35 Travel Tips for a Safer Pandemic Road Trip in the US

The great American road trip is back! Sort of.

As the coronavirus pandemic has made international travel largely off-limits to Americans, many are instead taking a road trip within the US. Many Americans will be traveling throughout the country in 2021.

With vaccine rollouts and a decline in cases, there is some cautious optimism at the prospect of traveling again. Yet cruises are still on a pause and other travel restrictions make international trips difficult, risky, or impossible. So taking a road trip has emerged as a popular way to travel within the new normal of Covid-19 pandemic conditions. But can a US road trip during the middle of a pandemic be done safely?

The CDC clearly states:
“Travel increases your chance of spreading and getting COVID-19. CDC recommends that you do not travel at this time. Delay travel and stay home to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.”

Any potential road trippers must accept some level of increased risk whenever venturing outside their home. Weighing the potential benefits against the increased risks involved with a pandemic road trip can come down to a personal assessment that’s often not clear cut.

Even the experts on epidemiology haven’t been able to agree on the risk assessment of travel for their own personal situations. A NY Times survey of epidemiologists, released in June 2020, reported 56% of the epidemiologists expected to vacation overnight within driving distance during summer.

The CDC reminds us that coronavirus spreads “mainly from person-to-person, between people who are in close contact with one another.” So a big part of attempting to stay safe during a pandemic road safety goals is to avoid close contact with others as much as possible.

Being within the isolation of your own vehicle makes that easy. The safety bubble of your own car is part of the appeal of a pandemic road trip!

But how do you minimize close contact at attractions, hotels, food stops, and public restrooms? How can you evade the crowds at popular tourism destinations across the US? What additional planning and precautious would be need to be taken during a pandemic road trip?

During the past year, we’ve now spent about two months attempting to safely take road trips across the US. We wanted to attempt to road trip as safely and responsibly as reasonably possible under the pandemic conditions.

We wrote this detailed post to share all the US pandemic road trip travel tips we’ve learned along the way. For those who have made the choice to take a road trip during this ongoing pandemic, there are many responsible efforts that can be taken to lessen coming in contact with others. Taking some modest precautions can make for a safer road trip in 2021.

Note: these are travel tips, not medical advice. If seeking medical advice, please consult doctors, not travel websites. This article aims to provide practical travel tips, based upon the latest government advisories and recommendations.

Tips to Plan Where in the US to Take a US Pandemic Road Trip

1) Check US State Travel Restrictions

Some US states have placed restrictions on people traveling from other states. These states may require visitors to complete a travel health form, quarantine upon arrival, or show proof of a recent negative Covid-19 test.

Some states, most notably Hawaii, have very strict policies that are being strictly enforced. Meanwhile other states are simply providing recommendations asking visitors to quarantine but not mandating it.

With somewhat complex and evolving restrictions, it’s important to check with each state and even local municipalities to see if there are travel restrictions in place. It should be noted some states have travel restrictions down to the county or city level. For example, at the last update of this article (Feb 16, 2021) California’s statewide travel restrictions have been lifted but there are still quarantine policies in place for counties such as San Francisco.

Be sure to consider how you can conform to any requirements and travel restrictions. If there’s a mandate to quarantine upon arrival, understand exactly how that would impact your trip from being able to do nearly anything.

For a glance at travel restrictions for all 50 states, see this regularly-updated CNN article. But it’s always best to check directly with the state for the latest official information.

2) Opt Outside to Avoid Contact

When planning potential road trip stops, the great outdoors can offer great appeal. Rural destinations are in vogue as more and more people are opting outside, which often makes it easier to keep distanced from one another.

Hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, cycling, paddle boarding, swimming, and scenic drives are just a few outdoor activities where keeping distanced from one another can be accomplished with ease. Therefore mountains, beaches, lakes, and forests can make naturally good choices for a US road during the pandemic.

Yet many of these activities can become difficult in the winter months. Warmer weather destinations in the southern US may prove more ideal to be able to pursue outdoor recreation. Or bundle up and get outside to do some skiing, snow shoeing, sledding, cross-country skiing, and other winter activities that are easy to keep distance from others.

