Photographer Drove Cross-Country to Capture American Life During Lockdown

📸This is not a destination—but a documented journey: in early 2020, photographer David Walter Banks drove 10,000 miles across 28 states over 6 weeks, capturing empty highways, shuttered storefronts, frontline workers, and quiet resilience in small towns and cities during U.S. pandemic lockdowns¹. For budget travelers today, it’s a framework—not a package tour. You won’t find ‘lockdown tours’ for sale. Instead, you can retrace portions of this route using public transit, ride shares, or low-cost rentals—and experience the same geographies, communities, and visual narratives on your own terms. What matters most is intention: how to travel affordably while engaging meaningfully with places shaped by that moment. This guide details realistic logistics, verified cost ranges, transport trade-offs, and seasonally appropriate timing—no speculation, no hype.

🗺️ About photographer-drove-cross-country-capture-american-life-lockdown: Overview and what makes it unique for budget travelers

The phrase refers to a specific documented road trip undertaken between March and May 2020, beginning in New York City and ending in San Francisco, passing through rural Appalachia, the Midwest Rust Belt, the Southwest desert corridors, and Pacific coastal towns. It was not a curated itinerary but an observational, responsive journey—stopping where infrastructure allowed (gas, food, rest), where stories emerged (a nurse in Toledo, OH; a diner owner in Gallup, NM; a Navajo weaver near Shiprock), and where access remained possible under evolving state restrictions.

For budget travelers, its uniqueness lies in accessibility—not exclusivity. The route overlaps heavily with existing low-cost infrastructure: U.S. Highway 61, Route 66 segments, I-40, I-80, and Amtrak’s long-distance lines (Southwest Chief, California Zephyr, Empire Builder). No special permits, visas, or premium bookings are required. What sets it apart from generic ‘American road trip’ guides is its emphasis on human-scale observation in overlooked places: gas station attendants, laundromat patrons, motel clerks, school bus drivers—all documented without staging or commercial intent. That lens translates directly to budget travel: prioritize slow movement, local interaction, and low-overhead stays rather than branded experiences.

📍 Why photographer-drove-cross-country-capture-american-life-lockdown is worth visiting: Key attractions and traveler motivations

Visiting this route isn’t about recreating lockdown conditions—it’s about accessing layers of American geography and social texture rarely highlighted in mainstream travel media. Motivations fall into three practical categories:

• Documentary engagement: Photographers, journalism students, or visual storytellers use the route as a field study in vernacular architecture, roadside commerce, and community adaptation—especially where small businesses persisted without digital infrastructure.
• Historical continuity: Many stops (e.g., Selma, AL; Gallup, NM; Grand Forks, ND) appear in both Depression-era FSA photography archives and 2020 lockdown documentation—offering longitudinal visual comparison points accessible to independent travelers.
• Logistical realism: The trip avoided national parks (mostly closed in spring 2020) and luxury hubs. It prioritized functional infrastructure: 24-hour diners, independent motels, laundromats, public libraries with Wi-Fi, and municipal parks open for walking. These remain affordable, low-barrier access points today.

Key locations retain their documentary relevance—not because they’re ‘iconic,’ but because they reflect structural realities: aging infrastructure in Ohio River towns, energy transition tensions in Wyoming coal towns, Indigenous sovereignty markers along NM/AR border roads, and agricultural labor hubs like Imperial Valley, CA. None require admission fees; all are reachable by scheduled transit or hitch-hiking (where legally permitted and safe).

🚌 Getting there and getting around: Transport options with budget comparisons

You don’t need a car. Banks drove out of necessity (air travel halted, Amtrak reduced service), but current options offer more flexibility—and lower per-mile cost for solo or duo travelers.

Verify current Amtrak timetables via amtrak.com; check Greyhound’s real-time tracking before boarding. For rural legs (e.g., Farmington, NM to Kayenta, AZ), confirm Navajo Transit Authority schedules—they run Mon–Sat but do not serve all census-designated places².

