How to Take a Post-Pandemic Road Trip
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Many of us have been itching for a summer vacation after more than a year of social distancing. But even as more of us are venturing out of our homes, not everyone is ready to ditch the masks and hop on a plane to a packed resort or crowded tourist destination. If you are considering a multiday road trip, here are our suggestions for how to plan, what to bring, and other ways to keep yourself fed, safe, and happy on your travels.
Still can't get away? We also have recommendations on ways to stay entertained at home, with guides for our favorite phone games and gear for making beer, wine, cider, and mead. Need more of a staycation? Learn how to relax at home.
Updated July 2021: We've updated our tips now that strict social distancing and masks aren't always required, and we added tips for personal safety while on the road.
Photograph: Charles Gullung/Getty ImagesPick a Low-Key Place
The DestinationIf you're vaccinated, out-of-state travel should be fine, so your destination depends on how far you're willing to go. We still recommend staying away from hot spots like Nashville or Miami, though—your first outing since quarantine ended shouldn't include standing in line for an hour outside a bar.
Instead opt for places that often get overlooked, like weird roadside attractions, a historic landmark, or places that you can camp. Rather than driving to a singular destination, think of stops on the way, like the Outsiders House Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma, or the UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell, New Mexico.
If you're having trouble finding places to stay, you can broaden your search beyond Hotels.com or Airbnb. For example, websites like Getaway and Hipcamp offer alternative lodging options. You can filter for options like bringing your pets, too.
- Photograph: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg/Getty Images
If You Need to Rent a Car
EnterpriseRenting a vehicle is still a solid alternative to negotiating public transportation. WIRED writer Matt Jancer's favorite rental service is Enterprise, but he says Hertz and Avis are solid alternatives. Discount services like Thrifty and Dollar can be hit or miss. Most companies are thoroughly cleaning cars between customers (you can find statements on their websites for Enterprise, Hertz, and Avis), but we recommend going through the car with disinfectant wipes and airing it out, just to be safe.
Remember that you're not the only person who wants to rent a car this summer—prices are shooting up, and cars may be hard to find. If you're considering a plane or bus instead, the Centers for Disease Control still recommends that everyone on public transportation wear a mask, which might get hot or annoying if your trip takes a long time.
Photograph: Samuel Corum/Getty ImagesYou Should (Still) Take Extra Precautions
Keep Germs At BaySpeaking of masks, we still recommend having one. Individual businesses may require you to wear one, and if you're somewhere crowded, you might just feel more comfortable. We've been wearing masks everywhere for over a year, so a lot of us haven't been exposed to a lot of common germs. Even if you don't pick up Covid-19, a nasty cold can ruin a road trip.
Washing your hands is still important. It won't be easy on a road trip, but you can bring a lot of water in reusable bottles and hand soap, or pack hand sanitizer for everyone.
You're probably not as worried about refueling stops anymore, but erratic shortages could make gas harder to find. As a precaution, you can always keep a full can in your car during your trip. You can also check whether rest stops are open along the way—or prepare to go in the woods.
Photograph: AppleStay Safe
Personal Safety TechYou can take a vacation from home, but unfortunately you can't get away from potential dangers. We have a guide on our favorite personal safety devices, from free apps to jewelry with disguised panic buttons, and we think you should consider your options before you get on the road—especially if you're traveling alone.
Share your location with a family member or friend you trust. As long as your phone stays on, they'll be able to check in to see where you are if they haven't heard from you. This isn't foolproof, but it's a start. On iPhones, go to your chosen contact and select Share My Location to set it indefinitely. On Android phones, you can share locations through Google Maps by choosing Location Sharing under your account icon in the top right.
Download the Noonlight app. It's free on iOS and Android, and all you have to do is hold down the on-screen panic button until you're in a safe place. Enter your PIN to turn it off, or don't to alert help. Wherever you are, you can get the police to you quickly by sending them your GPS location.
Learn to use your emergency call feature. iPhones make this easy by holding down the power button and one of the volume buttons. When it pops up, slide the SOS slider for an instant call to 911, or keep holding down the buttons to automatically place a call, which will happen after a five-second countdown. All Androids are different, but if your phone is relatively new, it should also have this kind of feature. Check for it on your specific phone before you leave for your trip.
Get a satellite messenger. None of the above options will do any good if your phone is out of cell service. The Garmin inReach Mini is one of our favorite satellite messengers. It’s light and takes up little room, plus it utilizes the super-fast Iridium satellite network to get your SOS to help.
