Hoping to get out of town this holiday? If so, you are not alone.
Despite health risks posed by the coronavirus, Minnesotans en masse are still expected to travel for the Fourth of July weekend. Here’s some information you should keep in mind:
THERE’S STILL TIME TO BOOK A PLACE TO STAY
Given the decrease in long-term bookings, there is a higher chance you’ll be able to book a place to stay last minute, says Hospitality Minnesota’s director of government relations Ben Wogsland. Though a look at booking sites like Orbitz and Airbnb indicate places are filling up fast, depending on where you are going.
Camping grounds are especially popular this summer, but travelers are also feeling comfortable enough to stay overnight at hotels, resorts, and lodges. A survey by the American Hotel and Lodging Association said 28 percent of Americans said they planned to stay in a hotel in the next two to three months.
“It looks like it’s going to be a pretty active weekend,” Wogsland said. “There are a lot of people who want to leave home but stay in Minnesota.”
2020 IS THE YEAR OF THE ROAD TRIP
Road trips seem to be the vacation of choice this summer, so don’t be surprised if the coronavirus has not wiped out all the holiday weekend traffic.
Overall travel will be down this summer by over 14 percent, but travelling by car will only decrease by 3 percent, according to a travel forecast by the American Automobile Association. The forecast predicts 680 million people will be travelling by car this summer.
While you may still run into some traffic, the Twin Cities is not expected to be more congested than usual summer traffic patterns, says the American Automobile Association.
GAS PRICES WILL STILL BE LOW
Filling up your tank this holiday weekend will be cheaper than usual.
Gas prices have been rising since last April, but they are still lower than past summers. On July 4, the average national price was projected as $2.17, according to GasBuddy. This is the lowest price it’s been for the holiday since 2004.
RVs WILL BE HARD TO COME BY
If you were planning to rent an RV for a camping or road trip, you weren’t the only one with that plan. As travelers try to avoid planes and hotels, motorhomes and travel trailers are becoming the popular pick for traveling safely.
Even though RV sales have spiked since the pandemic started, renters are unable to get more inventory because plants are closed due to the coronavirus, according to the Forum News Service. Inventory is limited, so don’t expect to be able to rent an RV on a whim for the holiday weekend, as rentals are currently booked out months in advance.
PACK FOR A PANDEMIC
Take gloves, masks, hand sanitizer, and a thermometer with you on your trip, says the American Automobile Association.
Be cautious of social distancing guidelines and sanitation at gas stations or rest stops. The American Automobile Association also recommends staying updated on the coronavirus contagion rate in the places you’re visiting, and taking your health insurance documents with you.
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July 01, 2020 at 05:20PM
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What to expect when traveling for July 4: Low gas prices, RV shortages - TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press
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