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USA Road Trips in a Rental Mustang

American road trip! Exploring the west coast in a Ford Mustang

► 2000 miles in a 2018 ‘Stang ► Our big Cali road trip ► Was it a drive of our dreams?

The plane door opens, the sun is blinding, and you walk down the steps feeling fresh, alert and with a smile on your face. Your luggage is already waiting for you at the bottom and, once retrieved, someone hands you the key to a car that has a million Likes waiting to flood its way onto your Instagram account.

#WelcomeToYourDestination.

This didn’t happen.

Instead, there was a 10-hour flight with little sleep, followed by the usual scenario of endless airport queuing and watching the same, sad, unclaimed piece of luggage go by on a squeaky old carousel. The only thing welcoming you to your destination is the text message stating how expensive roaming is about to get.

This isn’t the cliche of walking off the plane in slow motion and immediately being mesmerised by some scenic, breathtaking backdrop in dreamy weather to the soundtrack of house music.

No, the first real abiding memory of this trip instead was a sign being waved by a child in Arrivals marked ‘Welcome home from rehab Aunty Anne’.

Why that grabbed my attention as we walked out of Oakland International airport, I’ll never know, but it did make me wonder how many other things I’d see for the first time on this holiday.

Why are we here?

It’s all down to Highway 1, really. After reading about this scenic location in a magazine ten years ago, I was sold. It got torn out and put up on the wall as a future goal.

Fast forward to today, and no longer am I a poor student dreaming about it. I’ve planned a route around the west coast of America – picking out the roads I have to drive first, and dealing with accommodation later. I know what my priorities are here.

California is huge; you could easily spend a month here and still struggle for time to see everything – we had two weeks. This round trip would start from San Francisco and lead on to Yosemite , Mammoth Lakes , Las Vegas , Los Angeles , Highway 1 , Monterey and back to San Fran in a clockwise order.

We weren’t looking for a marathon of a road trip. Getting up early with a hangover and having to pack up just to cover ground sounded awful, so that was out the equation.

Night drives were a no-go area too. Having to drive continuously for so long where we’d hallucinate just didn’t appeal.

If you want a laidback road trip, this will be it. Keep it simple with a few choice locations and roads on the agenda and everything else along the way will be a surprise. Travelling as a group of three also brought the benefit of swapping drivers if need be.

The need for steed

And the car? Obvious choice really. It’s our first road trip in America so it’s got to be the default muscle car – and there couldn’t be a better time to get ourselves into one of the most iconic ones: the Ford Mustang.

The pony car might seem slightly oversized for our roads in the UK – despite the growing abundance of bulky SUVs – but here in America, we’re finding out what makes them so popular.

Receiving a minor facelift in 2018, this iconic four-seater is even better. You can now have a more powerful 450hp V8, adaptive dampers and an active exhaust.

The range is a simple menu of two dishes: Ecoboost or V8. With 6,000 sold in the UK since 2015, 70% have the full-fat V8 engine, 80% are the Fastback and the split between the manual and automatic gearbox is pretty even.

And here’s ours: V8. Auto. Fastback.

Finished in Kona blue, it’s fundamentally the same as a UK car, but there are a few notable stateside differences in spec: optional 19-inch polished aluminium wheels, a standard-fit subtle rear spoiler and a set of tiny door mirrors.

Plus, the ability to remotely fire up that V8 with the keyfob will never get boring.

San Francisco

Look at a map of this place and you might be fooled into thinking this is yet another flat, square-grid city with a couple of tourist-saturated bridges branching out from it. What the map hides, though, is a city with over 40 hills that will give your legs – or clutch (but not in our case) – a workout if you consistently make the wrong turn.

Navigate the streets on foot and you’ll be accompanied by a unique soundtrack of bumbling V8s and strained CVT four-cylinders working their way uphill, drowning out the whining sounds of regenerative braking from those hybrids going down them.

The concoction of electric-propelled cars and old-fashioned V8s almost seems harmonious.

If petrol is dying out in this place, it’s not going away quietly. Nobody reacts in disgust if you rumble your way through town in a V8 and you don’t feel guilty for it. If anything, a smoker has a harder time here having to keep a watchful eye on where they can feed their nicotine fix.

Time to pack up and hit the road

After the obligatory weaving drive down Lombart Street, we leave San Francisco for Yosemite. The first thing that springs to mind is the amount of road space available here. The Mustang is almost as wide as a Range Rover Evoque, but right now, it feels pretty compact. You certainly don’t have to wince at oncoming traffic and that level of stress you sometimes get in the UK is immediately removed.

