Are you canceling your annual trek to the National Park System this year due to coronavirus?/Rebecca Latson file
If you haven't already made plans for your national park escape this year, you should be doing that now. Unless, of course, you've decided to skip the parks this year due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The thought of sitting in an airliner for a few hours with other potentially sick passengers is always a concern, but the hype around the novel coronavirus adds to those concerns. And the thought of visiting a park that attracts a lot of international visitors might be concerning as well. So what are you going to do this year?
Around the National Park System, staff is approaching the current situation much as it does flu season.
"While there have been no identified cases of coronavirus in any national park, the NPS Office of Public Health and the U.S. Public Health Service officers assigned to the National Park Service are closely monitoring the situation and keeping staff informed, relying on the most updated data and information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention," Park Service staff told Traveler late last month. "Parks are informed to follow CDC guidance regarding preventative actions to help prevent the spread of viruses, particularly during flu and respiratory disease season."
Of course, on the flip side, national attention and concern could make park lodging prices fall this summer if a great number of folks start canceling their trips, making a visit more affordable. That's definitely something to watch if you are flexible with your travel plans and are willing to go ahead with your vacation in spite of the coronavirus news.
But as of today, what are you thinking of doing?
Comments
I've gone through a winter of chemo and have been planning a two month cross country camping/hiking/National parks tour. Hitting about 17 National Parks, camping under the stars. This trip is on. Not cancelling for anything.
We are planning a trip in early May flying from the East to Las Vegas, going to Zion, Bryce, Arches, Grand Canyon North Rim. No change in Plans unless the Government shuts things down.
We live in Montana and are driving down to Moab end of March.. so other then a few restaruants and a couple of hotel stays we are camping and hope to NOT see many people. So basically it is sort of in our backyard and we have no concerns. We are older and so life is pretty short so make the best of it.
We want to go to Mammoth Caves KY next week but we are afraid they might shut down National parks. This is my spring break as a school teacher in Florida, so we have been planning and saving. We are rethinking our plans. Hopefully we can still gonif parks remain open.
My family and I are planning a trip to GTNP in June. At this point we're not changing any plans. We're actually hoping the crowds will be down.
Here is an idea please stop calling the park and asking if it is open. There is too many resouces available to everyone these days to check that. You may think that it's just one phone call and it won't be that big of a deal well......wrong! About 10,000 other people are saying the same thing. Also I might suggest that you plan your own trip instead of calling and asking what you should do when you arrive mainly since another 10,000 people are thinking the same thing.
Wow I have never seen so many people being afraid of an illness that is less contagious that Rotovirus. All of these messages are just insane. I do agree that the powers that be are using this virus as a tool of fear no doubt but. give me break people. Quit letting the government dictate on how you spend your vacation. I mean whats next are you going to let the government tell you when to use the bathroom??? Sadly I see lots of people on here that seem to let themselves be told what to do.
Close the parks like Statue of Liberty, visitor centers, closed venues, etc. Leave open the open air parks with campgrounds and hiking trails! We, the people, need our nature to maintain our health and sanity! Protect your staff and let us have our parks too!