Texas to Alaska to Texas. 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid driving on the Dalton Highway and the Dempster Highway. July/August 2023.

[PetitFrereArmada]

Grand Place
This is probably a must go for anybody who visits Belgium. If you go to Belgium, this is one of, if not the most visited destination.

 

[PetitFrereArmada]

Cool Wooden Jeep that I saw for sale at this place that someone recommended for me on here.

 

[PetitFrereArmada]

This is a summary of the countries I have visited on this trip. This was my first time to all of these countries except for France.

List of countries I have visited on this trip; Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Czech Republic, The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemboug and France.

I have driven for a total of over 5,000 kilometers. That is over 3,100 miles.

 

[Johnboyy]

I hope no one reports you to the hire company. I know lads who've been charged for a set of brakes and tyres after a few laps on the ring in rentals.

 

[molanginaeda]

@PetitFrereArmada Awesome trip in Europe. You hit some of the spot I want to visited. I've been in/out Europe several times over the last 3 years. Having Global Entry has it's perk. If you already paid for PreTSA, it's the same price to have Global Entry. The application process is a bit different.

I have driven on Germany Autobahn. I was hoping having a better rental car. Maybe next time, rent a porsche/ferrari/lamborghini at nurburgring and have some fun track day.

 

[PetitFrereArmada]

Trip summary...

 

[PetitFrereArmada]

After an amazing trip to Europe and back, I have been able to secure time off work for another road trip this year. I am driving from Texas to visit some family in Quebec, Ottawa and Toronto. I want to take the most scenic drives on my way there and back. If I make it there early enough and have time on my way back, my greatest goal will be to squeeze 3 additional days to take my Rav4 to Ouray and go up some trails in the mountains.

My 2025 Toyota Rav4 has on all season tires. My Rav4 is AWD, not 4WD, so I do not know what chances I stand to go up those passes without having a flat tire.

If I succeed in going to Colorado, my plan is to do Black Bear Pass, Ophir Pass and Engineer Pass. If I had all terrain tires, I would have ventured on Imogene Pass. Well, all this is all thoughts as of right now.

I will see how soon I get through Canada and spend time with some family members before deciding if I can make a run to Ouray/Telluride for some offroasing before returning home to Texas.

Here is a tentative map of my road trip. I plan to pass through all states on the East Coast of the US and take pictures at all the Welcome To signs.

Day 1 of my trip will be 18 hours driving. Houston to Gatlinburg to visit the Great Smoky Mountains.

I get off work at 7:30 pm and plan to take off on the trip as from 9pm. I will sleep at reststops along the way. I am taking a long route from Houston to Gatlinburg to spend 3 days there and spend July 4th there before I take off to continue up North and going through every single state until I get to Quebec. I plan to stop and see cool stuff along the way. Suggestions are very welcome.

Feel free to give me suggestions on where I can stop and see some cool things along my route.

I leave for my trip on July 1st after work to drive through the night. Total drive time will be approximately 18 hours, according to the scenic road that I have mapped out for myself. I will be uploading my blog as I go on the trip.

Here is a map of my trip.

 

[FAW3]

Another trip...can't wait to watch for your trip reports & photos. With your level of experience and common sense, a solid AWD vehicle, and a good folding shovel you should be good to go.

Just some random roads and POI's most will have mentions/reports on this site for more details:

1: A great I-10 break: RT90 East between Gulfport and Biloxi Mississippi. Great old homes, coastal sights, seafood joints, and you can open your right door and dip your toes in the Gulf.

2: Natchez Trace Parkway

3: Skyline Drive

4: The area/roads along the St. Lawrence River (US or Canada) and very nice & scenic. The small communities along "the river" are most interesting & welcoming.

5: Old Town Quebec is stunning and full of flavor and is the next best thing to a trip to France. Fantastic walking areas, shops, museums. Have tea at the Le Chateau Frontenac.

 

[Groverland]

I'm a huge Great Lakes fan and live in Indiana so of course I would recommend stopping by Indiana Dunes National Park as you will be driving right by. The ecology is unmatched and the dunes are pretty cool. If you like sand dunes Warren Dunes State Park in Michigan has even larger ones! Look forward to your trip report!

 

[ITTOG]

Have a safe journey. Hopefully you have the time to get to Ouray. I have done a lot of research on the area and definitely plan to visit. In fact, I will be near there on a trip next week. Not sure if I want to add 3 hours for Ouray to an already 21-hour trip???? I don't enjoy driving like you. Wish I did. Anyway, have a great time.

Another trip...can't wait to watch for your trip reports & photos. With your level of experience and common sense, a solid AWD vehicle, and a good folding shovel you should be good to go.

Just some random roads and POI's most will have mentions/reports on this site for more details:

1: A great I-10 break: RT90 East between Gulfport and Biloxi Mississippi. Great old homes, coastal sights, seafood joints, and you can open your right door and dip your toes in the Gulf.

2: Natchez Trace Parkway

3: Skyline Drive

4: The area/roads along the St. Lawrence River (US or Canada) and very nice & scenic. The small communities along "the river" are most interesting & welcoming.

5: Old Town Quebec is stunning and full of flavor and is the next best thing to a trip to France. Fantastic walking areas, shops, museums. Have tea at the Le Chateau Frontenac.

Actually, I think Old Town Quebec is better than France.

 

[PetitFrereArmada]

I filled up my gas this night. I am posting a picture of the current mileage on my 2025 Rav4 XSE Plug-in hybrid so that I will see whatbit is at the end to calculate how many miles I drove and my mpg.

I was gping to leave after work tonight, but I was very tired to drive throughout the night. I do not feel safe with how tired I am. So I will leave tomorrow morning at 6am. I want to get some good rest in my own very comfortable bed before I get on the road.

 

[PetitFrereArmada]

States that I go through. My goal is to go through all states in the East Coast of the US.

(1) Welcome To Louisiana

(2) Welcome To Mississippi

(3) Welcome To Alabama

(4) Welcome To Florida

(5) Welcome to Georgia

(6) Welcome To South Carolina

(7) Welcome to North Carolina

(8) Welcome to Tennessee

(9) Welcome to Kentucky

(10) Welcome to Virginia

 

[PetitFrereArmada]

Some random pictures along the way...

Aerial view at Welcome to Louisiana Welcome center

Tunnel under water on I-10 in Alabama

After 14 hours of driving, I was planning to spend the night in Atlanta, but I pulled up my phone and found a nicely priced hotel more than an hour before Atlanta. The time was 8:30 pm and so I decided it was time to stop and get some rest. I actually do not feel tired. I feel I can still drive for another 3 to 5 hours, but I will sleep here for the night. I have only 7 hours left to get to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park where I plan to stay for 3 nights to explore the park and experience July 4th there. Too bad I cannot charge my car for free at this hotel.

 

[PetitFrereArmada]

I went driving around today and did some offroading in the National Park. My Rav4 did ok. I really wish I had offroad tires. I drove on Parson Branch Road, which is a one way high clearance road from the park tk the Tail of the Dragon. On the Tail of the Dragon, I had a little bit of fun with my Rav4.



Getting on Parson Branch Road for some offroading

It ia a one way road, but I met 3 cars which thought they could do it but had to turn around and were coming back against traffic.

A Landcruiser that I had to make room for since I was stopping and taking pictures of my car along the way.



Tail of the Dragon!

Hall of Shame

 

[PetitFrereArmada]

The Head of the Dragon!