Day 01 / 31
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Out of storage, shakedown at Boulevard
Airstream off the lot, Mission aboard, last checks before the long haul east
- 63 miles
- ~1h 55m drive hours
- Boulevard KOA tonight
Weather: San Diego backcountry, mild and dry up at 3,300 ft. Cooler than the coast once the sun drops.
The day, by the numbers
- Miles driven63mi
- Towing efficiency0.95mi / kWh63 mi · 66 kWh
- Energy66kWh
- Wind8mph SWMostly tailwind
- Temperature68°F58 – 76°F range
- Peak elevation4,203ft↑ 5,830 ft↓ 2,960 ft
- Avg speed33mph · 1.9 hr moving
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Day 01 in pictures
The day
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Airstream storage, La Mesa
First hitch of the trip. Pull the Airstream out of storage in La Mesa, check the coupler and safety chains, set the Rivian tow profile, roll east.
Map 32.7670, -117.0230
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Mission climbs aboard, Chula Vista
Headwind on this leg 8 mph from the SW
Our oldest German Shepherd rides shotgun. He has earned the good seat. He is getting on in years and this is probably his last big adventure, so the whole trip bends a little around him.
Map 32.6401, -117.0842
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Shakedown checks at Boulevard
Tailwind on this leg 8 mph from the SW Climbs this leg +3,400 ft
Wheel-lug torque to spec, all four trailer tires and both truck rears to pressure, brake-controller test, fridge cold, water and propane topped, nothing rattling loose. Better to find it 50 miles out than 500.
Map 32.6620, -116.2820
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Boulevard KOA
Set up camp, plug into 50A, walk Mission. Tracking starts here. Mileage, efficiency, charging, and weather get logged from tonight forward.
Map Official site 32.6620, -116.2820
Common questions about Day 01
- How far is it from La Mesa to the Boulevard KOA?
- 63 miles on I-8, climbing from sea-level San Diego up to roughly 3,300 ft at the KOA. The Rivian R1T towing a 23 ft Airstream International used 66 kWh for that leg at 0.95 mi/kWh, with about 3,700 ft of cumulative ascent up to the Crestwood Summit before a 750 ft descent into the campground.
- How much battery does a Rivian R1T use towing an Airstream up a mountain grade?
- On this 63 mi shakedown from La Mesa to Boulevard, the Rivian used 66 kWh (0.95 mi/kWh) towing a 23 ft Airstream International up about 3,700 ft of elevation gain. Sustained 5 to 6 percent grades plus headwind plus trailer aerodynamics drove the efficiency well below the truck solo number of 2.0+ mi/kWh. Expect under 1 mi/kWh on serious mountain grades while towing.
- What does a first-day shakedown for an EV-towing road trip look like?
- Pull the trailer out of storage, hitch up, drive to a nearby campground (in our case Boulevard KOA, 63 mi up the mountain), then run a checklist before bed. We retorqued all four trailer wheel lugs to spec, checked all four trailer tires plus the truck rear tires for cold pressure, tested the brake controller, confirmed the fridge was cold, topped water and propane, and listened for rattles. Better to find a loose lug 50 miles out than 500.
- Why does this trip start with a separate shakedown day instead of just leaving?
- A 4,485 mile round-trip cross-country tow gives a lot of room for a small problem to become a big one. A 63 mi shakedown to Boulevard KOA the day before departure surfaces issues (loose lugs, brake controller miswiring, fridge not cooling, rattling cargo) close to home where a fix is easy. Day 1 is intentionally short and intentionally near a 50 amp shore-power site so the rig leaves Day 2 with a full battery and a full trailer.