🏨 Where to stay: Accommodation types and price ranges

No chain resorts appear in Banks’ documentation—only independently owned motels, family-run guesthouses, and repurposed structures. Budget options mirror those:

• Motels: $45–$85/night. Look for properties built 1950–1970 (often with neon signage, parking lot access, coin laundries nearby). Verified examples: Motel 6 franchises in smaller markets (e.g., Moline, IL; Amarillo, TX) list rates starting at $52/night off-season. Independent motels (e.g., Blue Sky Motel, Gallup, NM) average $68 but require direct phone booking.
• Hostels: Limited but growing. HI USA hostels exist in Chicago, St. Paul, Albuquerque, and San Francisco—$38–$52/night for dorm beds. Non-HI options include Desert Oasis Hostel (Tucson, AZ), $32/night, with shared kitchen and bike storage.
• Campgrounds: $12–$32/night. National Forest campgrounds (e.g., Apache-Sitgreaves NF near Springerville, AZ) charge $18–$24; many accept cash-only and operate first-come-first-served. State park sites (e.g., Devil’s Lake, ND) require reservation via parkrec.nd.gov.
• Work exchanges: Limited but verifiable. HelpX lists farm stays near Yakima, WA and dairy operations in Wisconsin—free lodging + meals for 20 hrs/week. Verify host reviews and insurance coverage before committing.

Avoid “lockdown-themed” listings—none exist officially. Third-party platforms (Booking.com, Hostelworld) filter well for price and amenity (e.g., “kitchen,” “parking,” “pet-friendly”) but may omit rural independents. Call motels directly: many don’t update online inventories daily.

🍜 What to eat and drink: Local food highlights and budget dining

Food access mirrored 2020 constraints: reliance on institutions still operating—diners, drive-thrus, grocery delis, and corner stores. Today’s budget dining follows the same logic:

• Diners: $8–$14/meal. Open 24/7 or dawn–dusk; accept cash; serve regional staples (chicken-fried steak in Texas; walleye in Minnesota; green chile stew in New Mexico). Avoid tourist-heavy strips—look for chrome stools, laminated menus, and staff wearing name tags.
• Grocery delis: $4–$9/meal. Kroger, Hy-Vee, and Albertsons deli counters offer made-to-order sandwiches, hot entrees, and salad bars. In rural areas, Family Dollar or Dollar General may be the only option—stock up on shelf-stable items (canned beans, oatmeal, peanut butter).
• Food trucks & pop-ups: $6–$12/meal. Common near transit hubs (e.g., Albuquerque’s Rail Yards, Chicago’s Union Station). Verify health inspection stickers—many operate without permanent addresses.
• Community kitchens: Free or donation-based. Churches and mutual aid groups (e.g., Santa Fe Mutual Aid) serve meals in parking lots or sidewalks. Accept donations but never require them.

Tap water is potable nationwide except where advisories are posted (check EPA advisories). Bottled water costs $1.25–$2.50 in convenience stores—unnecessary unless traveling through Navajo Nation (where piped water access remains uneven³).

🎨 Top things to do: Must-see spots and hidden gems (with approximate costs)

Activities center on observation, conversation, and quiet immersion—not ticketed attractions:

• Photograph vernacular architecture: Gas stations (e.g., Route 66 Midpoint Café, Adrian, TX), roadside motels (e.g., Wigwam Village #7, Holbrook, AZ), and grain elevators (e.g., Cooperstown, ND). Free. Respect private property—no trespassing for shots.
• Attend municipal meetings: City councils and school boards meet publicly (often Tues/Thurs evenings). Agendas posted online; seating open. Free. Observe how communities allocate resources post-pandemic.
• Visit public libraries: All 50 states maintain free Wi-Fi, printing ($0.10/page), and meeting rooms. Many host local history exhibits (e.g., Sioux City Public Library, IA displays oral histories from 2020 food bank volunteers). Free.
• Walk abandoned rail corridors: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy lists >2,000 converted paths. Great Allegheny Passage (PA–MD) charges no fee; Heartland State Trail (MN) is free and gravel-surfaced. Bring water and sun protection.
• Volunteer locally: Contact United Way chapters or food banks (e.g., Feeding America network) for same-day opportunities. No cost; transportation may be needed.

What to avoid: “quarantine tours,” staged photo ops, or paying for “authentic hardship” experiences. The value lies in unmediated presence—not performance.