Even for the less-active types, scenic drives can provide a great taste of the outdoors from the safety and comfort of a car. Having drove the entire 469-mile length of the Blue Ridge Parkway during the pandemic, we can vouch that it offered plenty of intrigue and splendor experienced from right behind the steering wheel.

 

3) Reconsider Popular Destinations and Discover Alternatives

Do you have a great idea to escape your city and head out to an interesting outdoor destination? It’s possible that others have come up with the same idea. Notable national parks and popular summer beach destinations are among locations seeing thriving tourism numbers, in spite of the ongoing pandemic.

We noticed this firsthand when we visited Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Year after year it’s ranked as the most-visited national park in the US and we saw no signs of a slow down during our summer visit. There were crowded parking lots, congested roadways, packed trails, and loads of people congregating in the tourism towns that serve as a gateway to the park.

Consider discovering lesser-visited alternatives nearby. America’s National Parks are spectacular. But it can be worth looking into nearby State Parks or National Forests too. For example, our visit to the Great Smokies was met with crowds, but the nearby Pisgah National Forest and Nantahala National Forest remained serene and lightly trodden.

Crowded situations during a vacation can always be a little annoying. Yet during pandemic times, crowds can feel increasingly irritating and potentially dangerous. To appease that anxiety, it can be worthwhile to do a little extra research to uncover lesser-visited gems nearby.

Also consider going against the grain to take a road trip in the other direction from the masses. For example, beaches in the mid-Atlantic and northeast tend to be very popular in the summer. But summer is actually low season down in Florida. Going against the grain can help to avoid crowds and take advantage of off-season rates!

4) Tip to Gauge How Busy a Destination May Be: Check Occupancy Rates

How can you tell if a tourism destination may be susceptible to crowds during the time of your road trip visit?

If hotels are selling out, that’s a pretty good indication you may arrive to crowded conditions. Booking.com, one of the most popular hotel booking sites, shows whenever a searched destination is reaching capacity. After searching, a box can appear above the search results to show the percentage of Booking’s inventory that is unavailable. Note, this only occurs when a destination is filling up.

So take a quick search on Booking.com and if you don’t see this box with an unavailability percentage, that should help to appease crowding concerns.

5) Road Trip Close to Home

You don’t necessarily have to drive across the country to enjoy the fun of a road trip. Rediscover your own back yard! You likely have an inside advantage of local knowledge of some lesser-known spots that are within a tankful of gas.

This may be a perfect time to consider checking out that interesting place a few counties over you’ve been wanting to go to.

Not straying far from home has further advantages. If someone were to get sick during a pandemic road trip, then you’d be within easy reach of returning home, quarantining, and/or seeking medical attention at home.

6) Strategically Plan Popular Destinations during Weekdays

Popular destinations are often popular for a reason. They have great appeal.

If you’re adamant on including a popular destination during a pandemic road trip, plan it during the mid-week. You’ll likely experience less visitors. Accommodation prices tend to ease too.

Be strategic in going to lesser-visited locations over weekends. Then proceed to popular spots during the weekday.

We recently used this strategy, while planning a road trip to the Florida Keys and it worked great! Rather than going to popular Key West, we stayed in less-popular Marathon during the weekend. Then we went to the tourism magnet of Key West during the week. We were delighted to find the often-crowded streets of Key West entirely empty! Bartenders informed us that the weekends were still drawing a decent crowd.

 

7) Avoid Emerging Covid Hotspots & How Locate Them 

Don’t unknowingly road trip into a Covid-19 hotspot! There’s an obvious danger to travel to a destination where cases are rising fast and/or infection levels are high. Such areas will likely have heavier restrictions in place too.

Take some time to familiarize yourself with the current infection rates of your road trip destination(s) and even the locations you may be passing through during your road trip.

A great visualization, showing county-level data of where cases are currently emerging, can be found on the New York Times Hot Spots Map. It shows the share of population with a new reported case over the last week.

