2025 Rivian Le Tour De Canada: Trip Reporting

[Budman]

The schedule: Mid July into early August.

The route: A nearly 5,000 mile out-and-back from Minneapolis to the tip of Cape Bretton Island. 4 (at least) National Parks in Canada.

The broadcast : Exclusive regular updates to members of the RivianForums provided at no extra charge.

The Ride: 2025 Rivian Gen 2 R1T. Dual motor with the max pack. Given the semi-remote nature of this route this is exactly the use case I had in mind for getting the max pack config. Full size spare tire.

The Kit:
Roof top tent with supplemental tail light and turn signals, ICECO 30 freezer and a bespoke camp kitchen (the BUDMAN 3000 with 2 induction cooktops). A Yakima road shower, Rivian branded pullout awning. A seat back cargo organizer with perhaps the greatest travel tool pouch ever assembled.

STAGE 1: We've completed the ceremonial start with a summer BBQ gathering with siblings then the easy warmup leg to our cabin in NW Wisconsin where we will complete our final training and preparation for the main event.

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[Major Payne]

Pretty cool looking trip and that ICECO plugged the whole time. What type of weather did you drive through?

 

[CarGuyCarl]

Looks like an awesome time. You should check out Copper Harbor and High Rock Bay if you have the time to deviate when you're in the UP. The Porkies are pretty rad too.

 

[iansriv]

Rick-brilliant! Will follow for your updates. Please, post photos. Never been that far east in Canada. Wishing you a safe and wonderful trip.

 

[schwartz83]

Looks like a great trip! You've inspired me to add another to my list...out and back to Nova Scotia...bring my dog to his homeland He's a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.

We're on a trip to Alaska right now. I'll get a post going soon.

Also on my list is a road trip to knock out National Parks in the South West US. I've got some serious gaps there ,- especially the biggies.
If you are up for it, later this summer or early fall I'd love to check out your setup. I think we're near each other...I live in South Minneapolis.

Anyway - happy travels!

 

[Budman]

Stage 2: Individual time trial from Hayward WI to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in the UP of Michigan.

A last minute call by the organizers of this year’s Le Tour saw us leaving a day early to break up one very long stage into 2. The late change saw us leaving around noon with a sprint to the National Lakeshore where we were able to make a reservation at the only open campsite on Twelve Mile Beach.

Despite the grumblings of some of the participants on Le Tour it turned out to be a good call. Had a lovely sunset and sunrise hike on the beach. There is an amazing diversity of rocks on the beach!

It was so nice the current holder of the yellow jersey said she thought it compared favorably to the beach at Pacific Rim National Park on Vancouver Island which was on the route of the 2024 edition of Le Tour De Canada.

 

[Budman]

Looks like a great trip! You've inspired me to add another to my list...out and back to Nova Scotia...bring my dog to his homeland He's a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.

We're on a trip to Alaska right now. I'll get a post going soon.

Also on my list is a road trip to knock out National Parks in the South West US. I've got some serious gaps there ,- especially the biggies.
If you are up for it, later this summer or early fall I'd love to check out your setup. I think we're near each other...I live in South Minneapolis.

Anyway - happy travels!

Ping me sometime, we will get together. We are in Plymouth

Love your dog! Ours had to take a nap after hiking the lakeshore today!

 

[Erik+]

So confused why there are not bicycles loaded on your truck

 

[Budman]

Stages 3 and 4.

We are in those stages of Le Tour where not much happens. You put your head down and churn out the miles on the long flat stretches of road. If you are lucky you find a teammate in the peloton, latch on and just try to avoid a crash.

The mountain stages are coming soon and the current holder of the yellow jersey is getting excited.

 

[COdogman]

It would be more exciting if you tried to “relieve yourself” like the Tour riders do only from the window of your Rivian.

 

[Tony de Veyra]

the latter legs of my trip will follow through some of the similar regions, at least in the upper peninsula. We're planning to go down into main MI though, to go to Toronto. Still deciding if we'll go as far east as Montreal, or if we'll just loop around lake ontario to come down into Upstate NY. Something to figure out in September.

 

[Budman]

If c

the latter legs of my trip will follow through some of the similar regions, at least in the upper peninsula. We're planning to go down into main MI though, to go to Toronto. Still deciding if we'll go as far east as Montreal, or if we'll just loop around lake ontario to come down into Upstate NY. Something to figure out in September.

If camping, consider 12 mile beach in Painted Rocks. One of our favorites ever.

 

[Budman]

If you like road trips put the Gaspe Peninsula on your list. 200 miles of amazing coastline and endless coastal villages. Photos will not do it justice.

I know the people I’m dealing with here so I’ll post photos of the most impossibly quaint charging stop imaginable here. It’s in Marsoui. It has the most impossibly quaint coffee shop (are 2 “impossibly quaint” allowed in the same post?). 260 miles and 4 hours per Google. We took 8 hours and should have taken 2 days in hindsight.

Better than the Pacific Coast Highway in my book.

But I’ll say again, Photos will not do it justice!

more photos later.

Charging is very widespread and reliable. Even given the pretty remote setting of this trip it has been a breeze!

 

[Budman]

A few more photos and comments. At 1,900 miles traveled now with an efficiency of 2.39. All the gear reduces the efficiency by about 15 to 19%. Not too bad.

Very sparse charging from Minneapolis all the way to Ottawa but doable. Charging is ubiquitous in Quebec.

Have only seen 2 other Rivians in Canada! Getting second looks and stares like I did 3 years ago when I first got the truck.

My observation and that of another Rivian owner in Ontario is that supercharger charging has gotten slower since the latest SW update. It quickly drops to 150 or even 130. A session at an Electrify Canada was very solid. 210 for a very long time. I’ve always had good luck at EA and EC, see no reason to avoid them.

The Rivian branded Kammok awning is no doubt pricey and frivolous but I find it strangely satisfying….

The campsite leveling feature of the R1s is a handy and underrated feature!

 

[iansriv]

If you like road trips put the Gaspe Peninsula on your list. 200 miles of amazing coastline and endless coastal villages. Photos will not do it justice.

I know the people I’m dealing with here so I’ll post photos of the most impossibly quaint charging stop imaginable here. It’s in Marsoui. It has the most impossibly quaint coffee shop (are 2 “impossibly quaint” allowed in the same post?). 260 miles and 4 hours per Google. We took 8 hours and should have taken 2 days in hindsight.

Better than the Pacific Coast Highway in my book.

But I’ll say again, Photos will not do it justice!

more photos later.

Charging is very widespread and reliable. Even given the pretty remote setting of this trip it has been a breeze!

Based on your post, I looked up Gaspe and it definitely looks like somewhere I'd like to visit. Any recommendation of hotels and top places to visit? I'd probably fly in to QC and drive up. Cheers.

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