RAN Powered: PDX to NorCal & Redwoods

[Drott]

I recently returned from a 1500 mile loop from Portland to Sacramento/Lodi and back along highway 101 and through the Redwoods. The main purpose was to visit some family in Lodi, drive the redwoods, show my boys (2.5 and 7 months) Crater Lake, and test out RAN stations. Along for the ride were my sons and sisters for the first half, wife for the return portion.

Others have shared similar trips and mine was equally awesome. The truck is an amazing road tripper (power for bottle warming is clutch) and can carry so much cargo (toddlers and infants have so much crap). The recent opening of the Mt Shasta RAN made the loop possible (in addition to charging in Lodi at an Airbnb). Otherwise, the trip was 100% RAN powered and made the adventure so easy. We hit the following stations: Crescent, Klamath Falls, Mt Shasta, Sacramento, Ukiah, Fortuna, Crescent City, Coos Bay, and Lincoln City. All of the stations, besides Crescent, OR had great food/bathroom options. On 20ATs we average 2.17 mi/kw for the duration while using AC as needed and small fridge.

If you have the opportunity to make a similar loop or drive 101 through the redwoods, I highly recommend.

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[COdogman]

Great pics!

The Klamath people believe if you stare at that lake too long it will kill you… glad you survived!

 

[Planderson]

So jealous. We’re about to drive from PDX to Lake Tahoe… but our rivian is being delivered the week we get back so we will be taking my current Ioniq 5 for this trip (which is also an amazing road tripper due to fast charging). When I got shop access and selected an R1S, I was really hoping it would be delivered before we left but no luck.

 

[Gee Bee]

Yes
Did the same

The Ran network is flawless

Received truck in Portland , will title and plate in Wyoming

 

[defcon888]

I recently returned from a 1500 mile loop from Portland to Sacramento/Lodi and back along highway 101 and through the Redwoods. The main purpose was to visit some family in Lodi, drive the redwoods, show my boys (2.5 and 7 months) Crater Lake, and test out RAN stations. Along for the ride were my sons and sisters for the first half, wife for the return portion.

Others have shared similar trips and mine was equally awesome. The truck is an amazing road tripper (power for bottle warming is clutch) and can carry so much cargo (toddlers and infants have so much crap). The recent opening of the Mt Shasta RAN made the loop possible (in addition to charging in Lodi at an Airbnb). Otherwise, the trip was 100% RAN powered and made the adventure so easy. We hit the following stations: Crescent, Klamath Falls, Mt Shasta, Sacramento, Ukiah, Fortuna, Crescent City, Coos Bay, and Lincoln City. All of the stations, besides Crescent, OR had great food/bathroom options. On 20ATs we average 2.17 mi/kw for the duration while using AC as needed and small fridge.

If you have the opportunity to make a similar loop or drive 101 through the redwoods, I highly recommend.

My parents live in Acampo and grew up in Lodi and Victor.

 

[Forager]

Ditto your experience with the Crescent RAN. There is a bodega style gas station in the same lot, which is good for grabbing last minute camping needs. The espresso stand was closed when we went through both times.

There is a restaurant a block away that we grabbed lunch at. It had great Yelp reviews (“We make it a point to stop every time we travel between Tahoe and Bend”) that did not reflect our experience, unfortunately. We’ll probably just have a tailgate picnic next time.

The general proximity is great for accessing Crater Lake, so I give Rivian credit for that!

Great report, I think we’ll copy your itinerary for a trip.

 

[Ingo B]

We did part of your loop (D to F, per your map) a few weeks back. Love the Redwoods. Did you detour into Avenue Of The Giants?

 

[Drott]

So jealous. We’re about to drive from PDX to Lake Tahoe… but our rivian is being delivered the week we get back so we will be taking my current Ioniq 5 for this trip (which is also an amazing road tripper due to fast charging). When I got shop access and selected an R1S, I was really hoping it would be delivered before we left but no luck.

