HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Millions of people are choosing to do a road trip instead of taking a flight this Thanksgiving in an effort to stay safer during the pandemic.
But as you hit the road, here are some safety tips to keep in mind.
"With road trips, you have the advantage of having that own little bubble," AAA spokesperson Mark Jenkins said.
For the 47.8 million people taking road trips for Thanksgiving this year, including 2.6 million Floridians, AAA says to pack extra supplies like masks, gloves, wipes, antibacterial soap and snacks to limit how many stops you need to make along the way.
Jenkins also recommends people use the travel resource TripTik to help plan accordingly.
"One thing we've added this year to our TripTik resource is a COVID-19 restrictions map that helps travelers find out any closures that could impact their trip," Jenkins said.
The resource allows you to see which states require masks, what rest stops are open and any pandemic curfews that may be in place.
"Some restrooms are going to be different, some will be cleaner than others," he said.
For parents nervous about the cleanliness of public restrooms, try to wait for the restroom to be empty before going in, wear disposable gloves, use a disposable toilet seat cover and always wash your hands for at least 20 seconds afterwards. And, bring hand sanitizer in case the bathroom doesn't have any soap.
If your go-to rest stop bathroom is closed, consider a fast-food restaurant or a national chain store if it's not too far off track.
"This year there's more interest in road trips than air travel. Air travel is down significantly," Jenkins said.
You'll also want to wear disposable gloves or at least wash your hands after touching gas pumps. And, don't rely on hotels to be open for a late-night place to crash. Instead, call ahead for a reservation.
Other helpful apps to plan your trip are Roadtrippers and AroundMe.
According to AAA, Florida gas prices will be the lowest for Thanksgiving in the past 12 years. So, you'll hopefully save a few bucks when you hit the road too.
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