A government shutdown could impact your travel plans this fall, but the areas most likely to be affected may not be as extensive as you might expect. Here are some of the most realistic hiccups to be expected if the government fails to reach an agreement before October 1.
October may be the best time of year to visit many national parks, but a prolonged closure could result in some of the best colors the country has to offer being taken off this year’s fall bucket list. While national parks may not be the first aspect of travel that comes to mind when it comes to continued government input, some will not have the resources they need to stay open if federal funding is not available.
Many larger and more frequently visited parks have some money available from other sources to temporarily meet operational needs if necessary. but about a third of national parks were forced to close during the 2018 shutdown. Many of the parks that remained open to visitors did so with fewer services to reduce costs, such as canceling federally funded programs, closing buildings and not staffing park entrances.
State-level funding can help bridge this gap in some situations, but this alternative is largely a state-by-state solution that depends on available resources and how valuable keeping certain parks open is to each state’s overall economy. For example, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has stated that she will provide the resources necessary to keep Grand Canyon National Park open ahead of a possible closure, but not all parks will have this option.
Air travel may ultimately be affected if there is a prolonged closure, but these concerns are unlikely to be noticed immediately. While this means concerns about possible canceled flights or other issues are largely unfounded for now, about 60 percent of Americans surveyed said they would consider canceling travel plans if a shutdown were to occur.
New air traffic controllers will not be able to continue their training during a shutdown, This means that the shortage of staff could increase in the long term if they are prevented from filling vacancies. Current air traffic controllers, TSA officers and other airport employees are expected to continue working during a shutdown, although they will not be paid until it ends.
Although certainly passport processing locations in government buildings may be forced to close, most people will still be able to obtain or renew their passports during a potential shutdown without more significant delays than what they are already likely to experience. Amtrak, cruise lines and other private companies are likely to experience little disruption even if a prolonged shutdown occurs, making them among your best options if you want to make plans that you likely won’t have to adjust this fall.
