# Where You Can't Smoke in the US: Flights, Cruises, Casinos

> Where can't you smoke in the US? Not on flights, Amtrak, Greyhound or rental cars. Cruise ships and casinos vary. See each official rule and who sets it.

By Liam Day · November 2, 2026

## Key takeaways

**Planes:** federal law bans smoking on scheduled flights and, since 2018, treats e-cigarettes as smoking ([49 U.S.C. 41706](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/49/41706)).

**Cruises and casinos:** Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian keep designated smoking areas; 21 states make state-regulated casinos smoke-free ([ANR, July 2026](https://no-smoke.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/SummaryUSPopList.pdf)).

**Trains, buses, rental cars:** Amtrak, Greyhound, Hertz, Avis and Enterprise all ban smoking on board or in their vehicles.

**Airports, workplaces, parks:** no single national rule; states, airport operators and each park decide.

Where can't you smoke in the US? You can't smoke or vape on a scheduled US passenger flight. You also can't smoke on Amtrak or Greyhound, in a Hertz, Avis or Enterprise rental car, or inside executive-branch federal buildings.

Cruise ships and many casinos still allow smoking in designated areas. Airports, workplaces and national parks follow state, local or park rules.

Congress and the Department of Transportation (DOT) set the rule on planes. States, cities and tribes set it for bars and casinos, while cruise lines, carriers and rental companies write their own. Each section below names who sets the rule, links the official page and quotes it.

## Where you can't smoke: the rules at a glance

### Travel

Source: [49 U.S.C. 41706](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/49/41706) (2018) and [14 CFR Part 252](https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/252.4) (2016). Airports: the [CDC's 2012 airport report](https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6146a4.htm). Company pages are linked below, checked November 2026.

### Buildings and venues

Source: casinos and workplaces from the [ANR's July 2026 summary](https://no-smoke.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/SummaryUSPopList.pdf); the federal rules for parks, buildings and housing are quoted and linked in their sections below.

## Can you smoke on a plane?

Federal law bans smoking on scheduled passenger flights, and the ban covers e-cigarettes. The statute, [49 U.S.C. 41706](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/49/41706), says "An individual may not smoke" on an aircraft in scheduled passenger interstate or intrastate air transportation.

The statute also tells DOT to make US and foreign airlines ban smoking on scheduled international flights. A 2018 amendment added that "the use of an electronic cigarette shall be treated as smoking."

DOT's own rule, [14 CFR Part 252](https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/252.4), was last amended in March 2016. Its [definition of smoking](https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/252.3) covers "the use of a tobacco product" and of "electronic cigarettes whether or not they are a tobacco product." It also covers "similar products that produce a smoke, mist, vapor, or aerosol."

For nicotine pouches in the cabin, read [can you use Zyn on a plane](/blog/can-you-use-zyn-on-a-plane/).

## Can you smoke at the airport?

No single federal rule covers smoking in airport terminals. The [CDC's 2012 report on large-hub airports](https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6146a4.htm) says "no federal law or policy requires airports to be smoke-free."

In that 2012 count, five of the 29 large-hub US airports allowed smoking in designated indoor areas open to the public. Each airport operator sets its own rule under state and city law, so check the airport's website.

## Can you smoke on a cruise ship?

Each cruise line sets its own rule, and Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian allow smoking only in designated areas. All three ban smoking in cabins and on balconies.

**Carnival, $500 per violation.** Its [ticket contract](https://www.carnival.com/popups/bookingengine/reservation-terms-and-conditions) says smoking is "strictly prohibited on board Carnival's vessels except in specific designated exterior deck areas." Its list includes "cigarettes, cigars, pipes, vaporizers, and electronic cigarettes."

Carnival says "All staterooms and suite accommodations, including the outside balconies, are NON-SMOKING."