It will totally be worth the wait!

 

[Drott]

Ditto your experience with the Crescent RAN. There is a bodega style gas station in the same lot, which is good for grabbing last minute camping needs. The espresso stand was closed when we went through both times.

There is a restaurant a block away that we grabbed lunch at. It had great Yelp reviews (“We make it a point to stop every time we travel between Tahoe and Bend”) that did not reflect our experience, unfortunately. We’ll probably just have a tailgate picnic next time.

The general proximity is great for accessing Crater Lake, so I give Rivian credit for that!

Great report, I think we’ll copy your itinerary for a trip.

Good to know on the restaurant. There was another owner that pulled up to charge right after we arrived. Between chatting, diaper changes, and stretching, the truck was more than ready to go. 20-70ish% sure does charge quickly.

 

[MXA121]

Nice trip - I basically did the same loop a few weeks ago!

 

[Tyleem111]

How many days would you recommend setting aside for this trip? I'm sure it's quite variable on amount of stops...just curious how long it took most people. Thanks!

 

[Drott]

We did part of your loop (D to F, per your map) a few weeks back. Love the Redwoods. Did you detour into Avenue Of The Giants?

We did do Ave of the Giants, one of my favorite parts of the drive. We were only able to do a few very short hikes, but there looked like so many great trails just off the road. Definitely will go back someday.

 

[Drott]

How many days would you recommend setting aside for this trip? I'm sure it's quite variable on amount of stops...just curious how long it took most people. Thanks!

Very variable, and my experience is probably different than many with really young kids. In all, the loop was 6 nights for us, but two of those were seeing family. I think 2-3 days driving one direction through the redwoods would be good. I found this page from NPS super helpful in planning. Definitely worth the trip and free charging is icing on the cake.

 

[MoreTrout]

Jealous of your RAN access. Still zero options for me, although one on the route of my annual June trip opened - 2 weeks after my trip. Currently on vacation and stopped at one to check on progress on this route last week. All the equipment was in place, shiny and new, uncovered, and nothing but the plastic wrap on the cords. Crossing my fingers it might be open on the return trip Saturday, but will probably open a day late with my luck. I just passed my one year anniversary with the truck last week and haven't had access to a RAN charger yet. I have no delusions they will stay free forever. I know they abandoned the "1 year of free RAN charging" plan, but I really hope they extend a measured amount of free kWh to those of us that never had access to one during early ownership. I know in one of their recent Q&A's they said subscription pricing was coming at the end of this year, so I'm fairly certain my two trips next year I'll be paying at the RANs.

 

[defcon888]

Jealous of your RAN access. Still zero options for me, although one on the route of my annual June trip opened - 2 weeks after my trip. Currently on vacation and stopped at one to check on progress on this route last week. All the equipment was in place, shiny and new, uncovered, and nothing but the plastic wrap on the cords. Crossing my fingers it might be open on the return trip Saturday, but will probably open a day late with my luck. I just passed my one year anniversary with the truck last week and haven't had access to a RAN charger yet. I have no delusions they will stay free forever. I know they abandoned the "1 year of free RAN charging" plan, but I really hope they extend a measured amount of free kWh to those of us that never had access to one during early ownership. I know in one of their recent Q&A's they said subscription pricing was coming at the end of this year, so I'm fairly certain my two trips next year I'll be paying at the RANs.

We are taking a trip to Disneyland next month. There are 2 we can stop at right now (already have used them) and they are supposed to open 2 new ones on our route. I have been checking for a few months and still the yellow diamond.

When we picked up our R1T in May, the guide told us that the "free charging" ended on April 30th. My brother-in-law has an R1T as well and he tested the one in Sacramento (close to his work) and it was free. So, I tried a few weeks back, and sure enough....still free. I am like you, it won't be that way forever, but what I am hoping is that they give Rivian owners a huge discount per kW.

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