Use a cord ramp.

Get a rubber cord protector designed for driveways and sidewalks. It’s the only solution that won’t damage the cord, won’t become a tripping hazard, and will survive cars driving over it.

Taping the cord down seems clever until someone trips on the tape edge or the cord gets pinched. Burying it under gravel or dirt traps moisture and leads to electrical shorts. A cord ramp (usually sold as “cord cover” or “cable protector”) is a heavy rubber mat with a channel inside. You lay the cord in the channel, and the ramp’s tapered edges make it harmless to walk or roll over.

They cost about $20–40 at hardware stores or online. Get one with a hinged lid if you need to add or remove the cord frequently, otherwise a simple open-channel ramp is fine. For a permanent installation across a driveway, some people cut a shallow trench and lay conduit, but for temporary or semi-permanent use, a ramp is the right tool.

Don’t skip this. A crushed cord is a fire risk, and a tripping hazard is a lawsuit waiting to happen.