How Far Do Women Have to Travel to Get an Abortion?
This chapter explores women’s access to abortion. Abortion is a common experience for women across the United States. According to the Guttmacher Institute, about one in four women will have an abortion by the age of 45. Access to this care can be affected by a variety of factors, including state laws and policies, socioeconomic status, and geography. Indeed, women who want to have an abortion performed in the middle of the country must travel much farther than women living on the coasts to reach a provider. Traveling these long distances can be impossible for women who cannot take time off from work or afford the transportation costs. States that have implemented abortion restrictions in recent years have increased the distance women must travel. In Texas, 20% of women have had their travel distance to the nearest abortion provider increase by about 56 miles. Other states where distance and travel times have notably increased include Iowa, Montana, and Missouri.