diff --git a/apps/api/src/routes/explore.ts b/apps/api/src/routes/explore.ts
index 0a12eb0..78257ed 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/routes/explore.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/routes/explore.ts
@@ -75,8 +75,9 @@ exploreRouter.post("/start", async (context) => {
     return context.json({ error: "Exploration area not found in state" }, 404);
   }
 
-  if (area.status === "in_progress") {
-    return context.json({ error: "Exploration already in progress" }, 400);
+  const anyInProgress = state.exploration.areas.some((a) => a.status === "in_progress");
+  if (anyInProgress) {
+    return context.json({ error: "An exploration is already in progress" }, 400);
   }
 
   if (area.status === "locked") {
diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/game/ExplorationPanel.tsx b/apps/web/src/components/game/ExplorationPanel.tsx
index fa1cf3c..0f621ed 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/game/ExplorationPanel.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/game/ExplorationPanel.tsx
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ export const ExplorationPanel = (): React.JSX.Element => {
 
   const zoneAreas = EXPLORATION_AREAS.filter((a) => a.zoneId === activeZoneId);
 
+  const hasActiveExploration =
+    explorationState?.areas.some((a) => a.status === "in_progress") ?? false;
+
   const handleStart = async (areaId: string): Promise<void> => {
     setPendingAreaId(areaId);
     try {
@@ -137,8 +140,9 @@ export const ExplorationPanel = (): React.JSX.Element => {
                 {status === "available" && (
                   <button
                     className="start-quest-button"
-                    disabled={isPending}
+                    disabled={isPending || hasActiveExploration}
                     onClick={() => { void handleStart(area.id); }}
+                    title={hasActiveExploration ? "An exploration is already in progress" : undefined}
                     type="button"
                   >
                     {isPending ? "Departing..." : `Explore (${formatDuration(area.durationSeconds)})`}