Safe to travel the US in 2020?

[kitiwgn]

This is our first year of retirement and had plans to travel across country.  We have not done travel because of COVID and the unrest through the country, yet we see many out of state license plates indicating people are still moving around.  We are interested in the opinions of other FMCA members on travel during these troubling times.

[bradrm]

I think that there is little concern if we use common sense & be selective as to where we go to see things. Are the places you would like to visit open or closed? The issue for me is the political demands being made in some states regarding self-quarantining. One never knows what rules each state or city will impose & enforce. We do things wherever we live so why not live similarly wherever we go?

[kitiwgn]

Thank you for the input.  We felt if parks are taking reservations it would be safe to travel to, but we don’t want to be disrespectful to others.  

[campcop]

You could call the parks you want to stop at, they should know what the rules are for their area. Or, check each state's Covid website for their latest rules.  Right now NM has a 14 day self quarantine for visitors from out of State.

[richard5933]

Getting the reservation is only part of the deal - knowing if there is anything open when you get there is another. Here at home most restaurants are open for dine-in service. We went an hour away north of Madison WI and found that many restaurants there were take-out only. Varies greatly from town to town.

Travel in general seems to be safe if appropriate protocols are followed. Whether there is a purpose which makes the travel worthwhile is another question.

In general, it seems to me that many people are somewhat skittish of being around others of unknown infection status, making for some very awkward interactions. Everyone is on edge to some degree. Not a deal breaker, but something to keep in mind.

As a truck driver I have been to most states between MN and NY, and I have seen little to no affects from any protests. Again, common sense should keep you away from any problem areas. Watching the local news would probably help in this regard as well.

When we travel, we mostly enjoy visiting little-known small towns. Their 'downtown' areas are generally cute and a great place to spend an afternoon. Unfortunately, covid-19 has meant that many of the places we'd normally visit are closed or have altered hours/business models. Many of the small-town festivals are cancelled, as are the small-town art fairs and craft fairs. However, if seeing the country without crowds is your thing, then this is the year to hit the road.

[fagnaml]

Kitiwgn --

Welcome to the forum!  There are many good forum members willing to provide help at any time!   

My wife and I still have full time careers so we only have time for long weekend adventures.  Since the Covid-19 mess started in February and the the Houston area Stay-At-Home order expired at the end of April, we have had two, very enjoyable, long weekend outings with all of them within a 250 mile radius of Houston.  The first outing was in May to the Texas Hill Country "just to get away" at Buckhorn Lake RV Resort in Kerrville, TX where we had the chance to enjoy Hill Country Wineries and wine tasting on their very spacious, outdoor patio and grass areas (this was before bars/wineries were ordered closed for a second time state-wide).  The second outing was during the July 4 weekend to Hill Country Cottage & RV Resort in New Braunfels,  TX.  Our grown kids and their families rented homes vacation homes on Canyon Lake.   We did some "self guided" floating of the Guadalupe River which surprisingly had very few folks floating, enjoyed long hikes, good BBQ'ing and shooting fireworks.   Folks in the RV park and around New Braunfels were very conscientious with social distancing and mask wearing.  Conversing with fellow RV owners from 7-10 feet away was a bit weird by enjoyable.   We are currently planning a long weekend outing the last weekend of this month with another pre-retiree couple to Cajun Palms RV Resorts in Louisiana "just to get away" from the current craziness of life.   We felt very safe in all aspects during these weekend outings. 

Louisiana is one of the few states that currently does not require visitors from other Covid "hot spot" states to quarantine for 14 days.   You haven't shared where you are located in the country but if you have RV park/resort options in your state, an outing "in state" would be the simplest choice.   If you do want a "interstate outing", be aware that many states require 14 day quarantine for visitors from other states.   AARP has one of the better website summarizing which states have 14 day quarantine requirements for visitors --> https://www.aarp.org/travel/travel-tips/safety/info-2020/state-quarantine-guide.html

Bottom-line, don't be fearful of planning a long, enjoyable "in state" weekend to get started.  You can have a great time with great safety!   Then if you desire to travel out-of-state just be aware of which states are requiring 14 day quarantines for visitors.

Finally, when you get a moment prepare a "signature" section for your posts containing information about your RV, your tow or towed vehicle, where you are located, etc.   This basis information is very useful to forum members when providing any help you may need.