of Arizona or the duration of the person’s presence in the state, whichever is shorter. - AZ Dept. of Health Services Coronavirus page
- AZ State Parks Coronavirus page: April 15, 2020: Arizona State Parks and Trails recreation parks, campgrounds and trails are open. Historic parks, visitor centers and gift shops are closed. The Discovery Center at Kartchner Caverns State Park is closed. All events have been cancelled through May 8. Parking may be limited and there may be temporary closures to limit the number of people on the trails.
- California
- CA COVID Travel Resource Page
- Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered residents to stay home indefinitely to slow the spread of the virus. Exceptions involve only essential trips, such as those for grocery shopping and health care appointments. As a result, virtually all tourist attractions — theme parks, ski resorts, entertainment venues, restaurants, wineries, many state and national parks, including Yosemite National Park — are closed until further notice.
- CA Regional Tourism Offices & each area’s Coronavirus Advisories. Many tourism offices and chambers of commerce across California have been updating their websites to help travelers stay informed about local policies and advisories.
- Colorado
- CO COVID Travel Resource Page
- Colorado Governor Jared Polis enacted a statewide “Stay At Home” order effective Thursday, March 26, 2020. The restriction will remain in place until April 26. The only exceptions involve essential trips such as grocery shopping or health care appointments.
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment COVID-19 Info: https://covid19.colorado.gov/
- Hawaiin Islands
- HI COVID Travel Resource Page
- COVID-19 as of April 15, 2020 12:00 p.m.: Hawaii Governor David Ige has asked that you postpone your trips to Hawaii to give us the opportunity to address this health crisis. To that end he has mandated a 14-day quarantine for all visitors and residents entering the state. In addition, the island mayors have over the past few days instituted home lockdowns except for essential personnel.
- State of Hawaii’s Safe Travels system
- Department of Land and Natural Resources Covid-19 Resource Page
- For details by island:
- Oahu – CLICK HERE
- Kauai – CLICK HERE
- Maui County (Maui, Molokai, Lanai) – CLICK HERE
- Hawaii County – CLICK HERE
- Idaho
- ID COVID Travel Resource Page
- On April 15, 2020, Governor Little extended the stay-home order through April 30, 2020. Per the Stay-Home Order, individuals arriving in Idaho from another state or country are required to self-quarantine for 14 days. If an individual will be present in Idaho for fewer than 14 days, that individual must self-quarantine for the duration of their visit.
- ID Coronavirus Public Health Page
- Montana
- MT COVID Travel Resource Page
- Beginning March 28 through April 24, Governor Bullock has issued a stay-at-home order to slow the spread of COVID-19.
- As of March 30, Governor Bullock is directing that travelers arriving from another state or country to Montana for non-work-related purposes undergo a 14-day self-quarantine. For travelers arriving at any Montana airports and rail stations, temperature checks and screenings for potential exposure history may be conducted by the Montana National Guard to further protect against the spread of COVID-19. Effective through April 24, this Directive also advises vacation listing and rental sites to notify potential out-of-state renters about the quarantine requirement.
- Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
- Montana Coronavirus Task Force
- Nevada
- NV COVID Travel Resource Page
- Governor Steve Sisolak has extended a statewide business shutdown, ordering Nevadans to stay at home to slow the spread of the coronavirus through the end of April.
- Travelers are urged to self quarantine and monitor your health for 14 days or the duration of your stay in Nevada, whichever is shorter.
- State of Nevada Health and Human Services/Behavioral Health
- State of Nevada – Traveler Information
- New Mexico
- NM COVID Travel Resource Page
- New Mexico Department of Health
- As of March 27, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued an executive order requiring air travelers to New Mexico self-isolate for at least 14 days to help combat the spread of COVID-19.
- The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department has closed all 35 New Mexico State Parks through April 30th to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus and for the safety and protection of our visitors and staff.
- Oregon
- OR COVID Travel Resource Page
- OR Travel Alerts
- Oregon’s recreation sites, like most public places, have closed facilities if not entire sites.
- What to know about Oregon’s outdoors right now
- OR COVID-19 Travel FAQs
- Utah
- UT COVID Travel Resource Page
- The governor’s original executive order to “Stay Safe, Stay Home” was set to expire on April 13, but the order has been extended through May 1, 2020.
- UT State, County, and City specific travel restrictions
- Washington
- WA COVID Travel Resource Page
- WA State coronavirus response page
- The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and the state departments of Natural Resources and Fish and Wildlife announced the extended closure of state lands to the public through May 4. The closure coincides with the extension of Gov. Jay Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy,” order.
- Wyoming
- WY COVID Travel Resource Page
- Wyoming Dept. of Health COVID-19 Resource Page
- All WY Closures, Cancellations, Alerts, and Restrictions
- Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Devils Tower National Monument and Fort Laramie National Historic Site are closed to all visitors until further notice. There will be no visitor access permitted to these areas.
- The Wyoming State Museum, Wyoming State Archives and Wyoming State Historic Sites are closed to the general public until further notice.
- Any individual coming to Wyoming from another state or country for a non-work-related purpose must immediately self-quarantine for 14 days. For visits fewer than 14 days, individuals must self-quarantine for the duration of the visit.
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