RV'n the New Adventure
Self-contained RVs seem like the perfect way to head out of town on an adventure right now, but there are a number of things to keep in mind so that you can travel safely and responsibly.
It’s going to be a weird rest of this year. Traditionally it’s the perfect time of year to take advantage of the good weather and take road trips and go camping. But in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the jury remains out on whether or not it’s really OK to go camping right now. The CDC, for one, still strongly recommends we allstay homeas much as possible. However,state and national parks are slowly starting to allow day use visitors. Some are even reopening campsites that had closed to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Increasingly, travelers are looking at self-contained RVs as the perfect way to travel safely during this pandemic. You may have noticed more and more camper vans, RVs, and teardrop trailers in your neighborhood. Peer-to-peer RV rental companies confirm that bookings are through the roof right now.
If you’re one of those hitting the road this Thanksgiving, here’s what you need to know about keeping yourself and the communities that you visit safe during your RV trip.
Before you go.....
Plan your route ahead of time-
“Planning where you are going before you book an RV is always a good first step,” Jon Gray, CEO of the peer-to-peer RV booking site RVshare tells us. “In this case, that is even more important. RVers need to do their research before traveling and think ahead about where they are going to not only stop for the night but stop for gas and supplies.” Reducing the number of stops you make reduces the number of virus transmission points you encounter.
For the same reason, you might want to consider one destination, rather than stringing together a few places. Plus, setting up in one spot for the long weekend means you won’t have to break down camp and set up again; you can focus on relaxing instead.
Make reservations
David Basler, vice president of the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, told the Colorado Sun, “In states that are opening, we are hearing from our members on a daily basis that they went from no reservations to booked solid in no time.” And things are changing quickly.
Jen Young, cofounder and CMO of the peer-to-peer booking site Outdoorsy, tells RVer's that during normal times there’s quite a bit of flexibility around reservations at RV parks and certain campgrounds. “But with a lot of places making necessary changes to their protocols and limiting how many people can come in, it’s best to check things in advance and make reservations.”
You should also check any day-use regulations on local hiking trails and parks you plan on visiting with local or state park websites.