As the pandemic has caused a mass cancellation of flights and far-flung vacations, many Americans have resorted to hitting the highways instead. Few ways of traveling are as classic as a summer road trip, especially when done in anRV. But given the spread of the coronavirus,heading outin these types of vehiclesnow comes with a list of questions: Are they safe to rent? Can you travel between states? How do you plan your route responsibly? Don’t fret—we’ve got you covered. If you’re planning on renting an RV or adventuremobile, here’s how to do it safely.
While some travel restrictions have lifted, you should still be extra cautious.
Though many communities have eased lockdown orders, with cases , it’sstill important to limit contact with others as much as possible. Check your destination’s guidelines, and see if travel is even advisable. After all, the Centers for Disease Control and Preventionsaysthat“travel increases your chances of getting and spreading COVID-19.” In its , the CDCnotes: “RV travel typically means staying at RV parks overnight and getting gas and supplies at other public places.” If you’re in those spaces, wear a face mask, practice social distancing, and wash your hands often. And if you’re going to be drivingthrough smaller communities with limited health care infrastructure, plan to pack enough for your trip to prevent frequent stops.
Make sure your rental is cleaned and sanitized.
If you’re looking for companies to rent from, start nearby.(We find it helpful to .)Check your state’s COVIDguidelines to ensure thatthe business you choose adheres to its safety standards. (Here in New Mexico, the governor’s office released , including automobile services, which are instructed to “disinfect vehicle interior and exterior touch points prior to and after each sales appointment use.”)
Alsocheck out our favorite services,like and , which operate as Airbnb-like marketplaces for adventure vehicles.RVshare says thatarepart of its standard operating procedures. It is also. The same goes for Outdoorsy, which is to “continue to clean your vehicles with disinfectant and antibacterial/antiviral cleaner before and after each rental to help prevent the spread of germs between travelers.” In a press release, Outdoorsy says it’sseen renters and owners doing virtual walk-throughs of the vehicle instead of in-person tours. The company says some renters have also preferred to have the vehicle deliveredinstead of picking it up themselves.
These are good practices, but it’s important to note that suchmarketplace-style companies areessentially relying on the honor system by trusting private RV owners to clean their rigs properly. The only way you can really know the rental is safe to use is to sanitize all surfaces before and after using the vehicle.
Be aware of state-to-state regulations and rules.
While it’s important to look at how travel restrictions differ from state to state, you should also consider how coronavirus caseloads vary between where you’re based versus where you’re headed. “If you’re coming from a community that’s on a stay-at-home orderor seeing a big spike in case numbers, we encourage you to rethink whether travel at that time is a smart thing to do,” says Alexandra Navas, the founding director of New Mexico’s .Though road trips offer a more self-contained way to travel, there is no such thing as a zero-risk outing at the moment. “We’re still very much focused on saving lives, and the best way we can do that is by reducing travel when we can,” Navas adds.
Be a responsible traveler.
If you do decide to travel and play outdoors, know that access to public lands can vary across parks, forests, or other designated areas. That includes campground access and general admittance. As ϳԹcontributor Christopher Solomon reminded us in March, flocking to national parks often isn’t a safe form of social distancing and recreation,because crowds will only aid the spread of viruses. Though some parks have reopened this summer, it’s crucial that we prioritize the health of others and maintain a strict level of .