When you drive a Subaru Solterra, the only Symmetrical AWD electric vehicle, you’re never far from information about your closest charging opportunities, thanks to onboard information from the EV’s advanced multimedia system. But what if you’re planning an epic camping trip to some of the coolest wilderness locations the country has to offer?
Subaru has partnered with Hipcamp – the world’s largest campsite booking company – to develop a collection of 10 EV-ready camping road trips that cover some of the nation’s most iconic destinations.
“At Subaru, we believe everyone deserves access to the outdoors and all the beauty it has to offer,” says Subaru Senior Vice President of Marketing Alan Bethke. “We are excited to be partnering with Hipcamp to provide a resource that can help drivers and their friends and family to explore.”
Hipcamp notes that over 80% of the campsites on its website are located near public EV charging stations.
You can choose how long you want one of these road trips to be, such as making the entire run or breaking it up into shorter trips over a weekend, and then utilize Hipcamp’s map layer with EV charging stations to plan the best stops for recharging your Solterra along the way.
“Our mission at Hipcamp is to get more people outside,” says Hipcamp founder and CEO Alyssa Ravasio. “With our new collection of routes that prioritize EV-charging opportunities, we hope to make it simpler than ever to plan your next outdoor adventure. We are here to make your camp experience all the better and have shared some of our top points of interest and national parks.”
Each destination is featured on a landing page at Hipcamp.com with the total number of EV charging stations along the route, and many include can’t-miss attractions, off-the-beaten-path locations for the more adventurous, and spotlights selected by the Hipcamp team.
For additional information, the “Read more” and “See the full route” buttons provide ample details about every route – they’re also laid out with recommended campsites along the way, including photos and reviews from other visitors.
10 EV Road Trips
Blue Ridge Parkway: Since 1936, this 469-mile parkway – the longest linear park in the United States – has been a destination for drivers looking for unspoiled wilderness. Since 1946, it has been the most visited unit of the National Park System for all but a few years. There are a claimed 163 EV charging stations along this route.
California Coast: The Pacific Coast Highway is the backbone of California’s car culture. This route has so much to offer, it’s best to focus on a shorter section if time is limited. It begins on the San Diego coast winding north past Big Sur and endless stunning beaches, such as Glass Beach and Capitola Beach. At the end of the route, the world’s tallest trees reach for the sky in Redwood National and State Parks. For Solterra drivers, the entire California Coast road trip features a staggering 5,470 EV charging stations along the way.
Chihuahuan Desert: There are vast desert and urban landscapes in this trip across Texas, beginning in Austin and making stops in San Antonio and the breathtaking Santa Elena Canyon, before it finishes up in Marfa at El Cosmico, an incredible hotel and campsite in the far west of the Lone Star State. More than 580 EV charging stations are located on this route.
Olympic Peninsula: In the northwesternmost point of the contiguous United States, a rainforest, beaches and stunning scenery await you. The starring attraction is Olympic National Park, a UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage Site. More than 760 charging stations are at the ready to get you to your next destination.
Utah’s Mighty 5: Where in America can you hit five national parks in one trip? The Beehive State, which is host to Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion national parks. Sure, you can be aggressive and visit one park a day, but why not extend your trip and spend a week exploring some of the most scenic landscapes and darkest night skies in the country? This is the least EV-ready trip of the 10, but there are still 24 charging stations in approximately 355 miles, easily achievable with one recharging stop for the up to 227 miles of EPA-estimated range in the Solterra.1
Route 66: This road trip outlines the entire length of the Mother Road, from Chicago to Santa Monica, California. Route 66 is one of the most famous U.S. highways, featured in books, songs, movies and TV shows. Covering seven states, this over 2,400-mile epic journey benefits from more EV charging stations than miles of highway, with 3,737 EV chargers along the way.
Sierra Nevada: Yosemite National Park is the primary draw on this loop through the Sierra Nevada. It’s California’s most popular national park, but this route also includes Devils Postpile National Monument, a 798-acre site featuring the columnar basalt formation from which the national monument gets its name. For Solterra drivers, you’ll never be far from a recharge, with more than 320 EV charging stations along the route.
Grand West: This bucket list tour of the Grand West starts in St. Mary, Montana, and winds through three national parks – Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton – before concluding in Jackson, Wyoming, a 478-mile journey of breathtaking natural beauty. The tour includes over 70 EV charging stations between the national parks.
Great Lakes: While the western half of the country gets a lot of attention in this 10 Road Trip list, the Great Lakes get their due with this lakeside journey beginning near Duluth, Minnesota, and making stops at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and Mackinac Island. Look for 76 charging stations on this route.
Grand Canyon State: The ultimate journey through Arizona includes can’t-miss landscapes like Horseshoe Bend and Monument Valley, the location used in dozens of America’s most beloved films. This trip kicks off in Flagstaff and rolls southwest to national forests near Sedona and Prescott before heading north to Grand Canyon National Park. Solterra drivers can recharge at one of 100 stations along the route.
To plan your trip or learn more about the routes, visit Hipcamp.com.
1 EPA-estimated range on a full battery charge. Actual range will vary with driving conditions, weather, and your vehicle’s condition.
