Ease road trip anxiety with tips and resources
BELLEVUE, Wash. (July 2, 2020) – When families feel comfortable venturing out on one of an expected 683 million summer road trips, AAA Washington has the resources to help travelers arrive safely and enjoy their destinations.
With or without COVID-19, AAA recommends that all road trippers take the following steps, to ensure a successful journey.
- Make sure your vehicle is road trip ready – Take it to a trusted repair facility to perform needed maintenance and inspect major components like tires, batteries, hoses, valves and fluid levels
- Safety First – Drivers need to get plenty of rest before setting out on a trip. Schedule breaks every two hours of 100 miles to remain alert and avoid driving drowsy.
- Pack/replenish an emergency kit – It should include a mobile phone with extra battery and car charger, first-aid kit, a flashlight with extra batteries, basic toolkit with duct tape and road flares or reflectors, drinking water and snacks for all passengers and pets. Because of coronavirus, add face masks, gloves and cleaning supplies – like disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer, a thermometer and health insurance cards.
- Plan Ahead – For decades, road trippers have used the AAA TripTik routings to map their trips and pre-determine which rest stops, gas stations, restaurants and hotels they can use along the way. Adapted for the pandemic, this now tool provides travelers with the latest state and local COVID-19 Restrictions, updates that may influence routes and destinations.
Pacific Northwest Road Trips
Travelers looking for a getaway on roads close to home can discover a series of regional trips at AAA’s online Explore the Northwest Road Trips guide. In addition to these scenic routes and attractions along the way, are additional tips and precautions to take during the coronavirus pandemic.
For road trips that require an overnight stay, look for hotels with a AAA Diamond designation. For extra confidence, look for Diamond hotels that display a AAA Inspector’s Best Of Housekeeping badge. To meet the criteria for this award, the hotels received top marks for housekeeping excellence during two consecutive inspections and have zero AAA member complaints.