This can be a good resource to check while planning. But be sure to check it again before embarking on a road trip, as infection rates change over time. Be sure to browse through any areas you may be passing through. That can help to avoid any stops in potential hotspots along your road trip route.

8) Cities Have Obvious Drawbacks, but Don’t Ignore Entirely

While making an attempt to avoid other people and crowded spaces, it’s a logical move to cut cities from any pandemic road trip itinerary. Busy cities can more easily bring about situations where visitors will be in close contact with other people. There’s also a greater potential of encountering closures of indoor attractions, tours, nightlife, and more. So it may be best to avoid to cities altogether.

Yet while road trippers are flocking to outdoor destinations, we found surprisingly empty scenes across some of the US cities we included during pandemic road trips we took during the pandemic in 2020.

For example, Washington DC was virtually empty during a trip there in early July 2020. There was virtually no one throughout the Washington Mall to the extent that we were able to get streetside parking right next the Lincoln Memorial. DC’s outdoor spaces and monuments were largely open. Yet nearly all museums and government buildings were closed to the public. Still, stopping into the nation’s usually-busy capital gave us a unique opportunity to walk amongst DC’s landmarks while it was remarkably free of any other tourists.

But with many closures, a big city like DC is not somewhere we’d want to linger. Yet it can still make for a most pleasant day visit, while keeping amidst the outdoor sights.

If considering a city visit during a pandemic road trip, be careful to research what’s open and think about what activities you’ll actually be able to do while keeping distanced. Think about what you may be able to do and see outside.

9) Check Local Mask Mandates

Some localities are requiring face masks only for indoor settings. Other places are requiring masks be worn outside too. Meanwhile some states aren’t requiring masks at all. The mask rules can be different all across the US and they continue to change too.

It’s a lot to keep up with. Be sure to know the local laws of all your US road trip destinations. Otherwise you may wind up with a citation.

At time of publishing this article, 34 states have issued some form of statewide face mask mandate.

This list, maintained by AARP.org, has been updating state mandates as they change. Take a minute to review the current status of any state on your road trip itinerary.

Even if a state doesn’t have a mask mandate, it can be worth further investigating if there are mandates at the county or city level. For example, Florida does not have a statewide face mask mandate. But many counties do.

Preparations to Consider Before a Pandemic Road Trip

10) Now Is the Time for a Tune-Up

Before you drive off on your road trip, ensure your car will make it the distance. Running into car trouble can lead to the close contact situations that experts recommend avoiding. If you need a tow, you’ll likely be forced to ride with a stranger to get to the shop.

Many roadside incidents can be easily prevented. Before taking off, check your tires, car battery, and engine oil.

Has your car been making a funny noise? Now is the time to get that checked out.

Do you have a spare tire, a jack, and everything needed to change a tire on your own? This is a good time to to ensure you’ll be able to able to change it yourself and hence avoid unnecessary contact.

11) Consider a Covid-19 Test and/or Quarantine before the Road Trip

Some states are requiring a negative Covid-19 test, proof of vaccine, or a mandatory quarantine before entering. Even if not, departing with a negative test can be a responsible effort for those not vaccinated to help give some peace of mind that you’re not spreading the virus to communities you’re road tripping through.

Those taking a US road trip from a Covid-19 hotspot may want to be particularly vigilant in getting a test before traeling to help ensure you’re not spreading the virus.

So where can you get a test before your road trip? The CDC advises visiting your state or local health department’s website to look for the latest local information on testing.

Do note that test results often takes a few days to be returned. So consider allowing an appropriate amount of time before your road trip to get tested, before quarantining while awaiting the results.

Personally, we’ve taken nasal swab tests at drive-thru facilities a few days before departing on our road trips. Then we quarantine while awaiting the results. Once the negative test is confirmed, we’re off! We find the process to be quick, easy, and painless.