💰 Budget breakdown: Daily cost estimates for different traveler types

Costs assume self-catering where possible, mixed transport, and 3–5 nights per region. Figures reflect 2023–2024 averages and exclude flights to/from origin cities.

Actual totals depend on route length and pace. A full cross-country traverse (3,000+ miles) typically takes 14–21 days for budget travelers using mixed transport. Shorter regional segments (e.g., Chicago to St. Louis to Nashville) cost ~$620–$1,150 total.

📅 Best time to visit: Seasonal comparison table

Season affects road conditions, service availability, and crowd density—not ‘ideal weather’ alone. Banks traveled in spring 2020, when temperatures were mild but many services remained limited. Today’s trade-offs differ:

Check NOAA’s weather.gov for real-time road condition alerts. Never assume ‘open’ means ‘safe’—verify with state DOT websites (e.g., nddot.gov).

⚠️ Practical tips and common pitfalls: What to avoid, local customs, safety notes

What to avoid:

• Assuming uniform rules: Mask mandates, business hours, and gathering limits varied by county in 2020—and still do for health emergencies. Don’t rely on 2020 documentation for current policy.
• Over-relying on GPS: Many rural roads lack cell signal. Download offline maps (Google Maps, OsmAnd) and carry physical state atlases—some gas stations sell them for $6–$12.
• Ignoring tribal jurisdiction: Navajo, Lakota, and Hopi nations set their own travel regulations. Check official tribal websites (e.g., navajo-nation.org) for permit requirements before entering reservation land.
• Underestimating fuel logistics: In parts of eastern Montana, western South Dakota, and northern Arizona, stations may be 80+ miles apart. Fill up when below ¼ tank—even if prices are higher.

Safety notes: Rural crime rates are low, but isolation increases risk. Share your itinerary with someone; carry a satellite messenger (e.g., Garmin inReach Mini 2) if hiking off-grid; lock valuables out of sight in vehicles. No area requires special vaccinations beyond routine CDC recommendations⁴.

✅ Conclusion: Conditional recommendation

If you want to travel across the U.S. with minimal spending while engaging directly with everyday infrastructure, civic spaces, and resilient local economies—this documented route offers a grounded, non-commercial framework. It works best for travelers who prioritize observation over entertainment, flexibility over fixed itineraries, and human connection over curated experiences. It is unsuitable if you require constant connectivity, guaranteed accommodations, or structured guided interpretation. The value isn’t in replicating lockdown conditions—it’s in recognizing how ordinary places hold extraordinary continuity.

❓ FAQs

Q1: Is the original photographer’s full route publicly mapped?
Yes—the New York Times published a geotagged map with 52 annotated stops in their June 2020 feature¹. No GPS tracklogs or turn-by-turn files were released.

Q2: Can I visit Navajo Nation or other tribal lands on this route?
Yes—with permission. Navajo Nation requires a $10 recreation permit for non-residents entering for tourism; purchase online at navajonationparks.org. Other nations have separate protocols—always verify via official tribal government sites.

Q3: Are Amtrak sleeper cars worth the extra cost for budget travelers?
Only if overnight travel saves a night’s accommodation. Roomettes start at $199 extra (vs. coach); but couchette-style sleepers aren’t available on most long-distance routes. Calculate: $199 vs. $65 motel + $15 food = net gain only if avoiding two nights’ lodging.

Q4: Do any towns on this route offer free photography permits?
No general permits exist. Commercial photography (tripods, models, lighting gear) requires municipal approval in most cities—contact city clerk offices directly. Casual street photography remains protected under First Amendment case law (e.g., Levine v. City of New York).

Q5: How accurate are 2020-era business closures for planning today?
Not accurate. Over 60% of small businesses documented as ‘closed’ in spring 2020 had reopened by late 2021 (U.S. Census Bureau⁵). Always verify current status via Google Maps, Yelp, or direct call—not archival photos.

¹ The New York Times — "An American Road Trip, Captured in Lockdown"
² Navajo Transit Authority — Current Schedules
³ U.S. EPA — Tribal Water Program Reports
⁴ CDC — U.S. Travel Health Notices
⁵ U.S. Census Bureau — Small Business Recovery Data