6 Clean Air Tips For Your Next Road Trip
Exploring the open road can be a fun, personally enriching adventure that allows us to experience incredible scenery and see the world with a newfound perspective. But road travel can also expose us to unhealthy pollutants and harmful air quality.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to minimize your exposure to highway air pollution, so you can have a great journey, breathe clean air, and cut your emissions footprint.
Here are six tips to enjoy a clean air road trip this autumn.
Tip 1. Choose a clean air destination
Start your journey off right. It’s a good idea to choose exceptionally clean road trip destinations—places with a better record for clean air than their peers. If you are wondering how a destination on your bucket list stacks up air quality-wise, the 2024 World Air Quality Report is a powerful resource.
Some big tourist destinations enjoyed surprisingly great air quality in 2024. For instance, Quang Binh and Ha Long Bay experienced good air quality for much of the year.
If you have your heart set on visiting certain places known to have poor air quality, those locations may have cleaner air during certain times of the year than in others. For example, smoke in vehicles may be a concern in Vietnam, especially during certain months of the year. It might be better to either pick a different destination or schedule your visit when seasonal issues are less of a concern.
Even the cleanest cities can be unexpectedly impacted by air pollution (like wildfire smoke). It’s important to keep an eye on your current air quality and to plan for the week ahead. The AirVisual App for iOS or Android includes real-time air quality updates and a 7-day air quality forecast.
Tip 2. Be clean-air prepared
Prep your car to reduce emissions
Do your part to reduce emissions on the road by ensuring your car is as fuel-efficient as possible.
- Service your vehicle regularly.
- If your car uses diesel, make sure the particulate filter is emptied regularly.
- Keep your tires properly inflated.
- Turn off your car when stationary in traffic. Leaving the engine running when the car is not moving can release many harmful pollutants into the air around you, as well as wasting fuel.
Pack accordingly
If the air quality changes for the worse while you’re on the road and you still want to go outdoors, an air mask can keep you from breathing dust, pollen, and air pollutants.
Tip 3. Optimize air quality while in the car
You can and should cut down your exposure to air pollution caused by vehicles. Research shows that living and working near roadways can impact your lung function and lead to asthma and cardiovascular disease.
To lower your exposure to in-car pollution on the road:
- Roll up your windows at stop signs, traffic lights, or in heavy traffic, close your windows, and set your air on recirculation.
- Travel on forgotten byways—exploring winding back roads means less traffic, fewer traffic lights, and oftentimes, better scenery than you’ll find on the highway!
- Deodorizers or car air fresheners aren’t substitutes for fresh air. They’re pollutant sources—volatile organic compounds, or VOCs.
- Run a car air purifier. Car air purifier with HyperHEPA Plus particle filtration technology captures commonly found highway pollutants in your car’s interior and prevents them from reaching your breathing space.
Tip 4. Sleep safe and sound
Air pollutants aren’t limited to the road. Your motel room may appear clean, but the indoor air quality could affect your health and comfort during your overnight stay.
Dust, pollen, mold inside walls, and VOCs from cleaning materials can all affect indoor air quality in hotels and other lodging.
Keep your room’s air quality healthy.
- If your room’s air quality is poor, open windows and ventilate the room.
- On high pollen count days or when the outdoor air quality is very poor, keep windows closed.
- Bring a portable personal air purifier, the Atem Desk, for your room. Setting up a personal air purifier on a bedside table or desk will mean only clean, filtered air reaches the space where you breathe.
Tip 5. Enjoy the clean air outdoors
Maybe “hitting the road” means not getting in a motor vehicle at all! Instead of driving, consider finding travel alternatives that let you spend more time outdoors—hike, run, camp, walk, or cycle those beautiful vistas already close to home.
Big cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have huge parks found on maps of Vietnam—the Tao Dan Park and Thong Nhat Park, respectively—that are fully accessible by public transit, or you can run, walk, or bike to those destinations.
If you want to get out of big cities, look for a nearby national park and spend your visit outdoors, outside of your car. Check out the park nearest you and see which outdoor activities you can enjoy.
Tip 6. Plan longer trips!
To deepen your appreciation for a place and lessen your carbon footprint, try planning longer trips and staying in one place. This will prevent excessive travel-related emissions, help you connect with locals, and support the local economy.
Alternatively, opt for a nearby domestic stay or staycation.
The takeaway
Before your next road trip getaway, take control of your air quality. Using these tips will ensure that you and your fellow travelers enjoy the health benefits of clean air, safeguard the environment, and most importantly, truly relax on your road trip.
Keep reading
- Driving Healthier: IQAir's Atem Car Tackles Blood Pressure Surges Amidst Traffic-Related Air Pollution
- The Harsh Reality of Air Pollution: Understanding and Addressing the Crisis
- A Comprehensive Insight into Air Pollution and Its Impact