United States Travel Risk Overview
Is United States safe right now? Checked 17 October 2026
United States scores 44/100 on our travel risk index (Moderate). The UK has no advice against travel; Canada says: exercise normal security precautions. The US State Department does not issue advice for United States. Orange GDACS alert: Orange notification for tropical cyclone ISAIAS-26. Population affected by Category 1 (120 km/h) wind speeds or higher is 0.683 million . (6 Oct). No change in government advice in the last 7 days.
United States has a Travel Risk Calculator score of 44 out of 100 (moderate risk tier); city-level files are available for 60 cities. The score combines five layers (security, crime and scams, health and medical access, natural hazards, current alerts) built from government advisories and open data. This page also covers nine safety categories (crime, disease & health, government advisory, political & civil unrest, natural disaster & weather, transport & route, environmental, digital security, money safety), the current US State Department advisory, GDACS disaster alerts, CDC health notices for United States, recent news headlines, plus links to every city we have an editorial file for.
Run a personalized United States assessmentAI safety snapshot · refreshed Oct 17, 2026
The United States maintains a moderate risk baseline composite score of 44 out of 100 as of October 17, 2026. Travelers should be aware of an active green earthquake alert following a magnitude 5.6 event on October 15, alongside a Level 1 global measles health notice from the CDC.
AI-summarized strictly from the live public-source data below (US State Dept advisory, GDACS, CDC, Google News). Auto-refreshed at most once per day on the first visit. Not official advice.
Live conditions last refreshed: Oct 17, 2026 12:22 UTC
How safe is United States to visit in 2026?
United States currently sits at 44/100 on Travel Risk Calculator's five-layer score, which puts it in the moderate-risk tier. Most travelers will be fine in United States with normal preparation, but a few risk categories warrant attention. The full live US State Department advisory text for United States, current GDACS disaster alerts, CDC health notices, and recent news headlines are shown in the Live conditions section below. For city-specific files (Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles), see the City Risk Files section below — they include neighborhood-level scam patterns, transport notes, and medical-access details where available.
United States: a traveler’s safety briefing
The United States is a low-baseline-risk country with world-class infrastructure, but its risk profile is highly local — safety can vary sharply between neighborhoods of the same city. Violent crime concentrates in specific areas; tourist districts in most cities are well-policed. The more universal traveler concerns are natural-hazard seasons (Atlantic hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, winter storms), the high cost of healthcare without insurance, and road safety on long drives. Petty theft from vehicles at trailheads and tourist parking is common. Check city-specific files and seasonal hazard windows for your destination.
Editorial context from the Travel Risk Calculator team — generalized, not personalized advice. The live US State Department advisory, GDACS, and CDC data below always take precedence; verify against your own government’s advisory before you travel.
Data file
| Source | calibrated 2026-05-09 v1.0 (knowledge-based; State Dept advisory tiers, GPI, OSAC patterns) |
|---|---|
| Last updated | 2026-05-09 11:01:52 |
| City files | 60 |
Assessment memory
Anonymous assessments help Travel Risk Calculator identify which country and city files deserve deeper review.
| Saved assessments | 0 |
|---|---|
| Average composite | No saved signal yet |
Safety categories
Official Government Travel Advisories
Cross-referenced official travel advice from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, normalized to a unified 1–4 risk scale.
Department of State
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
FCDO travel advice for USA. Includes safety and security, insurance, entry requirements and legal differences.
Global Affairs Canada
The Health section was updated - travel health information (Public Health Agency of Canada)
UK content contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Canadian advice provided by Global Affairs Canada under open government terms. US advice provided by the US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs.
Entry Requirements & Local Laws
Official travel advice summary from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
🛂 Entry Requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of the current rules for the most common types of travel. You must have the correct approval prior to travel. This will be either a valid US visa or Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), depending on your personal circumstances and purpose of travel. US authorities enforce entry rules strictly. If you do not have the correct immigration status, or if you breach the terms of your entry, there is a risk you may be detained, refused entry, or removed (deported). Overstaying your permitted time in the US can also lead to detention and future bans on re-entry. A valid ESTA or visa does not guarantee you will be allowed to enter the US. Au
Summary of UK FCDO advice, updated Aug 18, 2026 · Full requirements →
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Protests, Strikes & Closures This Week
Verified recent event reports monitored for United States within the last 7 days.
