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Topic:Travel and Tourism
At some tourist sites, such as Washington's Library of Congress, visitors have been disappointed. (AP: Julia Demaree Nikhinso)
Australian travellers heading to the United States are being warned to expect disruptions after Congress failed to resolve a budget dispute.
Major airports, national parks, and other government-run attractions are already being affected, leaving some travellers caught out.
Karl Williams, from Perth, had long dreamed of standing beneath the Gateway Arch in St Louis, the tallest arch in the world at 192 metres, on the banks of the Mississippi River.
Karl and Jane Williams planned to visit the Gateway Arch in St Louis but found the attraction closed when they arrived. (Supplied)
The six-week bucket-list trip he planned with his wife Jane included the iconic monument. But when the couple arrived on Wednesday local time, the Arch was closed.
"We had no idea until we turned up there," Mr Williams said.
"There was a whole lot of other people in the same area and we were all wondering why the doors weren't opening."
The couple scrambled to find other activities, but the closure has left a "sour taste."
"It's been on my bucket list for years, I love the history of it, and have watched documentaries," Mr Williams said.
The Gateway Arch in St Louis is the tallest arch in the world and has been closed down due to the federal government shutdown.  (Supplied: Karl Williams)
Their carefully planned itinerary includes other iconic sites over the next month such as the Smithsonian museums in Washington, national museums in New York, and attractions across Chicago.
"I'm assuming they are not going to be open. We're just going to have to roll with it, I guess."
The couple are among the first Australian holidaymakers affected by the shutdown, which has put around 800,000 federal employees on unpaid leave, including airport staff, customs officers, national park rangers, and museum staff.
Ports of entry into the country are expected to stay open for international travellers, according to the Department of Homeland Security's contingency plan.
Air traffic controllers and Transport Safety Administration (TSA) workers are considered essential, but they will not be paid until the shutdown ends.
During the last shutdown nearly seven years ago, hundreds of flights were grounded or delayed as air traffic controllers and security checkpoint staff increasingly called in sick.
During a previous government shutdown in 2018, the Statue of Liberty in Manhattan was closed to tourists. (Reuters: Andrew Kelly)
Dean Long, CEO of the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA), said Australians already in the US or travelling there soon should expect disruptions.
"Airports in New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Chicago are critical transit points," he said.
Mr Long suggested alternative transport where possible.
"If there's a way you can take the bus rather than a plane once in the US, that might be something you might want to look at," he said.
He also warned travellers to check their airline's conditions before making changes.
National parks are generally being kept open for now, but visitor centres have closed.
A colony of elephant seals that took over a popular tourist beach in a Californian national park during the recent US government shutdown have given birth to a whole lot of pups.
During the last shutdown, the Trump administration allowed parks to remain open without staff. 
That led to overflowing toilets, rubbish piling up, and damage at some of the country's best-known sites, including Yosemite, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon.
Elephant seals even took over a popular California beach while no staff were on duty to manage tourists or wildlife.
A group of former superintendents urged the government not to repeat that mistake.
"We don't leave museums open without curators, or airports without air traffic controllers and we should not leave our national parks open without National Park Service workers," said Emily Thompson of the Coalition to Protect America's National Parks.
National attractions like the Liberty Bell and the US Botanic Garden are closed.
The Smithsonian, the world's largest museum complex with museums in Washington DC and New York City, will close to the public after October 6.
The US has shut down its government for the first time in more than six years as politicians duel over federal funding. Here's what that means.
Despite the uncertainty, Mr Long said most Australians should not abandon their travel plans.
"For those people who are nervous, altering plans is an option. But the US is a very large country, and most services will continue to operate," he said.
He advised travellers to check terms and conditions before making changes and to consult an accredited travel agent if they needed to rearrange flights.
Australia's Department of Foreign Affair and Trade is advising travellers to exercise normal safety precautions in the US.
That includes avoiding locations where demonstrations and protests are occurring.
Law enforcement in the United States remains unaffected for now. The military will remain at their posts and National Guard troops will continue to work.
The US Travel Association estimates the shutdown will cost the economy $1 billion a week due to disruptions in air and rail travel and the closure of museums and national parks.
The effects of the US government shutdown are being felt across America as the White House warns federal workers will be fired en masse if Democrats don't back down.
More than 700,000 Australians visited the US last year.
Mr Long said while the shutdown was disruptive, the broader impact on Australia's tourism industry was likely to be minimal, with Americans unlikely to put off their trips Down Under.
"Inbound travellers leaving the US may experience delays, but once they arrive in Australia, immigration and customs will operate as normal," he said.
Mr Long's advice to Australians heading to the US during the shutdown is simple:
"The most important thing is to be organised and patient," he said.
"Have your documents ready, allow extra time for connections, and you'll still be able to enjoy your holiday."
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