Generally, state officials and staffers should be able to locate a governor on a moment's notice, and the public has a right to know too, said Gene Policinski, executive director of the First Amendment Center, a free speech education organization in Nashville, Tenn., that is part of the Freedom Forum.

Besides giving speeches, signing bills and attending ribbon-cuttings, governors must take charge in natural disasters. They command their states' National Guards. And their personal time can become the public's business, particularly when they betray people's trust, Policinski said.

"As, unfortunately, recent scandals seem to indicate, there is legitimate public interest in knowing where a governor is and what they're doing," Policinski said.

When AP asked where governors were, the most common answer was in the office. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal was reviewing bills on the last day of the legislative session. Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry was interviewing a candidate for a judicial appointment.

Even when governors were traveling, staffers had little trouble saying exactly where they were. In Alabama, Gov. Bob Riley's communications director, Jeff Emerson, knew Riley was landing in Seattle after an economic development trip overseas.

Palin's spokeswoman, Sharon Leighow, said the Alaska governor was visiting National Guard troops from her state abroad, but wouldn't immediately disclose where. She called back 30 minutes later, after getting the Defense Department's OK, to say Palin was in Kosovo. Palin told the world where she was that same day in a Twitter update.

As Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty left a Republican fundraiser, he said he always tries to at least let his staff know what he's doing.

"Regardless of whether you're a governor or anyone else, having a little clear-your-head time is probably a good thing," Pawlenty said. "But you always have to make sure you stay in touch in case there's a problem. You have to communicate."

While finding governors through their press offices is easy, tracking them down using schedules available to the general public can be trickier. Most release calendars of public events and news conferences, but some keep closed-door meetings and private functions under wraps even if they're official state business.

Pawlenty's staffers rejected a written request for access to his appointment calendar. On days when he doesn't have news conferences or speeches, his daily events schedule often reads "No Public Events." The fundraiser he attended wasn't on it.

Many states cited security reasons for refusing to release schedules, while others said they're not considered public records.

Most states were also tight-lipped about security, saying revealing details would put chief executives at risk, and arrangements varied widely in states willing to talk about them. In Virginia, State Police guard Gov. Tim Kaine around the clock, anywhere he goes, without exception. North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven, by contrast, normally drives his own car and state law doesn't require him to have a security detail.

Sanford managed to slip overseas undetected because he dismissed his security detail before driving himself to the airport.

Reggie Lloyd, chief of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, told reporters his agency had no legal authority to refuse Sanford.

"As an adult male, he's free to come and go as he pleases, and so we just honestly quit looking for him," Lloyd said.

There was little need to ask Sanford's office where he was after he returned Wednesday. His every move has been monitored and broadcast far beyond the borders of South Carolina.