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10 tips for anyone taking a road trip right now
Featured image by MONKEYBUSINESSIMAGES/GETTY IMAGES
Benét, known as the Aviation Queen, is a former senior editor at TPG who is best known for being an aviation journalist for 25-plus years. Her love affair with travel and aviation began at age 6, when her Air Force family moved from California to a military base outside of London. The family flew from JFK to London on a pretty new Pan Am 747. She was amazed when, in 1992, she got her first aviation journalism job.
September 11, 2021 • 8 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
The author shares personal experiences and practical tips for long-distance road trips during the pandemic era, highlighting shifts in travel habits.
Car rental prices have increased significantly, making driving your own vehicle a more cost-effective option for many travelers.
Gas prices have risen since 2020, so using a payment method that offers rewards at gas stations can help offset costs.
Hotel rates have also climbed, and availability may be limited during peak times or local events.
What to consider
It's important to have your vehicle checked by a mechanic before a long trip to avoid breakdowns far from home.
Public restrooms may vary in cleanliness, so bringing sanitizing supplies is recommended for peace of mind.
Traffic and road construction have largely returned to pre-pandemic levels, potentially affecting travel times.
What you'll miss from the article
Detailed advice on preparing for road trips, including packing tips, navigating food stops and handling unexpected hotel issues.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
I regularly work from home in Towson, Md., a suburb north of Baltimore. I live in a nice two-bedroom, 1.5 bath apartment with a large living room, a dining room, an office, a full-size stacking washer and dryer and a balcony. Before the coronavirus pandemic, I thought my 1,300 square-foot apartment was pretty spacious — until I had to shelter-in-place with a wonderful, but moody teen who missed school and her friends.
My family lives in San Antonio, Texas. So when my sister first called in April 2020 and asked me and the kid to come home, I jumped at the chance. I decided to rent a minivan (at a bargain price of $134 for two days), pack it up and make the 1,700-mile drive. Since then, I've made the drive two more times. I actually canceled the plane ticket I bought in August 2021 in exchange for taking my third road trip because I was worried about the delta variant of COVID-19.
I have a feeling I'm not alone with this. Even with the delta variant spiking, people still want to travel. And like me, they are taking to the highways instead of the skies this fall. Here are some tips before you go.
I considered renting a car again for my road trip. I looked at prices on several rental car sites for an overnight rental on Oct. 20, 2021. We all know that car rental prices have shot through the roof since the beginning of 2021. Personally, I refused to pay $420 to drive a car (the Kia Soul) that I already own, so I chose to drive it instead.
Don't get caught far from home with a car that needs repairs. (Photo by: Kurt Wittman/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Right before my August road trip, I took it to my mechanic to check it over, because the last thing you want is to have your car break down hundreds of miles away from home. He looked at everything from my oil levels to my transmission and gave me the green light. I also have AAA in case of car issues, but you may have roadside assistance with your credit card, so check your benefits before you start that long drive.
During my first road trip in April 2020, I spent a total of $77 on gas. Prices ranged from a high of $1.41 to a low of $1.09 for a gallon of regular gas. But for my August 2021 trip, I paid between $2.50 and $2.70 for regular gas. So make sure you use a credit card that will allow you to at least earn points every time you fill up, such as the Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees) (3x) or the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (3% cash back at U.S. gas stations; cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit).
I admit it — I’m a germaphobe and I can’t tolerate public restrooms. While I’m not at the level of supermodel Naomi Campbell, I do carry Clorox wipes and hand sanitizer whenever I fly. I knew I’d have to use a bathroom during the trip, so I came prepared with my spray bottle of Clorox cleanser and a roll of paper towels. I was pleasantly surprised at how clean most of the restrooms were on my original trip (but I still gave them a Clorox wipe-down). But this trip? Not so much, despite spike in the delta variant.
Fast-food outlets still practice social distancing
The ones we visited on the first trip all had workers wearing masks and gloves. However, Chick-fil-A was by far the most thorough. A worker came to your car, took your order and asked you to swipe your card. Instead of being handed your food through the drive-up window, a gloved and masked worker had your food in a gray bin for you to pick up. These safety measure were still in place at the fast food outlets I used during my August 2021 trip.
If you don't want to make a stop, pack a cooler filled with sandwiches and drinks, and have a bag of road-friendly snacks.
Because I wanted to get my 5x points per dollar spent on my Platinum Card® from American Express, I pre-booked a deluxe room with two queen beds at the Kimpton Aertson in downtown Nashville back in April 2020. The room came to $209.42. That same room now costs $332.60 a night in October.
On this trip I actually ended up paying for two hotel rooms, since my first one turned out to be a nightmare. I was lucky to find a new one, since college students were moving back and rooms were tough to find.
We departed Towson in April 2020 on Thursday at 7 a.m., knowing that we would need to be on the Baltimore Beltway going toward I70 West at the beginning of our trip. At that time of day, traffic is at full swing, and pretty slow — but not on that day. The roads were practically empty, dominated more by 18-wheeler trucks than cars. Fast forward to August, where highways were back to normal and I even found myself trapped in traffic several times.
Speeding still abounds
Although speed limits on the trip ranged from 55 in Baltimore up to 70 in Texas, no one paid any mind to them during both of my trips. The interesting thing was there were plenty of highway patrol officers on the road, but I only saw two cars (at once) pulled over during the entire trip.
Road construction is in full swing
(Photo by: Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
States were taking full advantage of the traffic lull to work on road projects -- including painting road lines, repaving existing roads and building new ones -- in April 2020. And the same was true during my last trip, especially in Alabama and Texas.
Cities and towns are open for business
I’m of an age when I remember when everything was closed on Christmas and Thanksgiving. I always enjoyed seeing how quiet things were when one of my parents would take me on that holiday drive every year. It was like those holidays every day during my April 2020 trip. But not on my latest trip. Stores, restaurants and businesses were open.
Bottom line
The Wilson family home in San Antonio. (Photo by Benét J. Wilson)
For those who still want to travel and are reluctant to fly, a road trip is a good option. As long as you prepare before you start the engine, you can really enjoy seeing American from the ground.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
