A Practical Guide for a Safe and Fun Pandemic Road Trip

It’s already mid-2021. The pandemic is still intense in other parts of the world. More people are now open to traveling in the US, where only a few health and travel restrictions are now being enforced after half of the country’s population has been inoculated with the COVID-19 vaccine. Imagine getting cooped up in our homes for more than a year and being forced to limit our social interactions for our safety. This practice has affected our mental health.

People are now more open to local travel, especially on going on cross-country road trips. This being said, even if you are already protected with the COVID-19 vaccine, it is still better to practice health and safety protocols as you find your way driving your way across the country.

Tip # 1: Plan ahead. 

Whether traveling alone or bringing your family or friend with you, you should carefully plan your trip. Research your destination and accommodation. Remember that traveling during a pandemic is more complex.Book your accommodations and destinations in advance. Some hotels, camping sites, and tourist spots operate at a limited capacity and may accept only a limited number of guests per day.Research on the health protocols of each city or state that you will be visiting. Some destinations may require travelers to wear masks.

Tip # 2 Bring food and a first aid kit.

Pack snacks and drinks. There might not always be a restaurant or a convenience store along the way. Avoid being HANGRY.Bring a first aid kit with you. Bring over-the-counter medicines along with you. If you have comorbidities, bring your maintenance medicines with you, enough to last you the whole trip.

Tip # 3: Prepare your vehicle for the road trip. 

Check your vehicle’s engine condition. Ensure that your car has a sufficient engine oil level for diesel-powered vehicles or synthetic engine oil for gas vehicles, transmission oil, brake fluid, and radiator coolant. Also, make sure that the car battery has enough power. Replace as needed.Check your wheels and tires. Have it aligned, balanced, or replaced if needed. Also, check the tires for sufficient air pressure. Remember to always bring a spare tire.If you are traveling somewhere with challenging road conditions, you should also have your suspensions inspected, particularly the vehicle’s ball joints, shock absorbers, tie rod ends, and wheel bearings. It also helps if your vehicle has the correct type of tires for particular weather or road condition, such as all-terrain or off-road tires like the Fuel Off Road Tires for muddy roads or winter tires for snowy or icy roads.If you are not going to drive an RV, make sure that your vehicle has enough cargo space to accommodate all the things you need for a successful road trip. Having a roof rack is a big help. Imagine loading it with a canoe or a tent for a camping trip or a surfboard for a beach excursion.Equip your vehicle with emergency tools such as a car jack, a mechanical toolset, and extra fuel if you will be going somewhere remote where gas stations are nowhere in sight. Remember to place the fuel in a safe container and keep it away from ignition sources.Drive carefully. Drive at a safe pace to avoid getting into accidents. Make sure that you have an emergency service number saved on your phone in case you’ll need to be rescued.

Tip # 4 Bring your gadgets.

Bring a smartphone with you. Make sure it has access to mobile data.Install applications on your smartphones to help you with your road trip. In case you are not familiar with these apps, bring a tech-savvy companion to help you.Waze and Google Maps – you can use them for traffic updates and navigation.Road trippers – you can use it for discovering exciting stops along the way, such as national parks, hotels, and tourist attractions.GasBuddy – this app informs users where to fill up their vehicles with the cheapest fuel and finds the closest gas station near their location. Spotify – this is a music streaming app to make your road trip enjoyable with your favorite music.Bring all your gadget chargers with you. A power bank or a solar phone charger is more practical if you are heading somewhere off the grid.

Tip # 5 Sanitize and Social Distance.

Avoid crowded destinations. Remember, the pandemic is not yet over. Infections are still ongoing despite the high rate of COVID-19 vaccinations. Wear a mask, especially indoors where there is poor air ventilation. Social distancing should still be practiced when you interact with other people.If hand washing is impossible since you are on the road, bring yourself a bottle of hand sanitizer to keep your hands sanitized at all times.

Tip # 6 Savor the Experience

If there is anything that the pandemic has taught us, it is not to take life and nature for granted. Road trips are meant to be fun and spontaneous despite the restrictions. Enjoy the scenery and savor each moment of your trip. Take time to relax. It’s good for our mental and emotional well-being.