So as people look to travel within the country, more people are traveling by car than by airplane. This makes sense due to knowing the health of who’s riding with you, the ability to social distance, and the lack of international travel opportunities.
I recently traveled back to California from the East Coast. I saw some sights, did some camping, and I’m currently residing at a month-long rental Airbnb at a 50% discount.
Since there’s been a lot of uncertainty, I thought I would share my experience road tripping during this time and give some tips for traveling during this time to help guide you as you travel.
I’ll include things like how to decide on lodging while traveling on the road, cleaning and safety tips, lodging at one’s destination, and other travel tips along the way.
My Road Trip During COVID-19
I knew that airplane travel wasn’t what I wanted to do while COVID-19 was going on, so I decided to drive. I went to be somewhere far away from the DC Metro area, where I could live independently, work on some things, and be more at peace. So I booked a month-long Airbnb rental at a 50% discount east of Riverside, California, and headed west.
The first night I was able to camp at a local park in Akron, Ohio. I found this spot through freecampsites.net. Although the park had no regular staff working due to COVID-19, I was able to correspond with an officer at the park that I would be camping, so my car would be okay parking overnight.
And overall, it was good to camp for free at that spot. It was secluded in the woods, and no one else was camping there.
But then things got interesting. I expected to go at a better pace than I did. I got to Dayton, Ohio, and realized I had to stop. So I ended up booking at a hotel, and this was good for two reasons. One, storms were in the forecast, and two, not many people were at this chain hotel. This wasn’t due to bad ratings, but rather, I believe it is because the skepticism on being in hotels during this time.
And I totally understand this. If people are in and out of a room in one night, there’s no way to tell if it will be safe to stay.
I personally trust the more corporately-owned locations because they have the resources to do a thorough cleaning in their rooms. Sadly, this means local and historic motels are likely getting harder hit.
Visiting places on the road
Like most road trips, there are spots on the journey that you’ll want to see. For example, I wanted to see the Louisville Slugger Bat Museum. But it was closed both Tuesday and Wednesday. I was scheduled to pass through Louisville on Tuesday. Also you’ll need to check whether locations are open or have different hours during this COVID-19 time.
Other places I stopped to stay for the night included Effingham, Illinois, which has lots of hotels and motels as a stopping point for truck drivers primarily, but also travelers.
The next few days, I stopped by some places along Route 66.
Ribbon Road, an original section of U.S. Route 66 that is a narrow stretch of road from Miami, Oklahoma to Afton, Oklahoma. It’s only nine feet wide!
Also, I went The Big Texan Steakhouse, known to offer a free 72 oz. steak to anyone who can eat it in an hour. Recently, Bradley Bozeman, offensive guard of the Baltimore Ravens, accomplished this challenge.
The next night, I was headed for New Mexico and I got to Albuquerque when I realized if I stayed in a hotel, I would have to self-quarantine for 14 days. That’s another thing. Be wary of the rules of each state. Some states have quarantine rules. Some states are bigger hot spots for COVID-19. Check the states you plan to travel to and in before going if possible.
Instead, I stopped at a 24-hour travel center that allows travelers to rest in their cars for a few hours. But when I had difficulty sleeping, I stocked up on some caffeine and headed to a key location that I’ve been wanting to travel to: Forrest Gump Point near Mexican Hat, Utah.
It was quite fun traveling through the middle of the night to be there for sunrise, and I made it. I was exhausted, but I got the shot. Check it out below.
And then here’s a picture of me very tired.
But I didn’t turn around to head back east. I kept on going.
[On a side note, this isn’t the first time I’ve done a Forrest Gump excursion with Tripping Thru the USA.]
I also visited national parks and other natural landscapes. But first, let’s talk lodging along the way.
Booking Lodging on the Way
Given the spread of COVID-19, it is normal to be concerned about the safety, and cleanliness of lodging if you go on more than a day trip.
There are a variety of options from camping to RVing to cabins to hotels to Airbnbs. Here’s a short rundown of these options.
Camping ensures distance from people, free from concerns about sharing spaces (besides the people you are with), is fairly cheap, and gives you the outdoor experience. It does not have the amenities of a kitchen, air conditioning or access to other modern comforts, but you don’t have to worry about sharing a room that someone else you don’t know stayed in last night. Some spots are free, which is excellent. National parks, KOA, Bureau of Land Management dispersed camping, recreation.gov, and freecampsites.net are some of the possible camping options.
I have not used an RV or cabins, but RVs allow people to have all the typical amenities they need, one can travel with all their items, and there’s plenty of RV spots across the country to park for the night, making lodging free, besides the cost of purchasing an RV. You can also rent RVs and vans with living amenities like a bed, etc.
Hotels have the resources to deep-clean rooms, but some may be leery of staying for a night in a place that could have been inhabited by another with COVID-19 even a few days earlier. To be honest, I stayed at some hotels because it would have been way too hot to camp or I simply was exhausted.
Staying at an Airbnb for one night on the road is probably my least favorite of these options because typically people don’t have the deep clean resources that hotels do. Plus you’re staying in a stranger’s home, and may not have a set-apart area to lodge. If you must choose this option, choose a place entirely to yourself.
National Parks and Natural Lands are Good Options
National parks and other natural lands are a good opportunity during this time, but there are drawbacks.
One, everyone is wanting to go because so many other places are closed. It helps to get an annual pass for $80 so it is much cheaper to go to multiple parks. But if you can, arrive early. I learned this when I got to Arches National Park. The park closed for a few hours because there were too many cars and people in the park. By then I was onto Canyonlands National Park.
Two, it can be super hot. My visit to Canyonlands involved 100+ degree heat, and while I know it cools down, there was no way I was going to wait around for the cool-down. Be ready to have enough water for the weather.
The drive into Canyonlands National Park is worth it. But yes, you have to drive about 30 miles off the main road just to get to the park’s entrance. And that’s just the east entrance. The north entrance, the one to the Islands in the Sky portion, is even longer. Note that these two parts of the national park do not connect by road. You have to drive to them separately.
Sedona, Arizona is another amazing place. There’s also four unique energy places, called vortexes, in the area. I managed to visit three of the four
Three, check the park you wish to visit before you actually go there. Most are opening up, but some may have restrictions on hours or campgrounds. For example, Joshua Tree National Park has some restrictions.
Cleaning and Safety Tips
Given the COVID-19 pandemic and the desire to travel during the hot summer months.
*Stay hydrated.
*Keep hand sanitizer with you.
*Check rest stops for bathrooms, or check out these tips on bathroom breaks on the road.
*Bring snacks
*Maintain social distancing: 6 feet apart.
*In public areas, wear masks. Public health experts–the ones who understand diseases the best, highly recommend mask-wearing to contain the spread of the virus. While in nature and not around people, I did take off the mask to get better air.
Resource Links
Here are some links for more information on travel during COVID-19.
Finding Hotels: LA Times article
National Parks Service website
Thanks and hopefully this guide has been helpful.