Road trips aren’t an uncommon travel method, but they’ve continued to gain more popularity among travelers seeking a convenient, budget-friendly, and immersive getaway. These statistics from TransUnion notes that 43% of households were planning to take a road trip for their late spring and summer vacations in 2023. Road trips are a fun way to see various sights, stop by multiple locations, and enjoy the company of your travel companions. However, if you’re a smoker, there are extra considerations you’ll have to make to ensure your and your family or friends’ comfort during the drive. Here are a few road trip tips for smokers:

Research on smoking laws

Smoking bans have been tightening worldwide, making it harder for travelers to find appropriate smoking zones. During your road trip, you might be passing through places with varying laws on smoking, so it’s crucial to do some research to figure out when and where you can smoke.

For instance, Mexico recently enforced one of the strictest anti-smoking policies in the world. This news report details that the country banned smoking in public spaces, including hotels, beaches, and parks. On top of that, the country had already banned smoking in indoor spaces like bars, restaurants, and workplaces, limiting viable smoking zones. Planning a road trip there may require some careful consideration.

The United States is also cracking down on tobacco, but smoking laws and restrictions are varied per state, which is something to consider if you’re planning a US road trip spanning multiple states. Check out this map of smoke-free air laws in the US here.

Be conscious of the smell

Cigarettes can leave behind an unpleasant smell, especially in a vehicle where scent particles can cling to surfaces and remain there for some time. As such, it’s important to be wary of the odor your cigarette may cause during a road trip.

If you’re taking your car, make sure you clean it before the trip to get rid of any lingering smells if you’ve smoked inside it before. You can vacuum the interior, spray some disinfectant and fabric refreshers, wipe down hard surfaces, and more. You can do a deep clean by sprinkling some baking soda on your seats and vacuuming it up after three days, replacing your in-cabin air filter, and deodorizing your HVAC system. Bring some of your cleaning tools to refresh your car’s smell during the trip.

If you’re riding with someone else, offer to help with clean up or pay for any cleaning services to make up for the smell. Click here for more tips on removing cigarette smoke in a vehicle.

Try smokeless alternatives

When you’re in a vehicle with other people, not everyone will appreciate the smell and smoke of cigarettes, which can cause discomfort and health issues. Instead of lighting up a cigarette, opt for smokeless alternatives such as nicotine pouches, patches, gum, and more.

Nicotine pouches are a newer product on the market, but they’ve grown in popularity due to their discreetness and range of flavors and strengths. This post highlights some of the best nicotine pouches available based on expert opinion. You can try pouches of classic tastes like the Frē Wintergreen or go for a more exotic vibe like Juice Head’s peach pineapple mint flavor.

Nicotine patches are also a viable option. You can stick them onto the skin for up to 24 hours, which is great for curbing cravings on long road trips. An article from USA Today explains that you can also buy them using your flexible spending account (FSA) dollars. Rite Aid patches are a recommended brand, and you can start off with a stronger dose like the 21mg patches.

Ready to hit the road? Check out this blog post on planning a group road trip in the West Coast for some ideas to inspire your next getaway.