Photograph: Baboon to the MoonDon't Overpack
The BasicsDepending on how far you're going and how long you plan to stay, consider the following basics:
- Comfortable sneakers or hiking boots. And, if you're so inclined, Birkenstock EVAs for relaxing.
- Sunglasses. There's nothing worse than driving with the sun blaring in your eyes. With Aview Sunglasses, you buy just one pair of frames and then any number of the colored lenses, which come in slim packs that make them ideal for throwing in a bag. You can switch them out every day or with every outfit, and they won't take up too much space.
- Extra socks and underwear. Consider period underwear if you'll be traveling during menstruation.
- Face masks. You'll likely have to interact with people at some point, and you may feel more comfortable in certain situations with a mask.
- Hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes. Most stores should have these in stock by now.
- Disposable gloves. Even if you're not so worried about catching the coronavirus, these are handy for when you need to touch things like bathroom door handles and gas pumps. Especially if over-washing has made your hands super dry.
- A bag. You probably have one already, but if you need a good weekender, we really like this one from Baboon to the Moon ($169). It comes in fun colors and styles. A lot of our favorite laptop bags can double as a short-trip pack as well.
Here are some extras you might be into:
- Layers. Depending on where you are, temperatures can dip at night.
- A Kindle. I love holding a real book, but they take up a lot of space while traveling. A Kindle ebook reader is affordable, and you don't need to charge them for several weeks. Bring one so everyone can choose a scary story to read around the campfire.
- An instant camera. Phone cameras are superb, but taking pictures on an actual camera is an unbeatable feeling.
- A Nintendo Switch Lite. If you have one, don't forget to pack it! Nintendo's little console is a great way to pass the time in the car if you're not driving or navigating.
- Photograph: Garmin
The Case for a GPS
Garmin Drive 52 GPSYes, Google Maps on your smartphone is likely all you need (and you can always download maps to use offline), but if you're going to an area where your phone may lose service, get a dedicated GPS device. You don't need the latest and greatest one; the Garmin Drive that I bought in 2014 is still going strong. Just remember to update the maps before you go.
- Photograph: Pelican
Bring Your Food and Drinks
Pelican Elite 20QTDuring the height of the coronavirus pandemic, we packed and ate like backpackers while traveling. Depending on where you are, it may be a lot safer than it was to stop now, and it never hurts to support struggling local businesses. But that doesn't mean you can't still pack snacks and drinks.
We have a guide filled with coolers we like for all situations and budgets, but the Pelican Elite 20QT is our choice for road trips, because it's tall and narrow. It fits into most trunks or back seats. In our testing, ice stayed frozen for two days, even after being driven around and stored outside in 80-degree weather. It has four cupholders with drains, so it can be used as a small drink table too.
Photograph: ColemanA Comfortable Shelter For Camping
TentsUnless you're really limited on space, you don't need an ultra-lightweight tent. Coleman makes great and affordable tents—some with screened-in sections!—and other outdoor gear.
We haven't tried the Ozark Trail 6-Person Cabin Tent, but it's a popular brand among campers and usually costs around $120, with enough room for two queen-size air mattresses. If you aren't concerned about budget, we like the MSR Habitude 4. It packs down small, is easy to set up, and has a built-in vestibule for your dirty shoes, but it costs $500.
Even the most seasoned camper probably doesn't love sleeping on the ground. A sleeping mat, like the Alps Mountaineering Lightweight Series Air Pad, will give your back a bit of relief. It's not as good as an air mattress, but it takes up less room.
- Photograph: Nimble
If You Need to Power Up
Nimble 5-Day ChargerRoad trips are a great opportunity to step away from endless scrolling, but there will be times when you need to plug in. To keep everything running, we like Nimble's 5-Day Portable Charger. The name 5-Day refers to the ability to charge a phone fully for 5 days. It has three USB ports and one USB-C.
If you're going to be on the road for a while, Goal Zero’s power station packs a powerful punch—with a 187-WH capacity. It has enough power to charge your laptop, phone, or tablet, but it's quite pricey at $300. We have plenty more options to choose from in our guide on portable chargers.
- Photograph: WeBoost
If You're on the Road Long-Term (and Need Cell Signal)
weBoost Drive Reach Cell Phone Signal BoosterA cell signal booster isn't necessary for most people, but if you're planning to be on the road awhile in remote parts of the country, you might want one. WIRED writer Scott Gilbertson spent three years living on the road in an RV and constantly struggled with reception until he started testing the weBoost. He recommends the Drive Reach. At $500, it's not cheap, but if you need reliable cell service far from a home base, it's a must-have.
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