The past few months have been crazy for everyone with everything shutting down. Now that places are starting to open back up it’s easy to see that many people have the itch to get back out and do some traveling. While traveling outside of the country probably isn’t possible or a good idea right now heading out on a road trip might be the perfect way to travel this after quarantine this summer.
If you have followed along on Instagram you know that we spent 2 1/2 months during this quarantine with family in Utah. After things started opening back up and Jared was able to start working again we decided to take a little bit more scenic route getting back home to Maryland.
We consider our drive back home our first road trip after quarantine. Hopefully, we will be able to do a couple more this summer.
While our road trip was a lot of fun there were some big differences from our previous road trips. So I thought I would share some helpful tips and information for those of you wanting to hit the road this summer.
10 Things to Know Before Going on A Road Trip After COVID
If you’re going on a road trip during or after Covid-19? Here are 10 things you’ll want to know before hitting the road.
Do Your Research and Pack Smart
While your area might be open the place you’re looking to visit could still have restrictions. So before heading out on a road trip look up destinations and check restrictions. Some areas are requiring a quarantine period while others aren’t.
It’s better to be prepared for what to expect before your trip than to find out you can’t stop where you were planning once you start driving.
Keep in mind that while not all places require masks you might want to pack masks and hand sanitizer in case you need them.
Check Hotel Restrictions
Before booking your hotel be sure to check for any restrictions. We found out the hard way that restrictions can differ between cities, not just states.
We took a trip to the Oregon Coast and our booking at Rockaway beach was good but we tried to spend a night in Astoria and the city was limiting travel to those traveling for essential purposes only.
So even if you think the state you’re planning to visit is open for travel. Be sure to check the restrictions for the specific place you’re visiting. Restrictions may differ between states, counties, and cities.
Some Stops May be Closed
Depending on the area you are visiting some stores, restaurants, and attraction stops may be closed or have shortened hours. Even in areas that it seems like everything is open there still may be some places that are closed.
As we drove across the country we were surprised by some of the stops that were still closed. Everything around them was open but for whatever reason the company decided to stay closed for a while longer.
If you have specific places you want to visit be sure to check ahead of time to make sure they are open. While it’s good to know that the things you’re wanting to do are open, it can also be a lot of fun to stop at the random places you come across as you’re going.
We stopped at multiple places we saw signs for and are so glad we did. After seeing the sign we just did a quick google search to make sure they were open.
Fewer Public Restrooms
Be prepared for fewer public restrooms, especially if you’re used to using fast food places as pit stops. A lot of fast-food restaurants are drive-thru only and their lobbies are closed. So think again before trying to use chick-fil-a’s bathroom.
While restrooms in fast food places, for the most part, can’t be used most gas stations are still open and you can use their restrooms. On our trip, we were pleasantly surprised by how clean gas stations were keeping everything.
Another thing to keep in mind is that some states have closed their rest areas. For the most part, we found rest areas to be open but we did pass a couple that were closed.
Gas Prices are Awesome
While taking a road trip this summer might be more challenging in many ways there is no doubt that gas prices are great in most parts of the country. In some parts of the country gas is less than $2 per gallon.
Hotel Breakfasts are packaged to go
Most hotels that typically serve a complimentary free breakfast are doing to go breakfasts of cold items. We did find a couple of hotels that had some items like breakfast sandwiches that could be heated in your room. But for the most part, the hotels we stayed at had a breakfast of yogurt, cereal, muffins, and granola bars that you could take back to your room.
Hotels Have Limited Amenities
Most of us are used to hotels with some amenities, like a pool or gym. Right now most fitness centers and pools are closed.
In some areas of the country, the pools and fitness centers are starting to open at hotels with limited availability. A couple of hotels we stayed at had the pools open but you had to sign up for a time to use them.
Enjoy the Outdoors
Try to find outdoor places to visit, we found that outdoor attractions were more likely to be open than indoor places.
National Parks are a great place to visit. Some of the parks aren’t even charging admission fees. We made a stop at Badlands National Park and while there were others at the park, there was plenty of space to spread out and enjoy being outside and exploring nature.
Avoid Large Cities
From our trip to Oregon the beginning of June and then again when driving home last week we found that big cities had the most restrictions and the most places closed.
So while we had to drive through a couple of cities we didn’t stop in the cities, we tried to stick to smaller towns.
Consider a Trailer or Motorhome
Having a trailer or motorhome would make the trip a lot easier. It definitely helps to always have a clean bathroom, kitchen, and bed. Plus most RV parks are open and make great places to stop.
If you don’t have a trailer or motorhome there are several places you can rent them from. Most of the rental websites you will find how they are handling COVID, many are doing increased sanitation and cleaning between rentals. A couple of years ago we rented a motorhome from Cruise America to go camping with family and it was so nice.
Have Fun!
Even though going on a road trip after quarantine with all the new restrictions can be crazy don’t forget to take lots of pictures and have fun. Remember getting there is half the fun.
Psst… also don’t’ forget to get our travel journal to help you keep track of the fun and special moments you have on your trip.
Save this Post!