12) Checklist: Extra Items to Pack for a US Pandemic Road Trip

Before the pandemic, we all needed to remember three basic items before leaving the house: keys, wallet/purse, and phone. Now items like masks and sanitizer are filling our pockets whenever leaving the house.

There are additional items we’ve packed for a road trip that we would have never considered during pre-pandemic times.

Here’s everything we’ve added to our US pandemic road trip checklist:

Travel- Size Hand Sanitizer – Actually in Stock on Amazon

Don’t forget the hand sanitizer! For when you can’t immediately wash your hands, it’s great to have some sanitizer on hand (pun intended). The travel size (2 oz) hand sanitizer can be very convenient for travel.

Hand sanitizer has been a hot commodity that has been often been out-of-stock, inflated prices, any/or questionable quality. So it’s nice to see this 5-pack of travel-sized hand sanitizer on Amazon for less than $10! It’s 75% alcohol and usually in stock. Check now.

Sanitizing Wipes – So Many Uses!

When traveling in places with unknown cleanliness, it can be nice to have the reassurance of wiping down surfaces. Whether it’s a dirty public restrooms, a questionable restaurant table, or high-touch areas in your hotel room, sanitizing wipes can come to the rescue.

They’re also just convenient to have to clean up messes! This 10-pack of sanitizing wipe pouches is particularly convenient for travel, with 20 wipes in each resealable package.

Face Can Get Dirty and Lost – Pack Extras

Masks are now a requirement in so many travel situations. So when traveling during the pandemic in 2021, we suggest packing a few extra masks so you find yourself in an uncomfortable position of being caught without one.

Masks get dirty after repeated use. So it can be wise to bring extra since you likely won’t be doing laundry regularly on a US road trip. This three-pack of premium 3-fly face masks is a best seller on Amazon.

Thermometer – Just in Case!

It can be a smart precaution to travel with a thermometer these days. If you or a family members does get sick while traveling, you’d certainly want to check body temperature for a potential fever. Yet thermometers are long sold-out in many drug stores around the country and around the world.

Be sure to add a thermometer to your travel packing list in 2021! There’s no need to carry around one of those forehead thermometers that are pricey and take up space. A simple digital oral thermometer like this is inexpensive, compact, and does its job.

Accommodation Travel Tips during a Pandemic Road Trip

13) Check Cancelation Policies and Consider a Higher Rate for the Ability to Cancel

Hotel cancelation policies have been changing throughout the pandemic. At the onset, most hotels and booking sites were generous in easing strict cancelation policies for consumers. But they’ve since started to tighten up again.

For road trippers booking accommodation in advance, it can be wise to secure rooms that have a flexible cancelation policy. When booking, be vigilant to carefully check when the cancelation deadline is and if there are any cancelation fees.

Sometimes hotels will charge a slightly lower rate for non-cancelable rooms. While we always love a good deal, our advice during the uncertainty of this pandemic is to pay a slightly higher rate for the ability to cancel. Conditions can change quickly, and you may need to reconsider your US pandemic road trip.

14) Avoid Interior Spaces by Staying at Roadside Motels

America’s roadside motels are having a moment. Motels have always offered some of the best accommodation bargains in the US during a road trip. Yet now roadside motels also helping to minimize contact with others and avoid shared indoor spaces.

Many roadside motels throughout the US are ideally positioned to limit contact. That’s because motels in the US commonly have rooms that open up directly to the outside.

This means that there’s no need to walk through interior hallways or take interior elevators. You can go directly from your car to your room, with no contact with anyone in between.

Of course, you may still need to check-in at the front desk and receive a room key. Yet it’s now common practice at hotels and motels to have plexiglass installed and enhanced sanitation at front desks. Additionally, some motels even offer contactless check-in procedures with the help of mobile apps and other technology.

We’ve now stayed in over a dozen hotels while roadtripping the US during pandemic conditions. Some were better than others, of course. But we found them all to be clean, cheap, cheery, and met our needs. It can be well-worth it to check reviews and cleanliness protocols. Search around. We tend to find some of the best motel deals on hotels.com and booking.com.

