Take the road less traveled. Go where the wind blows. Fly by the seat of your pants. In any other year, those tired travel clichés might serve you well. But road tripping during a pandemic? That takes planning.
Knowing how to plan a road trip right now isn’t easy. The safest thing to do is stay home, of course. But with international destinations mostly off the table (at least for Americans) and many states loosening up their travel restrictions, the antsiest among us have lasered in on a good old-fashioned road trip as a practical solution to a socially distanced vacation. “A mixture of planning and spontaneity is best,” says Veronica E. Garnett, founder of the Black Adventuristas travel group. Here, she and a slew of other road-tripping experts weigh in on how to strike that perfect balance.
<h2>Map your route</h2>
This year, it’s particularly important to familiarize yourself with the regulations of states you plan to visit before hitting the open road. As of June 19, a handful of states including Maine and New Mexico are still requiring some out-of-state and international visitors to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival. Others, like Florida, are asking travelers to complete informational surveys detailing their vacation plans. Check with the health departments of the places you’ll be visiting for the most up-to-date information. AAA’s Covid-19 Travel Restrictions Map is another useful resource for mapping out state-by-state mask requirements and closures of parks, beaches, casinos, and rest areas.
