🌍 From Arctic Mountains to the London Eye: Our 2024 EV Summer Adventure

With great memories from our 2022 road trip, it was time for a new journey out into the big, wide world. The teens had chosen London as the destination, and dad certainly didn’t disagree. The wanderlust was strong, the Tesla was charged, and the ABRP route was fine-tuned. It was time for our 2024 electric summer road trip!

Total distance driven: 7,922 km (4,923 mi)
Car: Tesla Model X 90D
Duration: July 6 – July 21 (16 days)
Charging stops: 53
Countries visited: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France, England

⚡️ Planning & Route Strategy

From past experience, we knew that successful EV travel depends on a balance of flexibility and planning. Our Model X 90D offers solid range, but not endless – so we mapped out key charging stops and built in quality breaks. The goal was to make the journey part of the vacation, not just a means of getting somewhere.

📍 Stage 1: Harstad – Stjørdal

Date: July 6
Distance: approx. 906 km (563 mi)

We kicked off the trip full of energy. Departing from Harstad with a fully charged Tesla and a packed car, we set course for Stjørdal – a solid 900+ km first leg.

Our first charging stop was at Fauske Supercharger, a favorite among northern Norwegian EV drivers. Coffee for us, electrons for the car. After another hour of driving, drowsiness kicked in, so we took an unplanned but necessary safety stop in Saltdal, where I grabbed a 15-minute power nap in the car.

We continued on to Mosjøen for a charge and dinner, enjoying a well-deserved break and some relaxed vacation vibes. Our final charging stop of the day was in Grong, where we also treated ourselves to ice cream. It was warm and sunny – the perfect finish to a long first day.

We arrived in Stjørdal late at night, tired but content. The car and the crew were both holding up great.

📍 Stage 2: Stjørdal – Gardermoen

Date: July 7
Distance: approx. 472 km (293 mi)

We started our day at Quality Hotel Værnes Airport with a generous breakfast spread. While we loaded up on eggs and bacon, the Tesla topped up at the hotel’s nearby Supercharger – a luxury that makes a big difference. And the reason for choosing this hotel.

We drove south through Østerdalen, a calm and scenic route – except for one hiccup. At Alvdal Supercharger, we hit the only charging queue of the whole trip, with cars spilling out into the road.

I quickly turned around and checked Circle K nearby. As luck would have it, a spot opened up just as we pulled in. I waited a few seconds to make sure no one else was in line, and we plugged in. A short 15-minute charge to reach 50% was all we needed to comfortably reach Elverum.

There, we charged again and grabbed dinner at Burger King, conveniently located next to the charger. Not exactly health food – but hey, it's vacation.

We made it to Quality Hotel Gardermoen without issue. The Tesla charged overnight on the hotel’s own chargers. A calm and efficient end to day two – and a mental note for the future: avoid Sunday charging rush hours when people are coming down from their cabins.

📍 Stage 3: Gardermoen – Østfold

Date: July 8
Distance: approx. 126 km (78 mi)

After two full driving days, stage 3 was a relaxing one. Staying at Quality Hotel Gardermoen meant we could sleep in. No stress, no rush – just a leisurely morning and shared breakfast.

Mom arrived via shuttle from the airport, making logistics a breeze. No need for airport pickups – we met at the hotel, relaxed and ready.

The rest of the day was all about reuniting the family. Our son, who had traveled ahead a few weeks earlier, was waiting in Østfold. There, we combined a family gathering with a visit to a fantastic cabin – five-star comfort, and best of all: free, thanks to famliy. The car got some rest, and so did we.

A peaceful, social and much-needed reset before heading into mainland Europe.

📍 Stage 4: Østfold – Lübeck (via Sweden and Denmark)

Date: July 9
Distance: approx. 905 km (562 mi)

The longest driving day of the trip! We left Østfold a bit later than planned. Since the cabin had no charger, we made a quick charging stop in Strømstad while stocking up the cooler.

The rest of the day was all about making progress. We drove through Sweden, took a brief detour to Trollhättan bacuse of a shut down E6 while visiting Bohus Fortress, and continued along the coast.

We stopped for dinner in Halmstad, then charged again briefly in Køge and on Lolland. Then came the ferry from Rødby to Puttgarden, crossing into Germany.

We reached Lübeck at 2:00 a.m., exhausted. The check-in machine at B&B Hotel gave us a bit of trouble, but we eventually got in and crashed into bed. No charging available at the hotel, but thankfully, we had enough battery to start the next leg.

A long, intense day – but with smooth driving, great flow, and good spirits.

📍 Stage 5: Lübeck – Voorthuizen

Date: July 10
Distance: approx. 466 km (290 mi)

After a few hours of rest, we hit the road again. But since there was no charger present at the hotel, we started the day at a Supercharger nearby, close to Cafe de Sol. With probably the best breakfast on our journey. This would be our last major transport leg before settling down for a few days, so we needed som startup energy. Superchargers with bakeries nearby is solid gold.

We had pre-booked accommodation in Voorthuizen from July 10–13, and we were ready to slow the pace.

The drive through northern Germany and into the Netherlands went smoothly. We made the usual charging stops and arrived in Voorthuizen by the afternoon. Time to unpack, relax, and let the Tesla rest too.

We made the most of the days that followed:

• 🎢 Teens explored Efteling, one of Europe’s most magical theme parks.

• ❄️ Adults enjoyed Kinderdijk, walking among iconic windmills in peaceful surroundings.

• 🌆 A day in Amsterdam, including a visit to Anne Frank's house (from the outside) and a meal at Hard Rock Cafe. Great music, mediocre food – but hey, you can’t win them all.

A perfect mix of culture, family time, and recovery.

📍 Stage 6: Voorthuizen – London (via Dunkirk & Eurotunnel)

Date: July 13
Distance: approx. 520 km (323 mi)

After two relaxing days in Voorthuizen, it was finally time to head towards our main destination: London. We had enjoyed a nice break from the road, explored parts of the Netherlands, and now the excitement was building as we approached the final leg of the outward journey.

Before leaving the European mainland, we made an important detour: a visit to the beach at Dunkirk. We wanted to take a moment to honor those who fell during WWII, and to see the historic site with our own eyes. The beach today is peaceful, almost serene – a stark contrast to the events that once unfolded there. Unfortunately, the Dunkirk museum was already closed for the day, so we didn’t get to go inside. Still, standing on that beach was a powerful and moving experience in itself.

From there, we continued toward the Eurotunnel – something that had long been on my bucket list. We’ve taken the car on a train through the Swiss Alps before, but crossing under the English Channel was on another level entirely.

The process was smooth and surprisingly quick: drive into a train carriage, park, and sit back as you're transported under the sea. In under 30 minutes, you find yourself on British soil. It's fast, convenient, and a bit surreal. Yes, it’s more expensive than the ferry, but we can now officially say we’ve done it – and it was worth it.

Once in the UK, we continued towards London. The question of driving on the left loomed large, but it actually went surprisingly well. That might have something to do with the fact that we were mostly on motorways, where it’s hard to make any major mistakes. The navigation system handled the transition seamlessly, and before we knew it, we were safely parked at our London hotel.

The car would get a break now, and so would we – time to explore the city!