my top summer road trip tips
how to plan the perfect socially distant summer road trip!
So, outside has finally reopened (for better or for worse), and you are READY to get back out there! You’ve been bored in the house, yea you was in the house bored, and now you finna hit the streets. Summertime, aka the best season, is upon us, so the only reasonable thing to do is to be outside and take some well needed vacations! Flying overseas seems a little too risky right now, and quite honestly, Americans can't go nowhere because we don’t know how to act. So, for those folks who still want to get in a couple of trips this summer, the next best alternatives are to either start exploring your own hometown/state, OR, to take that cross country road trip that you’ve seen sensationalized in movies for foreva.
like in Thelma & Louise
minus the tragic ending, cuz we ain’t about that life
I feel you! I definitely want to use this summer to explore more of the US too, but, as safely as possible. As such, here are my TOP SEVEN summer road trip tips to help you plan the perfect socially distant road trip in the coronavirus era.
BUT FIRST
please DO NOT forget that COVID-19 has currently taken the lives of more Americans than WWI. That war lasted four years, and COVID-19 has only been around for like five months in the US, so don’t take it lightly. The safest way to avoid catching COVID while traveling is honestly….to not travel. Because, as I said in a previous post, and as I’ve witnessed through my recent road trips, businesses are prioritizing profit, not people, not health, and not safety. Just because something is open does not mean that it should be, or that this particular establishment is taking the proper precautions to stop the spread of COVID. Yes, they might be limiting entry and controlling the flow of people, but how many places are actually doing temperature checks and contact tracing? How many are testing their employees? And, are any asking to see proof of negative COVID tests upon entry?
I say all this not to make you scared, or to show you how extra I am, but to remind you that as you venture out into these streets, YOU have to be in control of your own health! So, do what makes you feel comfortable, and please try to protect yourself and others as much as possible! Travel wisely, continue to wear a face mask, and practice social distancing as much as possible!
With that being said, if you do feel comfortable getting out there (no judgment, because I’m about that life too), feel free to check out my COVID survival guide for a list of essentials to carry with you before you hit the road.
Now, let’s get to my list of seven tips to help plan a socially distant summer road trip! here we go yo, here we go!
#1: Avoid COVID hot spots!
Choose your destination wisely! I highly recommend only traveling to cities and states that have LOW coronavirus counts. So, before you go AN-TI-WHERE, check to see how many cases there are where you’re visiting, what the death rate is, and if the number of cases are declining. I strongly discourage anyone from taking leisure trips to hot beds, or to cities with high COVID counts, because you could be next (take a look at this map for some help)!
CDC COVID-19 Cases by Jurisdiction
And, please make sure that you do your research on the coronavirus policies and responses in the states that you’re traveling to and through! These regulations change frequently, so stay updated and be flexible. Just yesterday, New York added 10 more states to its mandatory quarantine restriction list (which now includes Maryland). Now, EVERY TRAVELER from these states will have to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival. And yes, law enforcement is checking travelers and asking about their past/previous trips at airports, but not drivers on road trips, so #DoYou. Maine, however, is only asking that travelers 1) quarantine for two weeks in Maine upon arrival, 2) quarantine in their home state for two weeks before they come, or 3) produce negative COVID test results before entering the state. When I went, I had to sign a document agreeing to those terms and conditions once I got to my hotel. But, I did not have to provide proof of my negative COVID test.
Pro Tip: Consider getting tested or planning to quarantine either before or after your trip. I’ll leave it to you to decide the best course of action, but I think it’s wise to get tested before you go, and then to quarantine for two weeks once you return. You could get tested immediately after you return too, (depending on the number of tests in your city) but, technically, you would still be encouraged to quarantine until you receive negative test results.
#2: Limit your stops!
The best way to avoid unnecessary exposure is to limit when and where you stop along your road trip. Ideally, the goal would be to not make any stops until you reach your destination! So, make sure you fill up your gas tank before you leave, and figure out how many hours a day you’ll need to drive to get to your destination. I think 8 hours a day (with one break for gas) is reasonable, 10 is doable, and 12 hours is probably the most I would recommend. I’ve done 15 hours a day before, and it sucks!
But, do not strain or overextend yourself to drive for too long. Driving while tired can be dangerous for you and other folks on the road, so respect your physical and mental limits.
Realistically, you will have to take a break at some point, either to stretch, get gas, or get food! So, try to stop in places where you can do all three at once, and make sure to wear gloves when pumping gas. Bonus points for you if you can stop in a state or city with a low COVID count! When I drove to Maine, I intentionally avoided New York and New Jersey because those were hot beds.
Pro Tip: Driving with the windows down is actually fine on a road trip because it allows the air to circulate, thus potentially reducing your risk of inhaling compromised air if you happened to come in contact with COVID at the rest stop. I still recommend wearing a mask when you have the windows down (just in case), but it’s up to you.
#3: Pack your own meals
Another great way to avoid making stops is to pack your own drinks and meals. Not only does it save you money, but it also gives you the freedom to travel at your own pace! Stock up on sandwiches, chips, and all of the other junk food essentials (depending on your dietary restrictions) before you dip out!
