Roadtrip advice

[yand]

So I have a trip planned for the weekend crossing 5 state lines and an overnight stay at a hotel in Charleston, WV. I'll be sticking to interstates/ highways. Other than the hotel I only plan on stopping for gas and toilet breaks at highway rest stops.
Some of my friends and family don't want me to go due to concerns relating to covid:
1, interstate travel becomes restricted overnight without warning, stranding me far away.
2, hate crime against me, an Asian
I have until Saturday morning to decide. I can see where they are coming from but I also doubt there's a significant chance of either happening.
I do want to go since now seems like the perfect time for a road trip, with low congestion and cheap gas. I'll welcome any input I can get on this.

[AsphaltPlanet]

If you go, try not to touch anything.

For example, when purchasing gas, use gloves when entering your zip code.
Bring purell with you.  Everytime you do something different, sanitize your hands.  Bought food from a store or restaurant?  Sanitize your hands.  Washed the windshield? sanitize your hands... ect.  It may seem like overkill, but if you are going to travel, that's the best way for you to protect yourself, and more importantly, protect everyone else around you.

[Max Rockatansky]

I would, and in my case I have this entire month.  Granted you'll want to pay really close attention to possible restrictions that might pop up on travel.  I really can't too much what to Asphalt said already regarding sanitation other than maybe back roads and off the grid gets away from people even more. 

[renegade]

I seriously don't think travel is a good idea at this time.  Just sayin'.

Good luck and stay safe.   

[hbelkins]

Not sure what states you are going to, but Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia have closed restaurants to inside dining. A number of retailers such as Kroger and Walmart are limiting hours of operation, closing earlier in the evening than had been announced earlier in the week.

Where in Charleston are you overnighting?

Honestly, I don't see violence against people of Asian descent to be A Thing during the current situation. Has it happened? I've heard of no instances of this occurring.

Pennsylvania has suspended construction activities, but Kentucky hasn't, and AFAIK West Virginia hasn't either. I've heard of no restrictions on travel in the West Virginia area.

[bandit957]

Honestly, I don't see violence against people of Asian descent to be A Thing during the current situation. Has it happened? I've heard of no instances of this occurring.

Sadly, I have heard of it happening.

[Rothman]

I wouldn't be concerned about interstate travel being restricted or a hate crime.  You'll just be looked down upon for travelling when it's being strongly recommended not to.

Don't be a spreader.

[Jim]

I'd personally wait a bit to see how the situation looks before doing any significant non-essential travel.  I don't want to be part of the problem.

But related to this, I am trying to decide if there's any harm in less significant travel, the old "Sunday Drive" kind of outing, at this point.  I'm thinking take a few hours drive somewhere by one route and home by another, with the only stops likely to be a quick bathroom stop and maybe filling the tank one more time than I'd otherwise need to fill it.  Could either bring lunch/snacks, or try to patronize a struggling restaurant with a takeout order.  I suppose there would also be no harm in stopping at things like scenic overlooks, as long as we'd maintain distance from anyone else with the same idea.  Equipped with Clorox wipes and hand sanitzer as needed of course.

[AsphaltPlanet]

^ Yeah, I am thinking of the same thing.  I don't think I'll be able to be cooped up for weeks without going anywhere, but personally I wouldn't do anything overnight until all of this craziness is over.

[Max Rockatansky]

Sunday drives can be done easier in some places than others.  Out East it is pretty damn hard to avoid people but it can be done increasingly easily the further west you go.  This past week I took the Parkfield Grade from Warthan Canyon south to Cholame Valley via Parkfield.  I only saw one person the entire time I was driving which made it definitely a good place to go given the current situation.  But then again day trips like that for me usually include me packing my own lunch and bringing hiking gear, I don't know how mainstream any of that is in the roadgeeking world.

[GaryV]

Re: Sunday drives: If all you do is take a drive and don't get out of the car, aren't you avoiding people?

Sure if you need gas you might see someone.  But that contact is minimal and you should be OK if you take reasonable touching precautions as noted above.

[jemacedo9]

Just know that states are ramping up restrictions as we speak.  PA is forcing the closure of all "non-life-sustaining businesses".  There was some confusion about whether hotels were included in that and I'm not 100% sure where hotels stand.  And it seems like as one state ups the stakes on things, others seem to follow. 

Taking a local road trip that doesn't involve an overnight stay somewhere?  That seems pretty safe with the sanitizing recommendations above.  But overnight?  You may risk having to improvise at the last minute.

And YES...I have heard of violence against Asians.  I don't think it's widespread at all...maybe an incident or two or three...but if you're keeping social distance anyway I don't think it's an issue to worry about beyond the normal "know your surroundings" stance.

[webny99]

Going for a drive? Yes.
Filling up with gas? Sure, wear gloves and sanitize!
Enjoying nature at a park? No problem, as long as you keep to yourself.

Ending up at somewhere other than home at the end of the day? Mmm. Something I would probably avoid for a few weeks if at all possible.

