Tips for a COVID-Safe Roadtrip with Kids

Traveling looks much different right now than it looked last summer. With the COVID-19 pandemic still happening across our country (and the world), there are more restrictions on travel and lots of precautions and considerations that must be taken before leaving, along the way, and while you’re at your destination. Today, Nichole, a homeschooling mom of 2 and road-tripping expert, is here with some COVID-safe roadtrip health and safety precautions that families should consider in order to keep themselves and others safe. 

Please note – any decisions to travel are highly personal and we encourage you to take note of the risks, do your research, consider your doctor’s advice, assess your family’s health and make your own informed choice. Do not travel if anyone in your family is sick or running a fever. The information shared here cannot guarantee anyone’s health or safety and is not meant to be divisive or comprehensive. Please do not travel through Indigenous communities at this time. This post contains affiliate links.

Making the decision to travel during a pandemic

Summer started months ago for many of us. Usually, by this time of year, the kids and I have been on the road for several extended trips already. As states began to reopen, we made the tough decision to drive from Arkansas to Arizona to surprise my Mom for her birthday. We hadn’t seen her in nine months and she lives two states away (one of those states is Texas). My husband and I talked for a week before we made a decision about the trip and it was not an easy decision to make. We decided to go with the idea that we’d be diligent, overly-cautious, and not take any unnecessary risks. 

Road-tripping during a pandemic is a scary prospect, even more so to do it with children. There are a lot of things to consider and a lot of things we’d need to do differently for this trip. However, I found that by taking some protective measures, along with a few changes to our typical routine, we had a great COVID-safe roadtrip experience! Today, I’d like to share some of the steps I took to make our trip safe and successful. 

Laying the plans and making tough decisions

I’ve made this drive at least five times already, but this time would be different. Normally, I am not one to stress over road trips, but if I’m being honest, this one made me worry. I approached our road trip planning (which is also a foreign concept to me as I rarely plan these shenanigans) with an overabundance of caution. We talked about all the options for overnights: camping versus hotels versus AirBnB‘s versus sleeping in the car.

After seeing if my kids and I could squeeze in the back of our Subaru Outback (not really), we decided against that option. I prefer more remote, dispersed camping, so public campgrounds with shared bathrooms were not an option for me during this trip. We don’t have an RV (though renting one may be a great solution!). After looking into the status of forest lands, I decided we would avoid them. Some lands are still closed within New Mexico and Arizona, and it is advisable to avoid Indigenous communities entirely due to the COVID outbreak. That left hotels and vacation rentals – both of which have their own issues and restrictions, but they were the best and safest option for us. 

COVID-related safety precautions while roadtripping

Our final decision was to make the drive in two days rather than three, to minimize exposure. After careful research, our opinion was that hotels were probably the cleanest they’d ever been and I felt okay about staying in hotels. I picked a Drury Inn in our destination for day one (Albuquerque) and we left at home at 6 AM.

We are no strangers to long days in the car, but this one was different. Most of our favorite stopping points were either closed or not the best idea to visit. Palo Duro Canyon and Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas. The Blue Hole in Santa Rosa and Meow Wolf in Santa Fe. Not everything was closed – the Texas State Parks are open but require advance tickets purchased online and there are capacity limitations in place.

One of the great things about traveling out west (or anywhere) with a highly capable vehicle, is the ability to roll down unknown roads to find a breaking spot. We took several rest breaks along back roads and side roads. We avoided people and got the chance to experience some beautiful countryside.

COVID-related hotel safety precautions

After a long 13 hour day of driving, we finally pulled into a familiar Drury Inn (we’d stayed there two times before). I wasn’t sure what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised upon our arrival to find the hotel very quiet with hardly any cars in the parking lot. The check-in process was smooth, all the employees and guests wore masks (my children and I included; it was required in the lobby). I was impressed with their social distancing measures in place.

To minimize any exposures, I carried one backpack into our room with what we would need for the night, plus our electronics. I wiped down any surfaces we would touch and we all relaxed for a moment while I ordered Panera for pick up. The restaurant was in the parking lot for the hotel and was incredibly convenient. Our hotel room was impeccably clean and any blankets, throw pillows, or comforters had been removed from the room so the beds only had sheets and pillows. We found that staying in a hotel and getting food to go felt perfectly safe with the excessive protective measures in place. 

Roadtripping pit stops during a pandemic

We left Albuquerque the next day at 5 AM (mainly because my kids wake up ridiculously early). I stopped at a Starbucks because I know they require employees to wear masks and gloves. A few hours down the road (and every cheesy photo op along the way) we made a stop on a random dirt road off the interstate. That turned out to be a great choice because my kids got out to run free, I made some more coffee and even got their bikes down for them to burn some energy off.

When we needed to stop for gas, we took extra precautions. When pumping gas, I used a paper towel as a barrier between my hand and the gas pump. I wiped my card down after inserting it into the card reader. I brought my own hand soap to use in the bathrooms and sanitized my hands immediately after getting gas or going inside. If we went inside a gas station, we all wore masks.

The bathroom situation…

There’s one question that I know you’re wondering about, so let’s just get it out there. Yes, we also used the bathroom there. No, I didn’t bring a toilet along. And yes, we adhered to Leave No Trace principles. Yes, that kind of bathroom stop too.

I planned for roadside bathroom breaks and brought along toilet paper and a disposable bag to put used toilet paper in and planned to throw away at our next gas stop. Public bathrooms don’t totally terrify me, but we found it faster and smoother (less exposure) to use back roads and side roads for this COVID-safe trip. Depending on where you’re traveling, this option isn’t always possible, but it made us feel safer.

