How to Travel Safely (R) Through a Pandemic
Regardless of how you feel about road travel – whether you are gaining mileage on a regular basis or are still experiencing the trauma of a family vacation that caused you to spend hours gathering in a station wagon – it has become the new normal during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The number of countries in America traveling by air is declining significantly, and this is unlikely to change anytime soon: The American Automobile Association (also known as AAA) predicts that 80% of fall travel will be road travel, with the coming holiday season likely to bring even more. traffic.
While it is great that so many people have this opportunity, we also cannot forget that we are still in the midst of a global pandemic. As tired as we are of all the extra precautions, now is not the time to let our guard down. Road trips are no exception.
Pandemic or not, we must always go on a journey wanting to be flexible yet well prepared. (It’s a fine line.) This travel mentality has never been more important and relevant than it is now. We’ve previously covered how to plan your trip (in advance) , so if you’re looking for general information and tips on maps, apps, and other tools, start here. Here, we’re going to focus on how to plan and take a socially distant pandemic journey. Squeeze out hand sanitizer and buckle up.
The basics
At this point, we don’t need to tell you that you should adhere to all of your usual COVID public health strategies – such as wearing masks, social distancing, and frequent hand washing / disinfection – while on the road. Please be a decent person and do what you need to do to keep yourself and others safe.
What to bring
At the very least, you’ll want to pack a few face masks, hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes (or another way to clean surfaces), and a decent supply of food and drinks (to minimize the number of times you need to stop).
So far, I’ve done one trip during COVID and put together my own ultra-luxury travel kit that has all of the above, plus a small container of liquid hand soap (if the rest stop doesn’t have one and I want to wash my hands with real soap and water), a roll of toilet paper (always a good idea, but also saves you the hassle of asking your neighbor if they can save a square, and useful if you’re driving through an area with no interior bathroom options), a key stylus / door opener (if it is possible not to touch the door handles and buttons, I will go for it) and a belt bag (so that I don’t have to hang the bag, or worse – on the floor – at the bus stop).
Do you really need all of this? Probably no. But, barring the extra toilet paper, I used them all.
Plan your stops
One of the best things about the trip before the pandemic was to get off the highway without a plan and see what food options and attractions you can find. This is not a good idea. First, as the CDC explains , “Stopping for gas, eating, or taking a toilet break can put you and your fellow passengers in close contact with other people and frequently touched surfaces.”
As fun as it is, you should plan ahead for at least some of your stops, and luckily there are plenty of new and existing apps out there that will make this easier. First, there is a map from AAA that provides updated information on travel restrictions in states and regions . We’re also fans of this interactive map of rest stops – especially since some of them closed during the pandemic.
And you’ll want to download Nexit if you haven’t already; it will guide you to the best outlets on your itinerary with more information on where to find vegan food and local pet-friendly hotels and motels.
Gas stations
Stopping on gas is an integral part of travel even now. You might not like the idea of touching all of these touch surfaces, but that’s all part of it (unless you’re traveling in New Jersey ). Either way, the CDC’s advice on COVID safety at gas stations is n’t surprising, but worth mentioning:
- Use disinfectant wipes on the handles and buttons of gas stations before touching them (if any).
- Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol after refueling. When you reach your destination, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Bathrooms and recreation areas
Again, normal COVID rules apply here. According to the CDC :
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after using the toilet and after being in a public place.
- If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub until dry.
Be that as it may, every time I stopped somewhere to use the toilet during the trip, I was always the only person there, and everything looked – and smelled – like it had recently been disinfected.
Food
The best thing here is – according to the CDC for health reasons and my mother for reasons of economy – to bring your own food with you. If you’ve forgotten or isn’t an option, CDC recommends using the roadside drive, pickup, pickup, and pickup options . And of course, wash and disinfect your hands thoroughly before eating anything.
Keep your mask close at hand in the car
After several hours of driving, you may feel so relieved to get out of your car that you forget to wear a mask before refueling, visiting a rest stop, or the road. To avoid this, store the mask somewhere in the car so that it is visible and comfortable. This could mean hanging it from your rearview mirror or from a lever on the side of the steering wheel that controls the wipers. You can also have a special “car mask” always on hand when you need it as a backup.