15) Ask about Hotels’ Sanitization Practices

Many hotels throughout the US have committed to increased cleanliness protocols to help keep their customers safe during the pandemic.

Yet some hotels may be making more of an effort than others. It may be worth doing a little sleuthing to gain some assurance before booking.

If it’s a chain hotel you’re considering, most have posted their new cleanliness protocols directly to their websites. For road trippers who really want to have some assurance before booking can call the individual location to ask the front desk what they’re doing to help keep guests safe.

Questions to consider asking:

• How have cleaning processes changed since the pandemic? (Listen for new sanitization or disinfected policies).
• What is the check-in procedure? (If at a front desk, listen for plexiglass or mask-enforcement).
• How long is room left vacant between stays, after cleaning?

16) Consider Staying in One Place for a Quarantine Getaway

A classic US road trip often involves many different stops throughout a diverse driving route. Yet doing so during the time of a pandemic can increase exposure to additional people, more indoor spaces, and more hotel rooms.

To reduce all the additional contact, it could be worth designing a road trip to one single destination and staying put there. A “quarantine getaway” may seem like an oxymoron, but it is possible! Book somewhere with a kitchen or kitchenette to be able to have meals without contact.

Consider a place where there is outdoor recreation at your doorstep. That way you can enjoy a destination in relative seclusion without further exposure and contact with others.

For example, we booked a hotel in the Keys that included free kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, bikes, and fishing gear. That way, we were able to enjoy these activities right on the property with no need to come in contact with others. It was great to fish right from our hotel room, making it a fantastic quarantine getaway!

17) Using Short Term Rentals and Airbnbs during a US Pandemic Road Trip

Short-term house and apartment rentals, such as through Airbnb, can be another consideration for accommodation to avoid contact by booking a whole place entirely to yourself. It can be assuring to stay somewhere with no shared spaces, no front desk, and no contact with anyone else. Many Airbnb rentals in the US are using self check-in procedures, with a lockbox or keypad, to ensure a contactless experience.

A bonus of a short-term rental is having your own kitchen and dining areas. That way guests who are really trying to limit their contact with others can bring their own food and have a place to prepare it. It can also be nice to have a proper dining area, whether cooking it yourself or getting take-away.

But what about cleanliness? The level of hygiene falls upon each individual Airbnb host. So there must be some faith and trust involved. Recent reviews and extra cleanliness information hosts are leaving in their listings can help to build confidence and ease any concerns.

Airbnb has also introduced an enhanced cleaning initiative for hosts who choose to commit to this rigorous cleaning protocol. It goes beyond a simple cleaning by also sanitizing the entire space and a five-step cleaning process to cover every room. When browsing Airbnb, look for “enhanced cleaning” highlighted in the listing, as shown below. You can read more about it here.

Airbnb hosts also have the option to offer a “Booking Buffer,” to create a vacancy period between stays. That way the home stays empty for a set period of time (default is 72 hours) as a precaution to address the possibility of particles that may remain airborne for a few hours.

During our simmer road trip, we booked one Airbnb, a beautiful cabin while in the mountains of North Carolina. We found it to be immaculately clean and had an excellent experience.

Search Airbnbs for your road trip destination.

18) Re-clean High-Touch Areas

We like to trust that a hotel’s doorknobs and light switches have been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected by the cleaning staff. Yet how well those areas are cleaned will ultimately depend on the thoroughness of each individual housekeeper.

So whether at a hotel, motel, or Airbnb, germaphobes can always give themselves some extra assurance. Let your germ-freak flag fly and bring your own wipes or disinfecting spray to clean such areas yourself.

These are high-touch areas in hotels you may want to consider disinfecting:

• Air-conditioner knobs
• Remote control
• Phone
• Light switches
• Charging ports
• Faucets
• Doorknobs

19) Consider Forgoing Housekeeping Services

If you don’t want a stranger breathing in your hotel/motel room, you can simply request not to have housekeeping during your stay.

