We’ve all been cooped up for a while, and with the stay-at-home orders, many of us are anxious to get out and enjoy spring in the beautiful state of Washington. It’s a confusing time amid the coronavirus outbreak, with some states opening back up and lifting travel restrictions, while other states are staying on a different timeline. Many of us are unsure of what is allowed in our area.
You might ask yourself, “Am I allowed to travel locally within the state of Washington during the coronavirus pandemic?”
It’s a little complicated, but we’ll try to clear it up. Right now, social distancing is required no matter where you go. That means that even if you go out for a walk, you have to be able to maintain six feet between you and another person who lives outside your home. In Washington, gatherings of more than two people who are not in the same household are banned. Masks are recommended when coming into contact with other people, even with the six feet of distance. But are there other Washington travel coronavirus restrictions enforced?
State parks and beaches
Right now, we cannot travel to state parks or beaches in Washington due to COVID-19. State parks are also currently closed in Washington. In Washington state, King County was among those counties hit hardest, so Seattle, Bellevue, and Sea-Tac implemented closures quickly. Pierce County has also experienced many cases with Tacoma, Puyallup, and Gig Harbor shutting down public parks to stop the spread. Washington also had an outbreak of COVID-19 cases in Battleground, which is in Clark County. Governor Inslee acted quickly, ordering the state parks closed and putting in a stay at home order, and now we see a decline in COVID-19 cases, but that doesn’t mean we will be going to parks as we did before the outbreak anytime soon. Sneaking into parks is a misdemeanor and comes with a hefty fine.
Washington is serious about flattening the curve. Public beaches are also closed, and people may be fined for removing barriers and heading to the shore anyway. Drones have been spotted warning people away from areas they don’t belong. We know you are anxious to get back to the water, but if you adhere to the rules, everyone will be able to get outside when the spread of the coronavirus slows.
Western States Pact
On April 13, 2020, the governor announced the Western States Pact between Washington, Oregon, and California. All three governors have agreed to follow certain phases of opening their respective states. Governors want to see a consistent decline of deaths due to COVID-19 and a decline of new cases before easing stay at home orders. They will open up in phases, the first being non-essential businesses that can maintain the six-foot social distancing, limit customers, and/or use curb-side pickup.
The stay at home order expires May 4, 2020, but there may be an extension of this date if the number of cases of COVID-19 has not declined significantly according to the Western States Pact. Washington state does not have a specific date for reopening non-essential businesses or lifting Washington‘s travel during COVID-19 restrictions because these criteria have not been met.
Getting outside
Although parks are closed due to the coronavirus, you are still allowed to take walks around your neighborhood, go jogging, or go bike riding near your house. Keep in mind that you should be wearing a mask where you are likely to see other people. Cross the road when you see that you are about to pass someone to maintain the required distance.
You can also work in your yard, have a picnic outside, plant a garden, or play sports in your yard. Getting outside will allow you to enjoy the springtime weather, to feel more normal, boost your oxytocin levels, and give you some much-needed vitamin D.
Public places and traveling outside the city
As for traveling to public places like walking downtown, going to the rivers, and other public open spaces, you are not prevented from going to any open place where you can maintain six feet of social distancing if you have a reason to be out. However, Governor Inslee wants to encourage staying home as much as possible, so avoid going to places unless you have a legitimate reason to be there, such as shopping for food or supplies, going to work as an essential employee, or going to doctor appointments. These guidelines mean, of course, that you should not be traveling outside your city without a very good reason at this point.
Washington state has been hit hard by the coronavirus, and we don’t want to undo the good work we’ve done to stop the spread, so use good judgment when deciding to get out of the house and put off any travel within the state until Governor Inslee gives the okay. We’ll all feel better knowing we did our part to save lives, and hopefully, we’ll be back in the RV and on the road by summer.
Team Outdoorsy is here to help you along your journey. If you have questions or concerns about your upcoming RV rental, give us a call at 1-877-723-7232, send us an email, or start a chat. And for a continuously updated list of frequently asked COVID-19 questions relating to RV travel, visit our FAQ page.
