Road trips through 16 states and Washington DC, including 35+ nights in 16 different campgrounds - nights spent on Cape Hatteras National Seashore and the Outer Banks, Skyline Drive, the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Tail of the Dragon, and The Florida Keys… Stage I of the Stage IV Tour is complete. Where will I head next? Follow along to find out!

Tired of the deep freeze, and headed for the Florida Keys! In January 2022 I headed south, criss-crossing through Virginia before taking off for the Outer Banks, coastal South Carolina, and Florida. I’d wind up camping at the southernmost campsite in the USA, in Key West.

Later in 2022 I visited Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway on a road trip through Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, and into Tennessee. I spent my nights in campgrounds both public and private, as well as hotels with Tesla charging in the area.

With 318 curves in 11 miles, ‘Tail of the Dragon’ bills itself as “America’s number one motorcycle and sports car road.” I’d seen videos of Teslas tackling these curves ever since I started researching road trip destinations, so I put the Tail on my bucket list. I’d get to visit in April ‘22.

My friend Benjamin was a big fan of road trips, and upon hearing of my plan to embark on a cross-country trip - albeit in four stages - he decided we needed a practice run first. We termed it the ‘Dry Run Road Trip’, and although it ended early after a sort-of hit-and-run (while we were Teslacamping), it was wonderful.

Her name is Trojan. She’s my little Tesla tagalong, my canine companion, always in ‘her spot’ on the center console armrest or on her blanket on the front seat. We take day trips across upstate New York, and Tesla’s ‘Dog Mode’ feature allows her to accompany me almost anywhere I go. I love ‘Dog Mode’! Every car should have this as a standard feature!

ABC News Harrisburg called it “one of the most inspirational stories in all of America.” A retired flight attendant who worked United Flight 175 the day before 9/11, pushing an airline beverage cart more than 750 miles over four years to honor the ‘first, first responders’ of 9/11: the flight crews of September 11. The media support vehicle all four years? A Tesla Model 3…

After more than 80,000 miles thru 16 states and DC, including 35+ nights in 16 campgrounds, and trips through Cape Hatteras National Seashore and the Outer Banks, Skyline Drive, the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Tail of the Dragon, and The Florida Keys, my ‘21 Model 3 SR+ was hit - and subsequently declared a total loss by my insurance company. Will a new Tesla renew the excitement that I had for these road trips and take me even further toward the west/into Canada? We’ll see. Introducing… ‘Red Rocket’!