Since the Covid-19 pandemic shows no signs of disappearing for the time being, you might want to socially distance as much as possible. Camping can form part of your plan because it enables you to get away from busy city centers and enjoy the quiet, and remoteness of nature.
Is camping safe during Covid? While camping outdoors is considered a low-risk activity, your risk can increase if you’re in a crowded campground that shares facilities such as picnic and restroom areas, as well as if you share a tent with others. The stress of staying free of the virus aside, it’s not always easy to find places that are open and catering to campers and other outdoor enthusiasts.
Covid is changing where you can camp and how you should camp in order to stay safe. With that in mind, let’s look at what you need to know about camping during the pandemic – and where to do it.
Want to go camping in a national park or an RV park? Here’s what you need to know about how different campgrounds are being affected.
National & State Parks
You might find that National, State, and local parks will be open during the pandemic, but don’t just assume that this is the case before you go to them. It’s really up to federal, State, or local authorities to choose if the facilities will be open to the public, so make sure you find out the specific park to which you wish to travel.
For example, California recently announced that the Regional Stay At Home Order that was put in
place has resulted in some campgrounds in impacted areas being forced to close down temporarily. It’s also important to remember that, while some parks will be open, what might happen is that only some areas or services at the campgrounds will be offered to the public. This will require more planning on your part because it means you’ll have to prepare for the facilities that won’t be available so you can make another plan, such as when it comes to bathroom amenities.
To ensure you stay up to date with information about which parks are open and which ones are closed, visit the NPS website. Here you can type in the name of a specific park and get information about it.
RV Parks
Just like with national and state parks, RV park rules and regulations regarding Covid vary. These parks, whether they’re on campgrounds or private parks, are usually regarded as “essential” services by local governments on a case-by-case basis.
That’s why you’ll have to call ahead to check if they’re operating. For example, as of October 2020, states such as Virginia and Connecticut reported that their RV campgrounds were non-essential and therefore closed to the public, while states such as New York, Delaware, and Maine are a few that have said these campgrounds are essential. Yup, things can be pretty confusing at times!
To get a comprehensive list of RV parks, visit RVillage. You’ll be able to search for an RV park you want to visit, click on it, and then be directed to the specific park’s website where you’ll be able to view the park’s latest Covid rules and regulations. Another useful resource to check out is ARVC which offers state, county, and city information pertaining to RV parks.
It’s important to note that what parks and campgrounds are open can sometimes change on a daily basis as a result of the pandemic and how people respond to it.
What makes it further complicated is that different U.S. states will treat the rules differently – and sometimes even municipalities within that state will have their own rules. Therefore, it’s always good to stay up to date on the latest rules in your area.
Post time: Feb-09-2022