**Royal Caribbean, $250 cleaning fee.** Its [onboard smoking policy](https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/onboard-smoking-policy) says "Smoking/vaping is not permitted inside any stateroom and any stateroom balcony." Its [casino policy](https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/onboard-casino-designated-smoking-policy) bans smoking in the casino on ships sailing from Australia and the United Kingdom.

**Norwegian, $250.** Its [smoking FAQ](https://www.ncl.com/cruise-faq/smoking) says "indoor public areas, with the exception of the cigar lounges and the casino, throughout all our ships are smoke-free." It charges $250 for smoking in a cabin or on a balcony.

## Which casinos are smoke-free?

Whether you can smoke in a casino depends on the state and, on tribal land, the tribe. According to the [American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation's July 2026 summary](https://no-smoke.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/SummaryUSPopList.pdf), 21 states require state-regulated, non-tribal gambling venues to be 100% smoke-free.

**Tribal casinos.** ANR notes that tribal gambling facilities "are sovereign and not covered by state laws."

**Nevada.** The state's [Clean Indoor Air Act, NRS 202.2483](https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-202.html), adopted by voters in 2006, says "smoking in any form is prohibited within indoor places of employment." It then exempts "Areas within casinos where loitering by minors is already prohibited."

**New Jersey.** Home to Atlantic City's casinos, it has a similar carve-out in its Smoke-Free Air Act of 2005. A [2022 New Jersey Senate bill](https://pub.njleg.gov/bills/2022/S0500/264_I1.HTM) that proposed removing it quotes the current law. The law exempts the area inside a licensed casino with "at least 150 stand-alone slot machines, 10 table games, or some combination thereof."

## Can you smoke at work, in restaurants or in bars?

Indoor smoking rules for most public places come from state and local law, not federal law. The [CDC's STATE System](https://www.cdc.gov/statesystem/factsheets/sfia/SmokeFreeIndoorAir.html) counted 28 states with comprehensive smoke-free laws covering worksites, restaurants and bars as of June 30, 2024. The [ANR's July 2026 summary](https://no-smoke.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/SummaryUSPopList.pdf) also lists 28.

Smoke breaks are a separate question. The [US Department of Labor](https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/workhours/breaks) says "Federal law does not require lunch or coffee breaks." If an employer offers short breaks, the department says "federal law considers the breaks as compensable work hours."

## Can you smoke on Amtrak or Greyhound?

No. Amtrak sets its own rule, and it covers e-cigarettes. [Amtrak's smoking policy](https://www.amtrak.com/smoking-policy) says "All Amtrak trains, Amtrak Connection bus services and stations are entirely non-smoking," and lists "Electronic smoking devices, such as electronic cigarettes."

There is one stated exception: "If time and conditions permit, passengers may smoke on station platforms at longer stops only as announced by train crews." Amtrak adds that state or local laws may ban smoking on platforms.

[Greyhound's onboard rules](https://www.greyhound.com/travel-info/your-rights-rules-on-board) say "There's no smoking allowed on the bus (it's against federal law)." The same page says buses make scheduled stops where riders can smoke outside. It does not mention vaping.

## Can you smoke in national parks?

There is no single smoking ban across all national parks; each park sets its own no-smoking areas. Under [36 CFR 2.21](https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/36/2.21), the superintendent "may designate" any part of a park, or any building, structure or facility, "as closed to smoking."

The rule allows closures "to protect park resources, reduce the risk of fire, or prevent conflicts among visitor use activities." It adds one ban that applies everywhere: "Smoking is prohibited within all caves and caverns."

For vaping, a [2015 National Park Service policy memo](https://www.nps.gov/subjects/policy/upload/PM_15-03.pdf) says "use of ENDS will be treated as tobacco smoking." ENDS means electronic nicotine delivery systems. The memo applies to park buildings, government vehicles and concession facilities, so check the park's own website before you go.

## Can you smoke in a rental car?

The big rental companies ban smoking in their own fleets, and two list a charge.