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FOX 5 New York · Oct 16
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spacewar.com · Oct 16
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the-sun.com · Oct 16
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kitabat.com · Oct 16
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kitabat.com · Oct 16
What Changed This Month in United States
Chronological record of verified security, advisory, health, and hazard updates over the past 30 days.
- Oct 15, 2026 GDACS Alert Green earthquake (Magnitude 5.6M, Depth:1km) in United States 15/10/2026 11:07 UTC, 9 thousand in MMI>=III. (green).
- May 21, 2026 GDACS Alert Green flood alert in United States (green).
- Apr 30, 2026 GDACS Alert Drought is on going in Mexico, United States (green).
- May 28, 2025 CDC Notice Level 1 - Global Measles (Watch).
- Oct 17, 2026 Score Change Valley Center risk score moved from 54 to 53 (Daily recalculation (scoring v2)).
- Oct 17, 2026 Score Change Minneapolis risk score moved from 29 to 31 (Daily recalculation (scoring v2)).
- Oct 16, 2026 Score Change Boston risk score moved from 31 to 30 (Daily recalculation (scoring v2)).
City Risk Files in United States
Showing 60 destination files with city-specific safety data in United States, ranked by demand and population.
Las Vegas
Tier ANevada
San Francisco
Tier ACalifornia
Los Angeles
Tier ACalifornia
Tucson
Tier AArizona
New York
Tier ANew York
Memphis
Tier ATennessee
Minneapolis
Tier AMinnesota
Sacramento
Tier ACalifornia
Indianapolis
Tier AIndiana
Chicago
Tier AIllinois
Philadelphia
Tier APennsylvania
San Diego
Tier ACalifornia
Boston
Tier AMassachusetts
Miami
Tier AFlorida
Denver
Tier AColorado
Seattle
Tier AWashington
Washington
Tier ADistrict of Columbia
Houston
Tier ATexas
St. Louis
Tier AMissouri
Dallas
Tier ATexas
Detroit
Tier AMichigan
Washington, D.C.
Tier ADistrict of Columbia
Atlanta
Tier AGeorgia
Tampa
Tier AFlorida
New Orleans
Tier ALouisiana
Austin
Tier ATexas
Portland
Tier AOregon
Cincinnati
Tier AOhio
Baltimore
Tier AMaryland
Virginia Beach
Tier AVirginia
Pittsburgh
Tier APennsylvania
St. Petersburg
Tier AFlorida
Cape Coral
Tier AFlorida
Baton Rouge
Tier ALouisiana
Albany
Tier ANew York
Brooklyn
Tier ANew York
Omaha
Tier ANebraska
New York City
Tier ANew York
Clearwater
Tier AFlorida
Columbus
Tier AOhio
Jacksonville
Tier AFlorida
Mission Viejo
Tier ACalifornia
New Haven
Tier AConnecticut
McAllen
Tier ATexas
Charleston
Tier ASouth Carolina
Tulsa
Tier AOklahoma
Oklahoma City
Tier BOklahoma
Fresno
Tier BCalifornia
Nashville
Tier BTennessee
Cleveland
Tier BOhio
London
Tier BOhio
Unity
Tier BPennsylvania
Kansas City
Tier BMissouri
Springfield
Tier BMassachusetts
Orlando
Tier BFlorida
North Hempstead
Tier BNew York
Milwaukee
Tier BWisconsin
Phoenix
Tier BArizona
San Antonio
Tier BTexas
North Las Vegas
Tier BNevada
All towns in United States (3,463 additional local facts pages)
These localities carry verified regional geography, nearest hospitals, airports, and natural hazard records with the country baseline risk score.
Live conditions in United States
Country-scoped real-time data — official advisory from the US State Department, disaster alerts from GDACS, health notices from the CDC, news from Google News. For city-specific weather and air quality, open any city page below.
Official travel advisory
No current US State Department advisory entry matched United States in the latest feed. Check the official advisory directory before travel.
Track United States’s advisory
Get one email if the US State Department travel-advisory level for United States changes. No account, unsubscribe anytime.
Traveller notes from government advice
LGBT+ travellers
The US is a very diverse society and attitudes towards LGBT+ people differ hugely across the country. Check state and local laws for the areas you plan to travel to. Refer to entry requirements which may apply to LGBT+ travellers (see entry requirements).
Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 18 Aug 2026. Full advice
Local laws and customs
US states may have different laws. While you are in a state, you are subject to both that state’s laws as well as national (federal) law. Not adhering to all US state and federal law can put your visa status and future travel to the US at risk.
