5 COVID-19 Road Trip Necessities
By now, you are probably suffering from a major case of cabin fever. Who would have thought that was even possible during summer, but COVID-19 has made the unthinkable happen. As a result, typical summer vacations have been abandoned for staycations and of course, America’s favorite way to get away — the road trip. If you’re planning to hit the road this summer, here are a few things you should remember to pack.
Take a Drive: And experience the beauty of Texas
Atlas
Photo: Avinash Patel via Pexels
Grab an atlas. You know the cumbersome thing that barely fits under the seat you remember from trips with your parents or dare I say, grandparents. Yes, your smartphone is much more compact, accurate, and easier to handle, but it requires service to work. You might find yourself traveling on roads with zero service, which means you’re basically lost. And, sadly in the time of COVID-19, stopping and asking for directions isn’t necessarily in your best interest. An atlas always works (that is, if you can read one. Maybe practice before you leave).
Travel apps
In addition to the old school help from a road atlas, you’ll need some help from the modern world. FinanceBuzz contributor Matt Miczulski recommends apps such as Waze for navigation, GasBuddy to find cheap fuel, and HotelTonight to book your family’s digs for the night.
Focused itinerary
Gone are the days of the spur of the moment road trip. The pandemic has effectively demolished that wonderful notion, so it’s important that you plan ahead. You can still have some wiggle room in your itinerary (maybe), but you need to be aware of restrictions and advisories, which are changing constantly.
Snacks, drinks, and more snacks
Snacks have always been an important part of a road trip. Now, plentiful snacks and drinks are even more important to pack since you cannot count on the availability of restaurants along the way. The more you pack also translates into more money saved.
Pandemic supplies
There have always been plenty of germs to encounter on a road trip. In the time of COVID-19, the germs have multiplied to horror movie-level status. To help protect you and your family, you should have a generous stock of disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, and masks.
Car Cleaning Tips: How to sanitize your vehicle
Before you head out on your adventure, take your car in for a maintenance check because the health of your vehicle is important to the success of the trip.
DeAnn Owens is a Dayton transplant by way of the Windy City, yet considers herself to be a California girl at heart even though she’s only visited there once. To get through the dreaded allergy season unique to the Miami Valley, she reads, writes, complains about the weather, and enjoys spending time with her husband, two sons, and their newest addition, a Boston terrier puppy that is now in charge of all their lives. In the future, she hopes to write a novel and travel through time. See more articles by DeAnn.