**Hertz, up to $400.** Its [rental terms](https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/reservation/reviewmodifycancel/templates/rentalTerms.jsp?KEYWORD=SMOKING&EOAG=LAX) say "Smoking is prohibited in all Hertz vehicles," with "A charge up to $ 400.00" when smoking has occurred.

**Avis, up to $450.** [Avis says](https://www.avis.com/en/help/usa-faqs/smoking-policy) it keeps "a fleet of 100 percent smoke-free vehicles in the US," and that a cleaning fee "of up to $450 may be applied."

**Enterprise, no amount given.** Its [rental FAQ](https://legacy.enterprise.com/content/car_rental/popup_usaa.html) says "All vehicles are non-smoking and renters should not smoke in them." It charges cleaning fees if a car needs to be "deodorized due to smoking."

## Can you smoke in federal buildings or public housing?

**Federal buildings.** [Executive Order 13058](https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/224191), signed in 1997, says "the smoking of tobacco products is prohibited in all interior space owned, rented, or leased by the executive branch."

Outside, the General Services Administration's rule, [41 CFR 102-74.330](https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/41/102-74.330), goes further. It says "smoking is prohibited in courtyards and within twenty-five (25) feet of doorways and air intake ducts."

**Public housing.** HUD's smoke-free rule for public housing is [24 CFR 965.653](https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/24/965.653). Each housing agency must ban "prohibited tobacco products" in all units and indoor common areas. The ban also covers "outdoor areas within 25 feet" of the buildings.

At a minimum, that means items that burn tobacco, such as cigarettes, cigars and pipes, plus hookahs. Agencies had to comply [by July 30, 2018](https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/24/965.655).

## FAQ

### Can you vape on a plane?

No, not on a scheduled US passenger flight. Since 2018, federal law says "the use of an electronic cigarette shall be treated as smoking" ([49 U.S.C. 41706](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/49/41706)). DOT's rule defines smoking to include "electronic cigarettes whether or not they are a tobacco product."

### Can you smoke on a cruise ship balcony?

Not on Carnival, Royal Caribbean or Norwegian. All three ban smoking on stateroom balconies and charge a fee: $500 per violation at Carnival and $250 at Royal Caribbean and Norwegian. Norwegian makes one exception for guests in its Garden Villas, who may smoke in their private garden and sun deck.

### Are Las Vegas casinos smoke-free?

Not by state law. Nevada's Clean Indoor Air Act ([NRS 202.2483](https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-202.html)) bans "smoking in any form" in indoor workplaces but exempts "Areas within casinos where loitering by minors is already prohibited." Each property sets its own policy for the gaming floor, so check the casino's website before you go.

### Does Amtrak have a smoking car?

No. [Amtrak's smoking policy](https://www.amtrak.com/smoking-policy) says "All Amtrak trains, Amtrak Connection bus services and stations are entirely non-smoking," and that includes electronic cigarettes. The one exception is smoking on station platforms at longer stops, "only as announced by train crews." State or local law may still ban smoking on the platform.

### Can you vape in a national park?

Not in park buildings, government vehicles or concession facilities. A [2015 National Park Service policy memo](https://www.nps.gov/subjects/policy/upload/PM_15-03.pdf) says "use of ENDS will be treated as tobacco smoking." ENDS means electronic nicotine delivery systems, such as vapes. Smoking is also banned in all caves and caverns ([36 CFR 2.21](https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/36/2.21)).

## A note from BRST

BRST is a [2mg peppermint melt](/product/nicotinemelts/) that dissolves under the tongue. It is not a cigarette and not FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapy.

To see how a melt differs from gum, lozenges and pouches, read [nicotine tablet vs. gum, lozenge and pouch](/blog/nicotine-tablet-vs-gum-lozenge-pouch/). Adults 21+. Nicotine is addictive.

Which of these rules surprised you most: the Amtrak platform exception, the casino carve-outs or the rental car fees?