I live in Texas and decided to go beach camping for a weekend during the pandemic. Here's how I did it as safely as possible — and for less than $100 total.

Joey HaddenJul 6, 2020, 15:52 IST

Trees next to my campsite at Goose iIsland State ParkJoey Hadden/Business Insider

Business Insider

In June, I ventured out on a beach camping trip to Goose Island State Park in Texas after spending months at home.
The coronavirus pandemic is still going on and confirmed cases in Texas reached record highs in June.
Experts previously told Business Insider that camping is a relatively low-risk activity for contracting and spreading the coronavirus. They also said beach lounging is riskier due to crowds.
From planning ahead to leaving the beach early, here's how I avoided close contact and enclosed spaces while traveling through Texas during the pandemic.

Editor's note: Before embarking on any travel, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.

In June, a friend and I drove from my parents' home in Austin, Texas, to Goose Island State Park for a night of camping. The park is near Rockport Beach, where we expected to spend most of the daylight of during our trip.

Trees next to my campsite at Goose Island State Park. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

In June, a friend and I drove from my parents' home in Austin, Texas, to Goose Island State Park for a night of camping. The park is near Rockport Beach, where we expected to spend most of the daylight of during our trip.

Because the park was letting in fewer campers than usual to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, I made camping reservations at Goose Island State Park a week before our trip through Texas Park and Wildlife to ensure I'd get a spot.

Camping reservations can be made online. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Because the park was letting in fewer campers than usual to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, I made camping reservations at Goose Island State Park a week before our trip through Texas Park and Wildlife to ensure I'd get a spot.

The night before I left for my weekend getaway, I checked for coronavirus updates in Aransas County, where Goose Island State Park and Rockport Beach are located.

Aransas County in outlined in red. Google Maps

Since I was going to be sweating in hot weather all weekend, I brought several face masks and bandanas for face coverings and wore them every time I thought I might be less than six feet away from other people.

I brought five face coverings for myself. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Since I was going to be sweating in hot weather all weekend, I brought several face masks and bandanas for face coverings and wore them every time I thought I might be less than six feet away from other people.

I also brought my own food to avoid going inside any restaurants and stores during the trip.

I brought plenty of food. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I left for Goose Island State Park at 6 a.m. on June 20 and arrived at my destination around 9:30 a.m.

It took three and a half hours to get to the beach from our home in Austin, Texas. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I didn't wear a mask the whole car ride, but I slipped one on as soon as I got to the campgrounds and rolled down the windows to ask a park ranger for directions.

I masked-up when I had to roll down the car window to speak with park rangers. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Once at the site, I pitched my tent in the furthest corner of the campsite to maintain distance from other campers.

I pitched the tent in the far right corner of campsite 203. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Looking back on it, I should have pulled out the anti-bacterial wipes before pitching the tent, but the second thing I did was disinfect all the surfaces that could have been recently touched by others, like the picnic table ...

I brought Lysol wipes to disinfect surfaces at the campsite. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Looking back on it, I should have pulled out the anti-bacterial wipes before pitching the tent, but the second thing I did was disinfect all the surfaces that could have been recently touched by others, like the picnic table ...

... and the water faucet.

I wiped down everything before I touched it. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

After I cleaned all the surfaces, it was time to go to the beach, which was about a 10-minute drive from the campsite.

Our car packed with beach supplies. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I got to the beach at 10:30 a.m. and drove to the far end of the beach, where there were fewer people gathered. I wore a face covering from the moment I got out of the car ...

I wore a mask while setting up on the beach. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I got to the beach at 10:30 a.m. and drove to the far end of the beach, where there were fewer people gathered. I wore a face covering from the moment I got out of the car ...

... until I was safely settled more than six feet away from other beachgoers.

My spot at Rockport Beach. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

After setting up the chairs, I headed into the ocean, where it was easy to keep a distance from others.

My spot at Rockport Beach was more than six feet away from other patrons. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

By 12:30, the beach was crowded, and I wasn't able to maintain six feet between my chairs and other people's, so I left.

Rockport Beach on a Saturday. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

While driving away from the beach, I scanned the coastline for a six-foot gap between groups, but there wasn't a spot left.

Rockport Beach around 12:30 p.m. on a Saturday. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Instead, I spent the rest of the trip hiking on some nearby trails, where I didn't run into any other people.

I went hiking because the beach was too crowded. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Before I left the campsite, I wiped down everything I touched with anti-bacterial wipes.

I wiped down all the surfaces we used in case I was an asymptomatic carrier of the coronavirus. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Bringing my own food and settling for free activities, I managed to keep costs low — really low. I spent $30 on gas, $20 on groceries and supplies, and $20 on the campsite and entry fee for one night.

I already owned beach towels and folding chairs. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Bringing my own food and settling for free activities, I managed to keep costs low — really low. I spent $30 on gas, $20 on groceries and supplies, and $20 on the campsite and entry fee for one night.

Although it wasn't exactly the trip I planned, I'm glad I ventured out for a weekend after months of weekends spent playing video games and watching TV.

A hiking trail near Rockport Beach. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

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I live in Texas and decided to go beach camping for a weekend during the pandemic. Here's how I did it as safely as possible — and for less than $100 total.

In June, a friend and I drove from my parents' home in Austin, Texas, to Goose Island State Park for a night of camping. The park is near Rockport Beach, where we expected to spend most of the daylight of during our trip.

Because the park was letting in fewer campers than usual to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, I made camping reservations at Goose Island State Park a week before our trip through Texas Park and Wildlife to ensure I'd get a spot.

The night before I left for my weekend getaway, I checked for coronavirus updates in Aransas County, where Goose Island State Park and Rockport Beach are located.

Since I was going to be sweating in hot weather all weekend, I brought several face masks and bandanas for face coverings and wore them every time I thought I might be less than six feet away from other people.

I also brought my own food to avoid going inside any restaurants and stores during the trip.

I left for Goose Island State Park at 6 a.m. on June 20 and arrived at my destination around 9:30 a.m.

I didn't wear a mask the whole car ride, but I slipped one on as soon as I got to the campgrounds and rolled down the windows to ask a park ranger for directions.

Once at the site, I pitched my tent in the furthest corner of the campsite to maintain distance from other campers.

Looking back on it, I should have pulled out the anti-bacterial wipes before pitching the tent, but the second thing I did was disinfect all the surfaces that could have been recently touched by others, like the picnic table ...

... and the water faucet.

After I cleaned all the surfaces, it was time to go to the beach, which was about a 10-minute drive from the campsite.

I got to the beach at 10:30 a.m. and drove to the far end of the beach, where there were fewer people gathered. I wore a face covering from the moment I got out of the car ...

... until I was safely settled more than six feet away from other beachgoers.

After setting up the chairs, I headed into the ocean, where it was easy to keep a distance from others.

By 12:30, the beach was crowded, and I wasn't able to maintain six feet between my chairs and other people's, so I left.

While driving away from the beach, I scanned the coastline for a six-foot gap between groups, but there wasn't a spot left.

Instead, I spent the rest of the trip hiking on some nearby trails, where I didn't run into any other people.

Before I left the campsite, I wiped down everything I touched with anti-bacterial wipes.

Bringing my own food and settling for free activities, I managed to keep costs low — really low. I spent $30 on gas, $20 on groceries and supplies, and $20 on the campsite and entry fee for one night.

Although it wasn't exactly the trip I planned, I'm glad I ventured out for a weekend after months of weekends spent playing video games and watching TV.