katu41

First the basics. I'm 79 and my wife is 75. Like everyone else, we have been in lockdown for 6 months. I am thinking about a trip to see some of the Utah parks, Monument Valley and possibly the Grand Canyon north rim. This will be a driving trip starting from Los Angeles and we would probably spend 7 or 8 days on the road. We are both in reasonable health with no underlying health issues. We are thinking of late September or early October. While I will be into my photography, my wife will basically be along for the ride. There will be no long hikes or climbing. The $64 question is can we stay safe.

My plan would be to take our own bedding for the trip. I would not rely on local motels to have the best disinfectant protocols. I am guessing we can keep social distancing fairly easily with the possible exception of hiring a guide in Monument Valley. Have you done this trip in recent months or do you know of others who made this trip and with what results? I'm on the fence but obviously don't want to do something stupid. I would like to keep the motel stops to a minimum and was looking for suggestions for a base location near Zion or Brice to do day trips of less than 150 miles. I'm not going to make it all the way to Moab. Suggestions?

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

The answer to your question" What would you do"

I would stay safe and stay home. Your bedding would get contaminated if the hotel/motel did not spray and clean properly

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

I would do it in a heartbeat.

sabfish

One big question, and to my mind risk, is eating in restaurants. You can't eat with a mask on and may well be indoors.

dougbev3 Loc: Pueblo, Colorado

I have had several friends who have taken trips and have had no problems with hotels or places to eat. One friend started in Kansas and went to D.C. and then back to Montana ( her new home ). They used wipes and cleaning sprays, gloves & masks.

whatdat Loc: Del Valle, Tx.

Ck status of parks as they are in a state of flux due to Covid-19. Here in Texas state parks are only open by appointment & Big Bend NP was closed in July. Haven’t heard anything since. (don’t know about other National Parks, forests, wildlife areas in Texas).
Good luck & be careful.

skylinefirepest Loc: Southern Pines, N.C.

Bryce and Zion are reasonably close to Moab...and Canyonlands, Dead Horse Canyon, and Arches are at Moab. We stayed for a week at the Days Inn at Moab and it was very clean with friendly people. Not knowing where you are really wanting to go I would definitely say to go to Arches at Moab...one of the most spectacular parks we've ever been to. The Grand Canyon and the Badlands were a definite lower on the totem pole after going to Arches, Bryce, and Zion. A huge difference for us now is that we can't walk so we have to be where we can drive with very little walking. We drove up to the top of the plateau and went to Gemeni Bridge and my wife hated the ten percent grade and whoop de doos with the longish hood...I see why all the serious off roaders use Jeeps. I've bought a newer Taco with the crawl feature so I can't wait to get back out to Moab and hit the trails and we are intending to try it this Sept.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

That sounds like a fun idea.
I would wear a mask anytime I was outside of the car or motel room. I would spray and/or wipe the room with Lysol when I first checked in and after anyone else was in the room. Social distance as much as possible. Order takeout instead of eating in a restaurant and either eat in the car or in the room, or outside where you can maintain social distancing. Wash hands often and have waterless hand cleaner with you when you’re out and about.
I hope you have a good time and don’t forget to post the pictures when you get back.

tomad Loc: North Carolina

I'd probably wait until next year. If I did go, I would rent a small RV that I could clean myself and live in for the duration of the trip... IMO a safer way to sleep and eat avoiding hotels and restaurants. I am actually planning another trip out west for the fall of 2021 when it will hopefully be safer.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

I've done two road trips during this stupidity, and I had no difficulty on either one. I did stay in a motel once. Wash your hands a lot. Carry sanitizer. Most truck stops have all you need for food, breaks, etc. They show evidence of adherence to prescribed rules. Probably the most dangerous thing is the gas pump handle. Again, use sanitizer after pumping gas!

I was just at the North Rim. It is open, but the lodge is closed to all but those with existing reservations, and the campground is closed due to a water main break. The road to Point Imperial is closed. The camp store is open, and the deli store is open for orders, but you pick up and eat the food outside. Rim trails are all open. Jacob Lake is totally open. Do be careful about Monument Valley. The virus has been brutal on the reservation. You probably should check it before going there. Call the Goldings store. They will know. I talked to a lady who said Arches was packed, but you said you're not going to Moab. I suggest you contact Cany143 (one of the members here) as he has a pretty good pulse on the parks in Utah.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

first- Outside masks are not necessary, unless in large crowds. Just maintain 6 foot distance. Inside use masks. inside, use wipes, and/or sprays UV light bars work as well. If money is of no concern, maybe rent a small RV, or a camper. That will solvve the sleeping problem

JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington

At 72 and a case of serious pneumonia two years ago, I am staying very cautious. I live in the NW and would love to get to the Pacific Coast for a week or two, but my wife and I have decided to just stay home and reduce the risk.

Thankfully I still have cycling and thousands of old images to process, so I keep plenty busy.

Stay safe.

Stan Wieg Loc: Fair Oaks, CA

My wife and just came back from such a trip in an RV - I recommend it! Consider an RV, as it will be mobile quarantine, and they are easy to drive. Better check first whether Indian lands and national parks are open. Monument Valley is Navajo land and tightly restricted. Goulding’s is a private resort/campground just across the hwy from Monument Valley; open and very nice.
Consider some lesser known sites too: Antelope Canyon is closed (Navajo land) but Wire Pass near Page, AZ, or Willis Canyon near the aptly named Kodachrome Basin State Park in southern Utah, are both pretty slot canyons and easy walks if you are willing to drive a few miles of unpaved road.
I’d go for it - who knows what next year will bring?

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

We own a small RV and are on a 7 week trip that included Yellowstone. We have avoided all indoor activities except grocery shopping. We've avoided all outdoor activities with crowds like Old Faithful. We observe the grocery store for both employee and customer behavior before shopping. We rejected one in Wyoming! We feel safe and believe we are doing our part to help slow down the spreading of covid.

There are plenty of alternate food choices that any car traveler can take to avoid restaurants. Public bathrooms may be the most difficult for roadtrippers. Look up "TravelJohn". They were developed for pilots of small airplanes and will keep you out of the public bathrooms!

(I have never been happier to be the owner of a small RV. I've enjoyed 5 of them over 25 years. Even the experts will say RV camping is about as covid safe as it gets.)

wingclui44 Loc: CT USA

Yes, getting out from this depressing lock-down to have a refreshing feeling is a good idea! Besides all those common advice of wearing mask; social distancing; washing hands; cleaning all surface wherever you are etc...etc. fine, I here have one more suggestion, pay attention to the air indoor where-ever it is. especial in the hotel room, if the A/C system is a central system that will circulate the air all through out the whole hotel area, if some area is contaminated that the dirty air will end up into your room, you won't know how the condition of their filter if it has been changed frequently, it is same as the window unit if it's using in the room.

So make sure wear mask all the time, but it's so difficult when sleeping. May I tell you some of my story, my daughter and Son-in-Law came to visit us last month from NY, We didn't see each other since last X'mas ,they choose to check in a local hotel to avoid any risk to every body when staying in my house. We meet and see each other in out door area and at a out door restaurant. I did tell them the same warning about risk of the air in the public indoor area. This is only my thought! Have a very nice safe trip!