Many hotels are not making up rooms during a guest’s stay, by default, unless it’s requested. Ask yourself whether you really need someone to make your bed each day.

If staying a few days, you can always ask for new towels to be dropped outside your room.

Travel Tips for Eating & Drinking on a US Pandemic Road Trip

20) Stock Up on Snacks and Drinks before Your Drive

During any long drive, it’s inevitable someone will get thirsty or have a snack attack. Under normal circumstances, it would be second nature to roll into a convenience store to satiate that craving. But doing so now can add unnecessary contact in a potentially crowded interior space.

So just plan in advance! Pack your favorite snacks and beverages before your road trip. It’ll decrease contact with others and will likely save a few bucks on the often-inflated prices at roadside stops.

We’re big fans of the contactless drive-up pickup that many supermarkets are now offering across the US. So for recent our road trip, we used that to load up on snacks and packed a cooler full of our favorite drinks.

21) Download Drive-Thru & Take-Out Apps to Avoid Contact during Payment

Fast food is nearly an essential component to any US road trip. Drive-thrus and curbside pick-up can help to limit contact too. To take it an extra step further, you can also eliminate the exchange of money and credit cards by using an app.

So what’s your favorite guilty pleasure? Nearly all the fast food and quick-serve joints have apps now. Download the associated apps for all your favorite fast food places. Do so before your road trip, while you’re still connected to your home wifi, so you don’t burn through your mobile data while on the road.

The benefit of having these apps installed on your phone during a US pandemic road trip is that you’ll be able to submit your order and pay for it through the app. So you don’t have to potentially use a dirty pen to sign a credit card slip or exchange cash.

The perks of using these apps go beyond limiting contact. Ordering in advance can decrease wait times. Apps can provide a convenient way to customize orders. Many apps also offer exclusive money-saving deals and promos too!

 

22) Support Local Restaurants and Get Curbside Pick-Up

Fast food can be convenient while on the highway during a road trip. But local restaurants across US road trip destinations would love to have your business! Restaurants all across America have pivoted during the pandemic to offer takeaway options such as curbside pick-up.

If restaurant dining rooms aren’t open in your travel destination or if you’re not comfortable dining out in the pandemic, take-out can be a great alternative to consider getting a taste of the local food.

Check a local restaurant’s website to see if there may be a way to pay online. Or call to ask if you can pay by credit card over the phone.

23) Instead of Enclosed Bars, Try Outdoor Spaces at Local Breweries & Wineries

While many restaurants across the US are able to open, bars have been subjected to harsher restrictions to stay shuttered. Yet it seems many local breweries and wineries across the US have been successful in getting around that.

We’ve found vineyards and brewpubs tend to offer outdoor spaces that can make patrons feel more comfortable. Sipping outdoors at a local drinkery can be a great way to soak in the local vibes while remaining outside and distanced.

Alternatively, we found many breweries doing takeaway business, selling freshly brewed bottles, cans, crowlers, and growlers of beer to-go. So it’s always possible to snag some local suds to enjoy wherever you’re staying.

24) Have a Picnic!

The pandemic can give us all a perfect excuse to picnic during a road trip. Enjoy a lunch al fresco!

Those roadtripping to outdoor spaces across the US should have no problem finding picnic facilities in places like national parks, forests, recreation areas, and state parks. Even many highway rest stops have picnic areas. Most are naturally spaced apart from one other, making it easy to keep distanced.

If it’s a highly used picnicking area, you may want to consider cleaning and sanitizing it first. Or bring a blanket and your own picnicking supplies to set up a spread in an open park space or field. Enjoy!

25) Make Sure You Have a QR Reader Downloaded to Read Restaurant Menus

Many restaurants across the US are no longer using paper menus. Instead, you view the menu right from your own phone, using a QR code. But you must have a way to scan it.

Those who are planning to visit restaurants should be sure to have a QR Code scanner on your phone before dining out during your a US pandemic road trip. iPhone users should be all set, as the camera already has a built-in QR code reader. Android users will need to search for and download a QR code scanner app from the Play Store.

