I devoted a good chunk of 2020 to finishing and then revising my latest novel, I Mean You No Harm, which has a road trip at its core. In the process, I yearned to hit the road myself, after months of staying close to home due to the pandemic. Now, I’m delighted to be planning a road trip to Virginia, for a long-delayed (post-vaccination) visit with family. Here, I’ll share some helpful resources and bits of advice that I’ve come across, in case you’re planning a road trip yourself.

One excellent resource is RoadTrip America, which has been online since 1996 and was founded by the folks behind Imbrifex Books, the publisher of my latest novel. Among other things, RoadTrip America offers friendly, expert advice from a country-wide community of road trippers, as well as a Map Wizard, which points out dining and lodging options, parks and other recreation sites, natural wonders, sports venues, and more along users’ selected travel routes. (The Map Wizard suggested many interesting historic sites and other attractions for my Virginia trip.)

In the course of my research, I also sought advice on how to be Covid-smart during my travels, even though I–and an increasing share of Ameircans–have been vaccinated. I found this article from the Washington Post to be especially helpful, and here are just a few highlights from it:

• Be aware of any pandemic-related restrictions that might be in place along your travel route, or at your destination, by using AAA’s Covid-19 Travel Restrictions Map.
• Although it’s fun to allow for some spontaneity during road trips, it’s a good idea to advance-book any spot where you plan to spend an extended period of time, such as a major national park or a popular camping destination. Given the pandemic, outdoor destinations are likely to be as popular, and as quickly booked up, this summer as they were last summer. (You might also consider traveling to popular destinations in the fall, when campsites, inns, and the like may be less in demand.)
• Consider downloading your maps offline, especially if you will be traveling through remote areas. As one source quoted in the Post said, “There are some lonely roads that you really have to pay attention to signs that say ‘no services for the next 150 miles’ because they really mean no services and no cellphone service.”

The voyage to Virginia will also be my first extended road trip with a pet: Mia, a greyhound my husband and I adopted last August. In searching for advice on traveling with a dog, I came across this helpful article on how to prepare pups for a trip, what to pack for them, and how to find pet-friendly hotels and other resources. (If you have a dog who, like Mia, is prone to car sickness, here’s some advice from me: If possible, give the dog a view of the road, and keep the windows cracked to admit some fresh air. Also, have cleaning supplies at the ready.)

Finally, if you’re looking for some audio entertainment for your trip, you might consider podcasts or audiobooks. The Manual offers some great suggestions for podcasts to listen to on road trips, and as a podcast aficionado, I could recommend many additional shows. But my latest favorite is “The Secret Room,” which shares “the stories no one ever tells.” Each episode features a guest who discusses a significant, often life-changing secret with the host of the podcast, who is both empathic and insightful. The episodes are deep, moving dives into the human experience, and they offer opportunities for reflection at any time. But to me, they seem especially ideal for a long road trip.

If you’re in search of a good audiobook, you might check out this extended list of recommendations, which covers a range of genres, from classic literature, to mysteries and thrillers, to romance, to science fiction and fantasy. And if you’ll pardon the self-promotion, my novel I Mean You No Harm, which will be out in August, will be available as an audiobook, as well as in print and e-book formats. Check out this link for more details.

Whether or not you’re planning a road trip in the near term, I wish you a fun, safe, and happy summer.