Travel in the Time of Corona
The Resurgence of The Great American Road Trip
How to be Safer on the Road
The world has started to reopen, to a degree. People are getting back out on the road, kind of. Are adventures worth it right now while we are still deep in a global pandemic and how do you road trip safely this summer? One thing that everyone agrees on is that road travel will look very different for the foreseeable future.
It is projected that road travel will surge this summer with the TSA reporting a 97% decrease in air travel since the pandemic halted our world in March. Domestic travel is being favored over international travel, and currently those from the US are not allowed to travel internationally to certain countries including much of the European Union. Most feel travel by car is safer over air travel having more control over your immediate environment. According to the RV Industry Association, RV sales in some areas have jumped as high as 170% as compared to this time last year as many don’t want to fly or book a cruise right now. So, will we see this huge increase of traffic on the road this summer, or will more people decide to stay close to home and travel at a later date? With more people on tighter budgets these days will staycations win in 2020? Or are we finally seeing the resurgence of the Great American Road Trip?
How far you travel depends entirely on your comfort level. It is absolutely best to wander local as experts have said from the beginning, staying in closer proximity to your home or, if a full-time vanlifer staying close to where you recently quarantined. On another positive, keeping it local will help extend your budget dollars further and help support the local economy. Even though many of us are taking a financial hit in one way or another due to Covid19, it is imperative for our mental wellness to still get outside and take advantage of some Nature Therapy. Time outdoors helps us improve our moods, eases anxiety, stress and depression. Just 15 minutes of time in the sun gives you enough Vitamin D for the day for better immune system function, helping imporove your overall wellness. Nature and sunshine are free and there for you.
Like with so many other aspects of our lives, this pandemic may have forced you to pivot your travel plans as it did for us. We had plans to travel down Route 66 again, visit our happy place in New Mexico, and adventure around the mountains of Colorado on our annual trip west. Those plans have all changed with Covid19.
Our travel pivot has us looking at exploring more of the upper Midwest, our backyard. The Great Lakes region has a lot of beauty to offer including camping on islands in Wisconsin, spending some time exploring the dunes of western Michigan, and taking another road trip towards Canada for a paddling trip in the Boundary Waters. The Midwest also has two National Scenic Hiking Trails including the North Country Trail and the Ice Age Trail. We are embracing our Third Coast home during this time.
There are still Covid19 outbreaks happening all around the US no matter how much we’d love for this to be all over. The CDC currently has the United States at a Warning Level 3, meaning to “Avoid all nonessential international travel” and states that “staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from getting sick.” It does mention that any domestic travel does increase your chances of getting and spreading Covid.
Again, only you can decide your comfort level with travel at this time. With some advance planning and being as cautious as possible you could reduce your chances of getting/spreading Coronavirus if you choose to leave home for an adventure.
Before you hit the open road, do your own research before you go anywhere. When you decide on a potential destination or two, check out local resources to find out about Covid19 spread in that area and any travel restrictions you may come across. Also do this with the areas you are traveling through. Think about potential places that would be ok to stop for gas, food, rest breaks and which places you may want to avoid with high densities of CV19 cases. Also check to see if there are any quarantine orders in place where you’d like to visit. In New York, New Jersey and Connecticut they are imposing a 14 day quarantine to anyone coming from 16 states with high caseloads of Covid19 cases. The City of Chicago is requiring visitors to quarantine for 14 days before heading out into the city. This list of places has potential to grow which is why pre-travel research is so important.
Below are a few links as a starting point when researching potential road travel:
- CDC Considerations for Travelers | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- See How All 50 States are Reopening (and Closing Again) | The New York Times
- A State-by-state Guide to What’s Open | Travel and Leisure
- Health Department links for all 50 States | CDC
Anticipate your travel needs in advance. Don’t think that you can always find supplies out on the road. Make sure to bring any medications for the trip as well as always have a good first aid kit on hand. Bring enough hand sanitizer, sanitizer wipes, and anti-bacterial cleaners to keep your space as clean as possible. Bring at least 2 face masks per person in case one gets misplaced as things do on road trips. Some cities do have mask requirements in place so make sure you have yours on you at all times. Make your own PPE kit and Covid cleaning kit and stick to the daily cleaning routine of your space.e
Plan and pack for as many meals as possible as you can. Shop local and prep any foods in advance for ease on the road. When stopping for food along the way, be ready for takeout and to eat elsewhere as many dining rooms are still closed. Finding a local park is a nice dining option and a break from driving. Don’t forget plenty of water. Some campgrounds and park facilities are still limited so find out before you go. Most water refill centers in gas stations and grocery stores had been turned off during quarantine but are slowly opening back up. The more you have to buy on the road likely means your spending a bit more compared to having purchased in advance at home.
Summertime has always been the prime time for camping and traveling to parks and 2020 may bring yet another increase in visitors. Over the last 5 years, attendance numbers have surged at State and National Parks around this country. Many parks have had difficulties with the increase of traffic due to lack of funding within the department. Now with people out of work and coming out of a 3 month quarantine, the urge to want to get out there is at an all time high. Be cautious as some parks and some trails remain closed and most locations have capacity rules in place. Some trails, parks and campgrounds require advance registration due to capacity and less facilities and Visitor’s Centers being open.
When making plans, think about traveling to lesser known parks and National Monuments that may have less people, meaning more spaces to stretch out on the trails and properly social distance. There are 419 units in the National Park Service to explore. There are 245 million acres in the Bureau of Land Management to waiting for us in the back country areas of the states. There are 20 National Grasslands with over 3.8 million acres of land available to use. Our country is massive and there are endless possibilities of adventure, away from most people. There is more room to spread out by not going to the most popular places to travel to right now. Some of our best adventures were off the grid with almost no one around. If you are setup for it, try for something more off the beaten path. The solitude may surprise you.
Be prepared that many facilities and things normally available to help you along the road may be closed. Many State Travel Welcome Centers have been closed so have your maps before you get there. Most restrooms are now open but some showers may still not be operating at campgrounds. Be prepared with a solar shower or a jump in the lake. Beaches at well known locations are closing back down due to increase CV19 cases so look for some water spots more off the grid. Google Earth is your friend here, just do this research before you leave internet service range. If really in need of a clean up, Truck Stops and Travel Centers have shower facilities that usually cost around $10.
Most of all, be mindful of the communities you visit. Smaller locales mean less access to and resources for medical care. If you or anyone you are traveling with is starting to feel ill before leaving home, cancel that trip. Its just not worth it. If you or anyone with you starts to fall ill while on the road, maybe its best to rethink your travel plans and find a way to get tested or to get back home asap. Even though you are outdoors, traveling to campgrounds and going camping still poses a risk with shared facilities and being around other campers. Many agree that traveling by car and going camping is one of the safer options for vacationing and adventuring at this time. It is up to those who decide to hit the open road to be smart and safe out there. Traveling in a van is kind of like adventuring in your own bubble, but still nothing is 100% safe. Travel definitely looks different these days.
