Musk explained the launch pads need to be far enough way from heavily populated areas because frequent launches and landings are not subtle. He also added that the first Earth-to-Earth test flights of Starship are currently planned for the 2022-2023 timeframe.
After achieving its first astronaut at the end of May, the development of Starship is now SpaceX's top priority. Putting humans on Mars has always been Musk's primary motivation behind SpaceX and this dream is slowly inching closer towards reality.
SpaceX is building floating, superheavy-class spaceports for Mars, moon & hypersonic travel around Earth https://t.co/zLJjz43hKw
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 16, 2020
We need to be far enough away so as not to bother heavily populated areas. The launch & landing are not subtle. But you could get within a few miles of the spaceport in a boat.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 16, 2020