If you do want to stop to relax to eat, I recommend searching for a secluded outdoor area where you can avoid other people. If you would rather to eat at a restaurant or a fast food chain, opt for carry out, or an outdoor patio instead of interior dining.
Pro Tip: If you’re doing an overnight road trip, bring a cooler, stock up on ice at your lodging each morning to keep your drinks cool!
We packed our own lunch and ate outside during a trip to Harpers Ferry!
#4: Aim for outdoor or car friendly activities
took this pic from my car in Providence, RI
Once you make it to your destination, I recommend trying outdoor activities, because the rate of COVID transmission is a lot lower in outdoor spaces.
Do your best to avoid major tourist areas. But, if you can’t, then go early so you can avoid the crowds, and experience things before hella people have come through to make it dirty!
When I drove up to Maine, I took short detours to New Haven, CT and Providence, RI. But, I didn’t even get out of the car. Some folks may think this is a waste of time, but, I didn’t feel the need to get out and see things that I saw perfectly fine from my COVID free car. I opted to just drive around to see the exteriors and revel in the architecture instead. Again, always do what makes you comfortable, and just remember that drive bys can be a decent alternative too!
Proof of cleanliness at my hotel in Maine
#5: Stay fresh and stay clean!
Remember, your safety is in your own hands! DISINFECT EVERYTHING before you touch it (door handles, etc); use disinfectant spray to clean the air; and wait about 10 minutes for the sprays to settle before you proceed to chill in your hotel/AirBnb. If feasible, disinfect yourself (either by taking a shower or cleaning your hands) before you fully settle into the room too. Remember, stay fresh, and stay clean!
Just because car rental companies, airlines, and hotels are pledging higher cleanliness standards does not mean that everything is always clean! When I was at my hotel in Portland, Maine, it looked pretty clean. And, everyone assured me that the hotel had heightened cleaning measures. But I still found hair and some leftover trash from a previous resident in my room.
So, this means that either the room wasn’t scrubbed properly, or that certain parts of the room (which were infrequently touched) were skipped over.
Granted, a few strands of hair aren’t the biggest deal, but it is a sign (to me) that their level of clean and my level of clean ain’t the same. In that scenario, you can either clean it yourself, ask them to come back and clean it, or ask for a new room!
Hotel vs. AirBnb?: So, I’m pretty indifferent about which type of lodging is better during the COVID era. One benefit about hotels is that they (supposedly) have stricter cleaning standards than an AirBnb. However, hotels also have significantly more guests coming in and out while you’re there, so your rate of exposure is significantly higher. AirBnbs are a nicer alternative to a hotel, especially if you want to do a longer staycation, and avoid people altogether. Just make sure that you do a little cleaning yourself before you fully settle in!
Pro Tip: If you opt for a hotel, wear a face mask in public areas, and try to walk in through less frequently used exits/entrances so you can avoid other people as much as possible.
#6: Get your mind right!
get ready for some memories
No road trip is complete without a bomb a$$ playlist! So, go ahead and load up some songs, and make sure you got enough music to accommodate the variety of moods that you experience on a long drive. From feel good, to dancing, to meditation; cover all your bases to make sure your mind is right.
If music ain’t your thing, audiobooks and podcasts are great too because they help to pass the time. And, if you’re like me, and if the podcasts are engaging enough, you can have a whole debate with yourself on the topic at hand to make you forget about how many hours you have left to go! Right now, my go to's are The Africanist and Everyday Social Club. But, The Read and The Joe Budden Podcast are pretty spicy too!
Don’t forget to bring portable chargers and accessories to charge your devices in the car, and, bring a first aid/medical kit with you too, just in case! It is also wise to check on your car before you go to make sure that your brakes, oil, and tires are in good enough condition to help you get to where you need to be. If not, you got AAA?
Pro Tip: DOWNLOAD YOUR MAP BEFORE YOU GO (Google Offline maps are clutch). If not, try and buy a paper map (you can order them on Amazon, or from AAA). The last thing that you want to do is get caught up in KKK land with no directions because your phone died or your service is shitty. Know your route before you go, and have a backup plan for if/when your devices fail you.
#7: Be Gracious
Now, more than ever, we all need to exercise some level of grace and compassion for everyone, but especially for folks working in the service industry. If you do opt for an overnight road trip, you’ll be dependent on servers, waiters, and lodging staff to help accommodate you in some way shape or fashion. So, please be mindful of that. Tip more, and don’t get upset if things aren’t perfect, because again, everyone is going through it.
The fact that we are living through a pandemic, a global recession, and a human rights movement ALL IN ONE YEAR is not normal. At all. Not only do these people have to deal with this on a personal level, they also have to work and maintain some level of normalcy even though this sh!t ain’t normal and things are mad uncertain right now. So, please mindful of that. Sometimes, these social strains can and will be reflected in the efficiency of the businesses that you visit. So, don’t be mad if your wait is longer than normal, or if there are mistakes in your order. Have grace and understand that these are rough times FOR EVERYBODY!
let’s hit the road!
2020 is the Summer of the Road Trip
Boom. Bam. Bop. Dassit! Those are my top summer road trip tips for traveling during the COVID era!
I know people still feel some type of way about not being able to travel, but trust me, staying at home can help save a life!
Hopefully they were helpful! But, let me know what you thought of them below! Anything else you would recommend doing!