[bandit957]

And YES...I have heard of violence against Asians.

This makes me so damn mad.

As long as America tolerates hate crimes of any sort, maybe America doesn't deserve to come back from the pandemic.

[jemacedo9]

And YES...I have heard of violence against Asians.

This makes me so damn mad.

As long as America tolerates hate crimes of any sort, maybe America doesn't deserve to come back from the pandemic.

That's what our society likes to do:  find a place to place blame, and then direct anger at that "in the name of justice".  And some people take it to an extreme.  And it's sad.

[frankenroad]

One more thing to keep in mind - many states are closing their freeway rest areas.  In at least one state, it was apparently due to the fact that people kept stealing the TP.

[kurumi]

Honestly, I don't see violence against people of Asian descent to be A Thing during the current situation. Has it happened? I've heard of no instances of this occurring.

Sadly, I have heard of it happening.

Just a few 

https://nypost.com/2020/03/05/straphanger-sprays-asian-man-with-febreze-in-possible-hate-crime/

https://nypost.com/2020/03/12/coronavirus-in-ny-teen-wanted-for-attacking-asian-man-in-possible-coronavirus-hate-crime/

https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-the-uk/the-rise-of-coronavirus-hate-crimes

https://nypost.com/2020/03/17/asian-woman-assaulted-in-manhattan-blamed-for-coronavirus-cops/

https://www.wlns.com/news/health/coronavirus/hate-crimes-towards-asians-increase-during-coronavirus-pandemic/

https://www-1.fresnobee.com/news/coronavirus/article241340761.html#aprd

https://www.kut.org/post/spike-prejudice-asian-americans-dfw-face-racism-coronavirus-spreads

https://nypost.com/2020/03/10/unhinged-woman-slugs-asian-lady-for-not-wearing-coronavirus-mask/

https://kmph.com/news/local/vandal-tags-fresno-asian-american-family-car-with-racist-graffiti-related-to-coronavirus

https://time.com/5797836/coronavirus-racism-stereotypes-attacks/

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/03/uk/coronavirus-assault-student-london-scli-intl-gbr/index.html

https://www.fox10tv.com/news/coronavirus/chinese-student-assaulted-in-racist-coronavirus-attack-in-london/article_c4f52e99-27dc-580f-8bed-938366072dfc.html

https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/police-launch-hate-crime-probe-after-teens-claim-two-dundee-bus-passengers-were-carriers-of-the-coronavirus/

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/korean-men-seattle-targeted-attacker-screaming-i-hate-chinese-n1109566

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/16/they-yelled-coronavirus-first-british-attack-victim-east-asian-man

https://www.vox.com/2020/2/7/21126758/coronavirus-xenophobia-racism-china-asians

[yand]

I made my decision yesterday:
The CDC webpage on corona has said they aren't issuing domestic travel restrictions last I checked, and an interview with Fauci from ~5 days ago said he doesn't think domestic travel restrictions are likely, FWIW.
Based on what I gather from the comments, I've decided to can my overnight plans for now. Spent all day yesterday programming a complex route into sygic that'll clinch a few of the remaining interstates within a day trip's reach, today's itinerary includes 2 service and 2 street-level gas stations. Avoided water a bit more than usual so hopefully I can avoid the restroom, at one or more of the stops. I have a pack of wet wipes in the car, and I should be all set...
#covidroadtrip

[froggie]

Since you're from Mass, it's worth noting that many gas stations in New England have closed their convenience store portions and only have the gas pumps running.

[hbelkins]

Not related to your planned trip to West Virginia, but my brother is planning to head out tomorrow for a previously scheduled camping/fishing trip to Alabama. His route will be I-75 to I-285 to I-85, and then I think he uses I-185 to get into Alabama. Part of the reason he's going is because gas is so cheap right now. So far, Tennessee has not closed restaurants to dine-in service statewide, although I know local officials in Nashville and Chattanooga have done so. I'm not sure about Georgia or Alabama.

[hotdogPi]

[frankenroad]

As of midnight tonight (3/23) - change Ohio from light orange to dark orange

[hbelkins]

Kentucky's going dark orange as of this afternoon.

[bandit957]

Kentucky's going dark orange as of this afternoon.

Fortunately, I don't think it's complete martial law yet - unlike Ohio.

[yand]

ok so between my last post and now, many localities have issued shelter in place orders, and Massachusetts has issued a stay at home advisory. Massachusetts itself has not banned travel, but many places have banned travel unrelated to essential business.

I have another trip planned for sometime this week, this time to clinch I-80 from the PA/OH border to its eastern terminus. It involves 2 stops at rest stops in CT and 1 stop at the loves at the OH side of the PA/OH border.

So from what I can gather:
OH has a stay at home order for residents
PA does not have hard restrictions
NJ has stay at home order
NY has the "pause" order and New Yorkers must stay at home
CT does not have hard restrictions
MA does not have hard restrictions

It seems that non-essential travel is prohibited for local residents, which means it shouldn't apply to me right?