Personal ID
Always carry a passport showing you have permission to enter or remain in the US.
Alcohol laws
The national legal age for buying and drinking alcohol is 21 across the US.
Illegal drugs
Illegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties. You should expect a long jail sentence and heavy fines for possessing, using or smuggling illegal drugs, including when transiting through airports. US law prohibits the importation, exportation, manufacture, sale or transportation of drug paraphernalia. If you are convicted of any of these offenses, you will be subject to fines and imprisonment.
Read the full UK government advice
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 18 Aug 2026. Full advice
Entry requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of the current rules for the most common types of travel.
You must have the correct approval prior to travel. This will be either a valid US visa or Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), depending on your personal circumstances and purpose of travel.
US authorities enforce entry rules strictly. If you do not have the correct immigration status, or if you breach the terms of your entry, there is a risk you may be detained, refused entry, or removed (deported). Overstaying your permitted time in the US can also lead to detention and future bans on re-entry.
Check the official entry requirements for your nationality before you travel.
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 18 Aug 2026. Official entry requirements
Disaster alerts
Active Disaster Alerts
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Green earthquake (Magnitude 5.6M, Depth:1km) in United States 15/10/2026 11:07 UTC, 9 thousand in MMI>=III. GREEN · country-wide · 2026-10-15
On 10/15/2026 11:07:01 AM, an earthquake occurred in United States potentially affecting 9 thousand in MMI>=III. The earthquake had Magnitude 5.6M, Depth:1km.
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Green flood alert in United States GREEN · country-wide · 2026-05-21
On 19/05/2026, a flood started in United States, lasting until 16/10/2026 (last update). The flood caused 29 deaths and 2292 displaced .
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Drought is on going in Mexico, United States GREEN · country-wide · 2026-04-30
The Drought notification level is Green.
“~N km away” = event centroid within ~500 km of this location; “country-wide” = a national/regional alert that may not be near this specific city. Source: GDACS · fetched 2026-10-17 12:22:01 UTC
Health notices
Health Notices for this Destination
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Level 1 - Global Measles WATCH · 2025-05-28
Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel. Country List : Afghan
Source: CDC Travelers’ Health · fetched 2026-10-17 06:34:10 UTC
Recent headlines
No recent national headlines were returned for United States. This is not evidence that conditions are quiet; check local and official sources.
1991–2020 climate normals
Seasonal risk & best time to visit United States
The most weather-stable two-month window for United States is April–May, when typical daily temperatures run from about 8°C to 24°C and monthly rain averages 92 mm.
Seasonal planning flags include hurricane season in June–November. These are climate patterns, not forecasts.
Climate normals are planning context, not a short-range forecast. Source: Open-Meteo Climate API. Refreshed Jul 20, 2026.
Calculate risk for these travel dates Compare seasonal windows →
Emergency Numbers
| Police | 911 |
|---|---|
| Ambulance | 911 |
| Fire | 911 |
| General emergency | 911 |
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to travel to United States right now?
As of October 2026, United States scores 44/100 on our composite travel risk index (moderate risk; lower is safer). The UK FCDO advisory is: No FCDO advice against travel. Always check official foreign-ministry advisories within 7 days of departure.
Is United States safe to visit right now?
Mostly safe with normal precautions. United States has a few categories that warrant planning — read the breakdown below and check the live US State Department advisory. Composite baseline: 44/100 (Moderate risk). Always cross-check with your home country's foreign-ministry advisory within 7 days of departure; the live US State Department advisory is shown above. Last refreshed October 2026.
What is the current travel advisory for United States?
The current US State Department advisory level for United States is shown in the Live conditions section above and is re-fetched every 6 hours from the official RSS feed. UK FCDO, Canada GAC, and Australia DFAT also publish advisories — for high-stakes trips, cross-check at least one foreign-ministry advisory in addition to your home country's. See our travel advisory guide for how to read each tier system.
When is the best time to visit United States?
April–May is the most weather-stable two-month window in the stored 1991-2020 normals. The most weather-stable two-month window for United States is April–May, when typical daily temperatures run from about 8°C to 24°C and monthly rain averages 92 mm.
What is the rainy, hurricane, or severe-weather season in United States?
hurricane season: June–November.
Community Safety Sentiment
Have you visited United States recently? What was your safety experience?
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Disclaimer
Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated travel-threat information for preparation purposes only. It does not replace official government advisories, medical advice, emergency alerts, immigration rules, insurance advice, police guidance, embassy information, or professional security consultation.