א אֵין הוֹלְכִים בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת יוֹתֵר מִג' פַּרְסָאוֹת, כְּדֵי שֶׁיַּגִּיעַ לְבֵיתוֹ בְּעוֹד הַיּוֹם גָּדוֹל וְיוּכַל לְהָכִין צָרְכֵי סְעֻדָּה לְשַׁבָּת, בֵּין שֶׁהוֹלֵךְ לְבֵית אֲחֵרִים בֵּין שֶׁהוֹלֵךְ לְבֵיתוֹ; וְהָנֵי מִילֵי כְּשֶׁהוּא בַּיִּשּׁוּב, בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁיּוּכַל לְהָכִין צָרְכֵי שַׁבָּת, אֲבָל אִם בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁהוּא שָׁם אִי אֶפְשָׁר לוֹ לְהָכִין צָרְכֵי שַׁבָּת, אוֹ שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְקוֹם יִשּׁוּב בָּטוּחַ, מֻתָּר לֵילֵךְ אֲפִלּוּ כַּמָּה פַּרְסָאוֹת; וְאִם שָׁלַח לְהוֹדִיעָם שֶׁהוּא הוֹלֵךְ שָׁם לְשַׁבָּת, מֻתָּר לוֹ לֵילֵךְ כַּמָּה פַּרְסָאוֹת בְּכָל גַּוְנָא.
1 Laws that Apply on Friday, 4 Seifim: On Friday, from the beginning of the day [onward], it is forbidden for a person [who is traveling] to walk more than three parsaos. [Note: A parsa is a Persian mile, equal to four mil, approximately four kilometers (about 2 ½ miles) in contemporary measure.] In this way, he will reach the destination where he plans to spend the Shabbos while it is still early in the day so that he will [have ample time to] prepare his Shabbos meal needs there, whether he goes to other people's houses or to his house. The above applies concerning a place where a person can prepare his Shabbos needs. If, however, he is located in a place where it is impossible for him to prepare his Shabbos needs, or he is not in a place that will certainly be his (Shabbos) place, it is preferable that he travel even many parsaos [farther]. If he sent to inform them they he is going there for Shabbat, it is permitted for him to several parsaos further in all cases.