Why Camping is a Safer Option During the Coronavirus Pandemic

As the Coronavirus Pandemic has altered our lives over the last week, we have witnessed events that people thought would never happen come to fruition before our eyes. Schools closing indefinitely, major sporting events canceled, Disney reeling in its castle door, and the fact that toilet paper is not available anywhere, including Amazon, are things that we likely will never forget.

We had a cruise planned for spring break. However, it became apparent weeks ago that the Caribbean would not be in our sights during the first week of April. After we received the official words of cancellation from the cruise line on Friday night, we quickly changed our plans to camping.

Many people I have spoken to have stated that the pandemic will not deter their spring break plans. We, however, will abide by all government advisories. If you are undeterred about traveling during this time, we would like to recommend camping as a safer alternative to other modes of vacationing.

For people who live in densely populated areas, camping may be a better option than staying at home. Included below are Campers and Campfires top reasons why we believe that camping is a safer and enjoyable option during the Corona Pandemic.

1. Camping creates a “self-quarantine.” When I say this, I don’t mean that I am camping at a campground where we are packed in like sardines. We would not camp at campgrounds like that regardless of a pandemic. At least in Georgia, the state park system remains open and is encouraging travel to their parks during this time. We quickly switched from the cruise to a state park, and we will still get to vacation. Camping in spacious campgrounds is flattening the curve at its finest.

2. Fresh air is good for the soul. For those who are social distancing and live in populated cities and subdivisions, your ability to disconnect from people may be complicated. Not with camping. Travel to a remote campground, and get away from people… and the virus.

3. When folks are out of work and school, social media and online exposure rise. Increased social media exposure over prolonged amounts of time is not good for anyone. One of the reasons that we fell in love with camping is that we can disconnect from the rat race of life. During the pandemic, the ability to disconnect is more important than ever. Pull out the indoor and outdoor board games and activities (Read our article about family fun activities while camping). Take the time to reconnect with your family by camping when the world is in a panic.

4. Self-care with nature. Speaking of the world being in a panic, be thankful when camping without an internet signal. Every 10 minutes, I am receiving a news alert regarding the virus. Corona notifications induce stress. When camping, stop notifications for your news alerts and instead enjoy the views of lakes, oceans, trees, and nature. You will be amazed at how fast your blood pressure will decrease back to normal if you can separate you and your family from the media while camping.

We cannot prevent the virus from spreading. However, we do believe in staying “self-quarantined” not only for our safety but also for the safety of those around us. Whether you are altering vacation plans or separating yourself from the general public, camping is definitely a good way to go!

Did you have vacation plans canceled during the Corona outbreak? What are your thoughts about camping during this time? We would love to hear from you. Please drop us a line in the comment section below!