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 an听RV. But given the spread of the coronavirus,听heading out听in these types of vehicles听now comes with a list of questions: Are they safe to rent? Can you travel between states? How do you plan your route responsibly? Don鈥檛 fret鈥攚e鈥檝e got you covered. If you鈥檙e planning on renting an RV or adventuremobile, here鈥檚 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鈥檚听still important to limit contact with others as much as possible. Check your destination鈥檚 guidelines, and see if travel is even advisable. After all, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention听says听that听鈥渢ravel increases your chances of getting and spreading COVID-19.鈥 In its , the CDC听notes: 鈥淩V travel typically means staying at RV parks overnight and getting gas and supplies at other public places.鈥 If you鈥檙e in those spaces, wear a face mask, practice social distancing, and wash your hands often. And if you鈥檙e going to be driving听through 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鈥檙e looking for companies to rent from, start nearby.听(We find it helpful to .)听Check your state鈥檚 COVID听guidelines to ensure that听the business you choose adheres to its safety standards. (Here in New Mexico, the governor鈥檚 office released , including automobile services, which are instructed to 鈥渄isinfect vehicle interior and exterior touch points prior to and after each sales appointment use.鈥)
Also听check out our favorite services,听like and , which operate as Airbnb-like marketplaces for adventure vehicles.听RVshare says that听听are听part of its standard operating procedures. It is also听. The same goes for Outdoorsy, which is to 鈥渃ontinue to clean your vehicles with disinfectant and antibacterial/antiviral cleaner before and after each rental to help prevent the spread of germs between travelers.鈥 In a press release, Outdoorsy says it鈥檚听seen 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 delivered听instead of picking it up themselves.
These are good practices, but it鈥檚 important to note that such听marketplace-style companies are听essentially 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鈥檚 important to look at how travel restrictions differ from state to state, you should also consider how coronavirus caseloads vary between where you鈥檙e based versus where you鈥檙e headed. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e coming from a community that鈥檚 on a stay-at-home order听or seeing a big spike in case numbers, we encourage you to rethink whether travel at that time is a smart thing to do,鈥 says Alexandra Navas, the founding director of New Mexico鈥檚 .听Though road trips offer a more self-contained way to travel, there is no such thing as a zero-risk outing at the moment. 鈥淲e鈥檙e still very much focused on saving lives, and the best way we can do that is by reducing travel when we can,鈥 Navas adds.听
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 国产吃瓜黑料听contributor Christopher Solomon reminded us in March, flocking to national parks often isn鈥檛 a safe form of social distancing and recreation,听because crowds will only aid the spread of viruses. Though some parks have reopened this summer, it鈥檚 crucial that we prioritize the health of others and maintain a strict level of .