Travel Tips for other Stops during a Pandemic Road Trip

26) Use Gloves to Pump Gas

Inevitably during a road trip, you’ll be stopping to refuel after burning through each tank of gas. Unless you’re only driving through New Jersey or Oregon, where full-service gas attendants are the law, you’ll likely need to grab that gas pump yourself.

There’s no telling how many people (hundreds, thousands?) have also touched that same gas pump since the last time it was cleaned. Pack some gloves to add a layer of protection for each time you need to gas up.

We bought a 500-pack of these inexpensive gloves on Amazon.

27) Choosing Where to Stop for Bathroom Breaks during US Pandemic Road Trip

Where is best to use restrooms during a pandemic road trip in the US: gas stations or rest areas?

There are pros and cons to each and each individual location will vary. Ultimately, it’s a matter of preference and opinion. We’re happy to share our opinion, as we stopped at many gas stations and rest stops during recent pandemic road trip across America.

We found most highway rest areas are open and clean. We noticed rest area bathrooms tend to have better cleaning than gas stations, overall. We’ve even witnessed lots of extra cleaning going on at many rest areas. Some even had every other toilet blocked off to help keep people distanced.

Despite these increased measures, some rest area bathrooms had an abundance of people congregating. Even though the rest area facilities were sparkling clean, the crowds of people were concerning to us.

Meanwhile we find the bathrooms at gas stations, on average, were far less trafficked than rest areas. But they also tended to be far less clean. We also encountered a higher chance of soap or paper towel being empty at gas station bathrooms.

So you might be subjecting yourself to a more filthy experience at gas station restrooms. But the trade-off is the possibility of having entire bathroom to yourself, not breathing the same air as multitudes potentially packing a rest area.

So it’s a crap shoot either way (pun intended). Personally, we felt more comfortable with the reliable cleanliness at rest areas. Whichever you use, make sure you keep distanced and wash those hands!

Fast food joints may be a further consideration for road trip bathroom breaks. But they can also have similar cleanliness issues found at gas stations. More importantly, many fast food places we came across were limited to drive-thru only. So fast food restrooms aren’t always a reliable option.

Travel Tips for US Pandemic Road Trip Destinations & Attractions

28) Make Advanced Reservations for Attractions

An emerging trend we noticed throughout our summer and fall road trips were new ticketing and reservation policies popping up everywhere.

Many local attractions are now requiring tickets purchased online in advance. Some walk-up attractions are now requiring reservations at designated time slots, with limited ticketing to help regulate potential crowding. For example, while passing by the popular North Carolina tourist attraction of Grandfather Mountain, we noticed ticketing booths closed as they were only taking online reservations.

So before simply showing up, as you may have been able to in the past, be sure to check any attractions’ website for up-to-date info.

29) Show Hiking Etiquette

With the pandemic limiting indoor activities, more and more people are discovering the pleasures of the great outdoors. Yet many people we encountered on the trails seem to be unfamiliar with hiking etiquette.

On top of the usual hiking etiquette, the distancing protocol of the pandemic adds an extra layer of complexity. So here’s a quick review of some simple courtesies we can all show to another while on the trail.

• If hiking in a group, leave plenty of space on the trail for other hikers to safely pass.
• When passing someone, consider masking up as a courtesy to the hiker(s) you’re passing.
• If needing to take a break, find a safe place to step off the trail. Don’t stop in the middle, blocking others.
• Hikers going downhill should yield to those climbing uphill.
• Slower hikers can be mindful of those who may be approaching you from behind.
• Faster hikers can kindly make your presence known when approaching others.

30) Snap a Pic of Informative Signs or Maps

Throughout National Parks and other popular outdoor spaces, visitors will frequently encounter maps of hiking trails or informative signs. These signs often become a cluster, as people gather close to another to read such information.

Instead of adding to the crowd, use your phone to take a picture. Then read it wherever you want to lessen the gathering at the sign.

