Welcome to Tesla Motors Club
Discuss Tesla's Model S, Model 3, Model X, Model Y, Cybertruck, Roadster and More.
Register

Hit 50th state last year, now...

This site may earn commission on affiliate links.

smartypnz

Active Member
Supporting Member
Jan 23, 2013
2,402
2,610
Monterey Peninsula
my son challenged me.
It took my lifetime to finally do it (70+), but now, my son (who was with me for #50) has challenged me to do it again - in one year.

So - looking at routes and may split it into 2 trips (in my M3). Will also require a third trip (Alaska/Hawaii) via air.

In late April...
Starting from here (Central Cost Calif)
Screen Shot 2021-01-13 at 7.22.41 PM.png


But will fly home at one point for a break - then back - to continue. Alaska/Hawaii can be anytime (even winter) cuz basically I can just fly to Anchorage - change planes to Hawaii.

Just looking for input.
 
the Idaho part worries me a little bit if your going to do it in a model 3, look up to see if there are any fast chargers, cause for me when I went, there wasn't any, only level 2, which was fine

if you stay a little lower in ID, there’s a bunch of Superchargers across the 84 corridor. With a ChaDeMo or CCS adapter, the current route is fine. There’s a 50kW station in Lewiston at the Clearwater River Casino, and I’m sure plenty of others around.

28233ECD-47D6-41AC-80AD-C1C196CDB84E.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: puckpurnell
Alaska/Hawaii can be anytime (even winter) cuz basically I can just fly to Anchorage
- change planes to Hawaii. Just looking for input.
For Alaska, you could take a ferry with your Tesla from Seattle (Bellingham), WA to Anchorage (Whittier), AK.
If you have time, make a stop in Juneau, AK which only accessible by ferry.

If you have a lot of time, and very brave, I would recommend doing this trip:

 
For Alaska, you could take a ferry with your Tesla from Seattle (Bellingham), WA to Anchorage (Whittier), AK.
If you have time, make a stop in Juneau, AK which only accessible by ferry.

If you have a lot of time, and very brave, I would recommend doing this trip:

Hmmm... hadn't considered the ferry - I LIKE IT !!!!

Not so much Tierra Del Fuego.
 
the Idaho part worries me a little bit if your going to do it in a model 3, look up to see if there are any fast chargers, cause for me when I went, there wasn't any, only level 2, which was fine

Like dmurphy suggested, I was planning the southern Idaho route after tagging the southeast corner of WA. I can still hit Montana's little sliver at West Yellowstone. Other places just skimming would be DE, IA (twice), WV and TN.
 
Cheaper to Alaska and quicker to use the Canadian ferry from Prince Rupert to Haines or Skagway. 36 hour ferry ride. You could land at Haines and drive to Skagway and pick up the return ferry. I know nothing about charging on the route. Ya gotta do the coast of Oregon and then the Columbia gorge. Eastern Oregon is desert.
 
  • Informative
Reactions: smartypnz
Be adventurous. Drive the AlCan to Alaska. Then ship the car to Hawaii.
Only concern to me is charging stations (locations) and the occasional moose or bear.
Although camping 'in-car' makes it easier when isolated.

So... I'm guessing drive to Stewart off 37A, then cross into Alaska at Hyder. Only question is - how early or late in the year is feasible?
 
Only concern to me is charging stations (locations) and the occasional moose or bear.
Although camping 'in-car' makes it easier when isolated.

With a CHAdeMO adapter, you could get as far north as Fort St John BC pretty quickly. From there to Alaska it is RV parks with 14-50s and TT-30s almost the whole way. Some CHAdeMO in the Whitehorse area though. Plugshare shows the way. (E.g., turn on the CHAdeMO, 14-50, and "Wall" filters.)
 
I'm envious of your upcoming trip! It will be great. Maybe you should have a Tesla contact person(s) in each state to call, or visit if it's near your planned route. I, for one, would be glad to meet you and your son (besides, I'm in your age category) . I'm just 42 miles into ME on I95. Or, I could meet you nearer the NH border. Such an exciting trip, and great bonding time for the two of you!
Stay safe, and keep us posted. :D
 
Only concern to me is charging stations (locations) and the occasional moose or bear.
Although camping 'in-car' makes it easier when isolated.

So... I'm guessing drive to Stewart off 37A, then cross into Alaska at Hyder.
Only question is - how early or late in the year is feasible?
In Alaska, (pre-Covid) when traveling many resorts are typically open between Memorial Day and Labor Day and closed thereafter.

Looking at PlugShare, ChargePoint, ChargeHub... you can find some L2 stations up to the Denali National Park,
but I noticed on TMC a Tesla user from Fairbanks that may be could give you some advices,
and there might be some RV camps sites or Hotels or AirBnb where you could get a plug.

I would advise to stack various extensions cords, I got for example a Nema 6-30 adapter because some hotels use AC units with such plug.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Big Earl
I'm envious of your upcoming trip! It will be great. Maybe you should have a Tesla contact person(s) in each state to call, or visit if it's near your planned route. I, for one, would be glad to meet you and your son (besides, I'm in your age category) . I'm just 42 miles into ME on I95. Or, I could meet you nearer the NH border. Such an exciting trip, and great bonding time for the two of you!
Stay safe, and keep us posted. :D

Great !!! Will let you know when I finalize. Looking at touching Kittery, but just needed a good reason to go further north. For years we used a summer place near Bar Harbor (living in DC suburbs at the time). But a loss of direct connection to that family stopped that visit. Point being.... I had no reason to go further north as I have been there. Son won't be on entire trip - just portions (he still works). He doesn't know - but I'm willing to fly him from/to home a few times at different sections of the trip. Since I'm starting across the North, I have a few months before that is advisable.
 
In Alaska, (pre-Covid) when traveling many resorts are typically open between Memorial Day and Labor Day and closed thereafter.

Looking at PlugShare, ChargePoint, ChargeHub... you can find some L2 stations up to the Denali National Park,
but I noticed on TMC a Tesla user from Fairbanks that may be could give you some advices,
and there might be some RV camps sites or Hotels or AirBnb where you could get a plug.

I would advise to stack various extensions cords, I got for example a Nema 6-30 adapter because some hotels use AC units with such plug.

Yeah.... starting to steer away from driving to Alaska - 30 years ago, I woulda been on top of that. Believe I've been to Alaska 3 times. One may have been a fuel stop on the way to Korea - the other two were to the NASA station near Fairbanks.

No.... liking a flight to Hawaii changing planes in Alaska. Yes, it's a thing. A lot of Alaskans fly to Hawaii - makes perfect sense. What doesn't make sense is that a lot of Hawaiians go to Tahiti for vacation. TRUE !!! Been on that flight several times - except that was work - again NASA station on the Tahitian Islands.
 
With a CHAdeMO adapter, you could get as far north as Fort St John BC pretty quickly. From there to Alaska it is RV parks with 14-50s and TT-30s almost the whole way. Some CHAdeMO in the Whitehorse area though. Plugshare shows the way. (E.g., turn on the CHAdeMO, 14-50, and "Wall" filters.)
RV parks is iffy, some won’t even allow DIY Van conversions because they are not built in a RV factory. So you have to call ahead and ask if they allow cars. Example was The Bearded Tesla just took a trip to the Key West and at one of the RV resorts, they were very rude and told him to get the F... out! So it’s best to call ahead and ask.