Any Ohioans on here? I am picking up a car in Ohio Saturday. I am only going to be out of the truck for getting gas and loading a car up on the trailer. I assume there is nothing to keep me from driving through? Gas stations open I assume? Will be in the Columbus area. Anything I need to know other than keep some disinfectant in the truck? I can't see having any troubles but thought I would ask the locals.

 

Unless your planning on hitting the bars and then cruising the schoolyards, should be the same as Indiana.

 

Be sure to use the restroom before you leave home.....the rest area's are closed for cars and no fast food restaurants bathrooms to use....gas station bathrooms have a very long line....good luck.

 

Port-a-potty.

 

Looks like I have to wait. To much silly stuff going on. The guy with the car agrees.

 

This situation is changing quickly, and right now it looks like you would have no problem.

Apparently Pennsylvania was the worst, closing their PA turnpike service plazas completely. But they've restored some services.

https://www.mcall.com/opinion/mc-opi...qji-story.html


In Ohio, all rest areas on non-turnpike interstate highways are open except those closed for other reasons (repairs, routine maintenance)

Here's a website dedicated to interstate highway rest areas, and it includes a page devoted to virus-related closures.

https://www.interstaterestareas.com/...-due-to-virus/


As of March 17 (three days ago), service plazas on the Ohio turnpike are open but selling food take-out only. Restrooms are open.

https://www.mcall.com/opinion/mc-opi...qji-story.html



Speaking from personal experience, my wife and I just returned from a three day driving trip to Big Bend National Park in Texas. We had this trip long-planned, and we weren't going to not do it because of the virus if the park and lodge were still open, which they were. We found the park as crowded with visitors (February through April is their high season for visitation) as you would normally expect with license plates from all over the country, just like you'd normally expect to see at any national park. There were several cars with Ohio plates, and obviously those people weren't worried about getting home.

As far as the drive to the park from southern New Mexico, again, you would never know there was a virus going on. I-10 was as busy with semis as you would ever see. All gas stations are open, and gas was available for as low as $1.80 per gallon in some places. Remember, oil prices have fallen, too, so there is lots gas out there, and it is cheap. We did see some restaurants doing take-out or delivery only, but we had no trouble finding food to eat.

If I were you, I'd get back on the horn to the guy selling you this car and arrange to go get it.

 

Part of the reason we pushed it off is because him and his family was wanting to go on a fishing trip. Also, I was not feeling right to leave my wife at home alone yet. She had major surgery 9 weeks ago and still can't do several things on her own. As far as the trip, My biggest concern is if we broke down. Help could be a little more difficult to get.

 

If you wait too long, they might want to close the border to outsiders.
Having resided in Michigan, Ohio was the one state of which I never liked crossing. The turnpike was religiously radar controlled, back then. Having to keep within the 55 mph limit without cruise control was an absolute horror, given that this monotonous roadway at that speed would constantly make me drowsy

 

Ohio and Illinois are like Eastern Bloc countries.