Posted on 06/05/2020 5:08:37 AM PDT by Freedom_Is_Not_Free
I need help from the Freeper family for cross country travel advice during the Covid re-opening, to drive from California to the southeast and scout out locations for a new place to live.
I am asking Freepers for information regarding travel restrictions and accomodations in various states, at and to my destinations.
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Questions
1. Are hotels open for business in Alabama, Florida, South Carolina and Tennesee?
2. Are masks and face coverings mandatory in Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee?
3. Are apartment managers allowing visitors to physically see units in their apartment complexes, or is everything still being done remotely in Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee?
4. Can I drive through Arizona, Utah, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana on my way to and from those 4 states or do I have to 14-day quarantine every time I drive into a new state?
5. Are rest stops opened in the above states of Arizona to Arkansas, or do I have to bring a jar to pee in on the way? Are Truck Stops opened?
Here are all the places I would like to visit. I would be leaving July 1, 2020 at the latest and will probably take 6-8 weeks to see all these locations.
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Destinations
Alabama -- Orange Beach, Madison (Huntsville suburb), Fairhope
Florida -- Jacksonville Beach, St. Augustine, Pensacola
South Carolina -- Mount Pleasant (Charleston suburb), Hilton Head, North Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, Socastee
Tennessee -- Farragut, Powell, Maryville (Knoxville suburbs), Signal Mountain, Lookout Mountain (Chattanooga suburbs), Brentwood, Franklin (suburbs of Nashville)
I apologize for the Vanity, but I am kind of at my wits end seeking accurate and timely informaion about travel restrictions to and through the various states and hoping Freepers can help me out. Most state web sites are out of date. Leave California or Bust.
The abrupt end of COVID-19 would have been a huge black eye for the Democratic Party and their lockdown policies. They did a good job of changing the subject, didn't they?
Indeed.
Arizona is open. Many Californians are here for the shopping and dining they can’t do in their own state. Unfortunately, they brought some rioters and looters with them.
It sounds like you are doing what my wife and I did nine years ago—drive through potential states to live in.
I suggest Tennessee, Florida, and Texas due to their not having income taxes and leaning conservative.
We came over from Texas in March and had one. My wife is from Albuquerque.
Texas will be fine. Stay in counties that do not hold the major cities (Houston, Dallas, Ft. Worth, San Antonio, and Austin), but hotels are open in those places, too.
Good stuff. My brother now lives in Colordado. Anytime he comes to visit, he makes sure he gets one.
Forget living in Pensacola - it’s not bad but you can do better at nearby Gulf Breeze, Navarre, and Niceville. Most of Escambia and all of Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties are very conservative. Christian churches abound and crime is very low, plus the beautiful Gulf of Mexico and tons of lakes and rivers. We are surrounded by military and retired military.
I left SW Fla a week ago after spending the “lockdown” there. Gov DeSantis did a fantastic job keeping the elderly safe. We were having construction done and all the “ workers” were allowed to work . Even in April no-one wore masks on job sites. In Mid-May, Fla opened up. Everything open, very few masks and no uptick in numbers that matter : hospitalizations/deaths. I LOVE Florida.
Don’t worry about it. Just bring along some masks in case someone asks if you have one. Then just go. Visitor centers may be closed, but restrooms will be available along the way.
If you live in a state that is shut down but allowed riots, just go back t work. Most of the kind do rioting are out f schools and have nothing else to do, the rest need to go back to work.
This site has some updated information that you may find helpful. It lists southern state information,
Great to hear that I can drive across New Mexico no problem. Thank you very much for letting me know that. I appreciate it.
I haven’t decided my route yet — I-40 straight to Tennessee or I-10 straight to Florida. Right now I am just trying to establish if a 2500 mile trip is practical right now. If the answer is “yes”, then I will start the trip planning. I am glad to hear that New Mexico is a “yes”.
Thank you so much.
Jacksonville, St Augustine are nice.....( Mayo Clinic is in Jacksonville)
My husband just returned from North Carolina to Florida.....
...when he approached the Florida border, there was a long lines of cars being stopped and checked....he called me to say he would be late!
But abruptly they stopped checking the cars/occupants....and he drove through without any problem
I would encourage you to move to Central Florida!...coastal
Clean, conservative, well managed, on the Space Coast ( you can watch the new rockets take off!)
Thank you. It is a relief to hear I will have no issues with Florida coming from California, and that the state is open for business. That is a huge help. I still have to know the state of hotels but otherwise, thanks so much. I really appreciate your help.
Congratulations on that. I got out 14 years ago.
I bet if you just avoid night-time in big cities, then all should be just fine. Best of luck.
Thank you for the scoop on Alabama. It sounds like the state is open for business. That is great.
I will check out Auburn and Dothan. At this point, everything is on the table.
I had my heart set on retiring to Virginia Beach, but that fell apart when the Commie Rats conquered Virginia and turned it into Washington State on the Chesapeake. So nothing in any southeastern conservative state is off the table for me.
Good to hear hotels are open in Alabama. I am not interested in living in or too close to any large city such as Mobile or Montgomery, so hopefully I can avoid the Covid hotspots. I am not in an especially high risk group at 60 yo, but I’m not a kid either. I would much prefer NOT to get this disease and let it die out for the summer, if not forever.
I did not realize people over 65 were exempt from paying property tax in Alabama. That is another nice benefit. Already, my retirement would not be taxed in Alabama. Bama is looking better all the time, but I need to see where I would live in all these states. I am sure one of them will just “feel like home”.
The Lord’s hand is always supporting me, so Lord willing, I will find a place I fall in love with.
Super duper. It is great to know hotels and restaurants are open in Tennessee. If realtors are having open houses, that bodes well for apartments being open as well.
Thanks again for your help.
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