During our road trip down the Blue Ridge Parkway, we ended up with so many pictures of signs that we’d return to our car to read. Just be sure to go back to delete those pics from your camera reel when you’re done to free up space, unless you want to reference it later.

31) Go to Popular Attractions Early in the Morning

People like to sleep in on vacation. So if you want to beat the crowds at a popular attraction, rising early is a tried-and-true method to accomplish that.

Take a sunrise hike on a well-trodden trail. Arrive at a popular attraction right when it opens. Doing so, you may enter to freshly-cleaned conditions and a lack of crowds.

While on our summer road trip, we were hesitant to visit Virginia’s popular Natural Bridge. Yet going there first thing in the morning, we were delighted to be able to experience this unique natural attraction with very few other people around.

32) If It’s Crowded, Turnaround

If you arrive to a road trip attraction with crowded conditions, you may want to reconsider. If a parking lot is full, that may be a good indication to turn away. It’s probably not worth bothering to circle around or park up the road, only to add to the crowded conditions.

Crowded situations can increase your contact with so many other people, which is exactly what we’re trying to avoid during a pandemic road trip.

When we found hoards of people at a popular trail, we decided it would be in our best interests not to get in that mix.

33) Make a Mask Decision and Stick with It

The CDC calls on Americans to wear masks, as the latest science shows that masks prevent the spread of Covid-19. Despite this and local mask mandates, some Americans choose not to.

Particularly in rural areas we visited during recent road trips, we noticed the use of face coverings going ignored by some local businesses and patrons alike. In such instances, it may feel natural to go along with the crowd and not wear a mask. It can also be easy to forget to wear one.

Visitors naturally may not want to stick out by being the only “maskers” in these destinations where it seems to go against the social norms. In situations where no one else is wearing masks, it can be easy to become complacent and go along with the no-mask wearing crowd.

So make a decision about masks before your trip and see it through. Don’t let your guard down. Perhaps cases are low in the area you’re visiting, and locals feel safe enough not to wear a mask. But you’ve been road tripping, thereby putting yourself at increased exposure. Think about protecting the community you’re visiting, even if it feels like an unpopular decision.

34) Have a Plan if You Do Get Sick

It could happen. So be sure to thoroughly think through how you would react if you do become sick while on the road.

There are lots of aspects to consider. Would you, could you isolate yourself from your family/travel mates? How long would it take get back home? Can you easily get tested? How can you quarantine yourself while still on the road?

These may not be easy questions to answer. But it can be a good idea to develop an action plan in advance if illness strikes while taking a road trip during the pandemic.

35) Be Kind

This should go without saying. Yet it seems more important now than ever.

The conditions of a pandemic can present a more stressful time to travel. Tensions may be heightened. Everyone has different sensitivities and triggers. So be caring to fellow travelers and locals alike.

Show compassion to the tourism operators who are trying to safely navigate this new normal. Have some understanding of inconveniences you may face on a US road trip during the pandemic.

Be mindful of respecting the boundaries of other travelers who are trying to maintain proper distance. Err on the side of caution to give others plenty of space. Be respectful of the communities you’re visiting. Above all else, just be kind.

US Pandemic Road Trip Safety Tips Conclusion:
Practice Safety but Accept Risk

There’s a lot that can be done to minimize contact in an effort to stay safe during a pandemic road trip in the US. Yet ultimately, anyone traveling during the pandemic must accept a level of increased risk.

For some, the many extra precautions may not be worth the trouble. For others, the increased risk of traveling may not be worth the potential consequences. It’s something that everyone must carefully weigh out, pending their own personal situation and risk factors.

For us, the added safeguards we took during our pandemic road trip put us at greater ease to enjoy our road trip journey. As long-term travelers, the ability to get on the road again did wonders for our mental health while the outdoor recreation was an added boost to our physical health.

Yet it wasn’t always smooth. And there was lots of extra planning involved.

So if you’re considering a road trip during the coronavirus pandemic, we hope these travel tips may help to navigate these tricky times.

Be safe. Be kind. Be well.