Here are few roadside bathroom break tips:

• urinate on hard surfaces;
• dig cat-holes for number two;
• bring extra toilet paper and/or flushable wet wipes;
• bring a disposable bag to store any used toilet paper with you;
• if you need privacy, open both passenger doors and hide in between them;
• if you are traveling with younger children, bringing a small, portable toilet for the little ones to use.

National Parks are re-opening…slowly

We also stopped at Petrified Forest National Park along the way, thanks to our Annual Parks Pass. I researched ahead of time to make sure the park was open and read about any restrictions or cautions. There were not many crowds and nearly everyone wore masks at any potentially crowded stops. Luckily, we had nearly every stop to ourselves. Most people were really great about keeping distance and being respectful of space. It also felt good to get out and stretch for a while.

When visiting a national park this time of year, it’s important to go early, bring sun protection, and carry plenty of water. We hiked the relatively short Blue Mesa loop and enjoyed the views of the Painted Desert along the way. If you plan on visiting a national park (or any park) along your way, do your research. It’s imperative that you check websites ahead of time for closures or capacity limits. Some parks are requiring reservations via advance ticket purchases. Please be respectful and obey city/state guidelines, especially within Indigenous communities. To learn more about recreating responsibly, please take some time to read this guide.

Things to bring on a COVID-safe roadtrip

Before heading out, we added a few things to our packing list to make this a COVID-safe roadtrip. I realize that wearing masks is a contentious topic (we’re not here to debate this), but they are required for some states. I am a practiced sewist, and made masks for my family with pockets for medical-grade filters.  You can order masks from many different outlets now, depending on what your preferences are. My “clean all the things” bag contained: two kinds of hand sanitizer, a hand sanitizer in spray format, antibacterial wipes, baby wipes, Lysol spray, and extra masks.

I also decided to pack our food for breakfast and lunch. Snacks, drinks and a cooler are all a must. I’m okay with ordering food to go, but thought that eating out only for dinner would minimize any risks. Coffee is a necessity for me when I’m doing these massive solo road trips, and our backpacking stove is a great tool for making coffee on the road. Paired with my JavaDrip, it’s a fairly quick and easy process.

I would also recommend a backpack to carry things into a hotel for an overnight stay. Choose one that large enough to hold things for the whole family, so you’re not taking in multiple suitcases. My kids were not allowed to bring their stuffed animals into the hotel just to minimize any exposures. For more about my solo travel safety tips (and my backpack system) check out THIS post. 

COVID-safe roadtrip recommendations & tips

Wherever you’re going, read ahead and do your research! Now is not necessarily the time for spontaneity and winging it along the way. Call ahead, check websites, ask questions, get suggestions and make reservations. Campgrounds are filling up fast due to more people camping and utilizing RV travel. Some parks are open, some are not. All of these things can be researched before you go to minimize stress, inconvenience and confusion. Also, bear in mind that the guidelines for masks vary from city to city and state to state. Bring them and be prepared to wear them (or make alternative plans if you choose not to). 

Before leaving the house, lay out a tentative route plan, but allow for flexibility. We noted two small towns along our way that were closed to outside visitors. Knowing this let us plan ahead for pit stops. One of my favorite things I’d highly recommend is cheesy photo ops along the way! Say yes to these! You may not be able to get into the museums or attractions, but you can grab some super fun photos to commemorate your journey. Most of these are free from people and you don’t have to touch anything. Plus, it’s a great way to get out and stretch your legs. Atlas Obscura is one of my favorite resources for finding these fun photo ops. Just remember to be respectful of private property and follow local rules and guidelines. 

The payoff

The main (well, and only) reason we made this big trip was to surprise my Mom for her birthday. She had absolutely no idea we were coming and I sneaky planned it with the help of my stepdad. My husband wasn’t able to come along due to work commitments, but gave me his full support for this endeavor. We could barely contain our excitement, nor could we wait for 6:30 AM, the decided-upon time to surprise her.

I hauled cardboard boxes with us from home. I bet my parent’s neighbors were very curious as to why I was assembling boxes on the corner so early in the morning. We tiptoed our way down the street and my kids hid in the boxes on the front step. I rang the doorbell then hid around the corner. It was without a doubt the BEST surprise of my life! I’ll never forget the joy and happiness when my Mom realized it was my kids in those boxes. We. Missed. Our. Family. Friends, I know you do too. I encourage you to take the trip. Do so with caution, but not with fear. For some extra-happy goodness, check out the full surprise video HERE. 100% worth it. 

COVID-safe roadtrip resources

For a full list of the things we brought along to make this trip safe- click HERE. 

For a list of helpful things to entertain kids on long trips – click HERE. 

Be sure to follow me on Instagram at coleyraeh to see all of our adventures and shenanigans, including the return trip home.

You can read more about our family on my website.

Thanks for reading friends, if you have any questions please feel free to message me on Instagram or send me an email.

About the author

Nichole is mama to two incredible adventurers, an older boy and a younger girl, and they are on their fifth year of homeschooling. She has been married to her best friend for nearly thirteen years and they share a mutual love for the outdoors. An Iowan native now living in the south, she is happy to claim Arkansas as home. She is a wanderlust (and coffee) fueled, fearless, road-tripper who has been known to take off for epic adventures at a moment’s notice. Hiking and camping (of the backpacking variety) and crystal digging are a few of their favorite family activities. You can usually find her in the woods somewhere (probably up a creek and jumping off waterfalls), or on an epic road-tripping adventure with the kids.

You can find Nichole online in the following locations:
Website: www.luckeywanderers.com
Instagram: @coleyraeh
RWMC posts: Nichole