We hit the freeway and discover there’s no such thing as rush hour here, it’s just constant. However, once the traffic eases up and we settle at motorway speeds, the Mustang’s new 10-speed auto ‘box turns this snarling V8 into a docile, lazy cruiser, letting the engine bumble along at 1,750rpm.

The revs can drop to 1,200rpm before it considers a downchange, or unless you encourage it with a burger-full of throttle.

Fuel economy shows 25mpg in US terms, so that roughly converts to 30mpg in the UK. Impressive for a 450hp V8.

In preparation for the lack of fuel stations in Yosemite, we brim the fuel tank at the nearest town just outside our destination. Running empty and waiting for rescue in a place where bears are more prevalent than gas stations is not appealing.

Ah yes, gas stations.

The majority of them only take debit cards. Some won’t accept UK credit cards, some require prepay. Costco requires human assistance.

Luckily, people don’t seem to be in a rush here, patiently sitting in their vehicle while this tourist fumbles around, wondering why there’s no 95 RON. Or what the hell I need to punch into the machine when it asks for my Zip Code.

If you have to ask, petrol fluctuates around the $3.50 mark for a US gallon; roughly equating to £3.20 for the larger UK gallon here.

Yosemite: Where have you been all my life?

The wealth of city skyscrapers are substituted for trees as we arrive in Yosemite. We unpack, find someone else to build a campfire for us and then call it a night. The next day, we head on over to the National Park. As we make our way, it doesn’t take long to have a full windscreen view full of mountain in front of us, in HDR Ultra 4k setting.

The 45mph speed limit might be a pedestrian way to enjoy the smooth-surfaced, twisting roads, but it’s perfect to soak up the sights – from helicopters on one side of the road, to people rafting the river rapids on the other. Besides, there are so many stopping points, you don’t want to miss them.

There’s one main fuel station here acting as an epicentre for where you want to go and that surfaces the main conundrum – which route do you take?

With scenery this beautiful and so much to see, we already know we need to come back and spend a holiday in itself in this place. I now understand why some citizens here don’t bother with a passport – you could spend your whole life exploring this country.

‘We just saw a bear about a half an hour ago..’ Says a park ranger. ‘So keep an eye out’.

We decide to head up north on Route 120. This road is usually closed due to heavy snow so we jump at the opportunity. Plus, avoiding the other routes saves us queuing among all the tourists.

As the road climbs in altitude, the temperature drops from 26C to 16C. Luckily it’s May and we’re left with just the odd patch of snow dressing the roadside like cake icing.

As we climb to 8000ft, the roadside cliff drops start to appear revealing steep views down into the tree-filled valleys. We don’t spot any bears but driving past a deer tucking in to the remnants of someone’s meal left in a lay-by is as close as we get to an Attenborough moment.

Mammoth lakes

We arrive at Mammoth Lakes and maintain our 8000ft height. The temperature drops to 10C and falls to -1C at night. Ending up here in a ghost town ski resort was not something we’d packed for though. Remember that airport scene from Cool Runnings when they had to wear all of their t-shirts in one go? Yes, that.

This really is a four-seasons kind of week in terms of weather, showing the sheer size of California itself, never mind the rest of the US.

You can find yourself in a completely different climate from one day to the next and this trip has suddenly become an all-weather test for the Mustang.

It’s probably why you see such a wide range of vehicles here, whether it’s a modded Subaru WRX, a jacked-up Toyota SUV with chunky off-road tyres, light bars and roof racks, or a VW T25 Camper van on Mercedes wheels storing chopped firewood up on its roof.

This place appears to be the equivalent of the Alps; with skiing in the long winters and mountain biking, off roading, hiking and every other outdoor activity in the summer holidays. Right now, it’s a ghost town, so if you want to escape people and have a hot tub to yourself in a resort, come here.

The sheer size of the tourist industry screams at you with the silence and emptiness around, despite the handful of devoted regulars that remain coming at the weekends. This is one of our locations for catching some down time and we’ve timed it perfectly for a bit of peace.

The tour guide states that a severe symptom of altitude sickness is withdrawing him from social interaction. I begin to wonder if I suffer from altitude sickness all the time. Sitting at the lights as I fetch dinner for the evening, it’s just me, the Mustang and no one else. This is the complete opposite to city life and right now, it’s bliss. I just can’t help but think the straight empty street roads are crying for a drag race.

The next day, we go exploring. Mammoth mountain greets us with skiers and snow cliffs on the sidewalk. A modded F-150 on tracks makes us wonder how our all-weather tyres will hold up, but we make it to the top unphased.

While there’s little driving planned here, there’s still the chance to hit June Lake loop. A short 25 minute drive on the map, but stopping to check the scenery means this can quickly double or triple in time.

Death Valley to Las Vegas

We leave Mammoth Lakes the next day and head to Vegas. With half a tank left we strategically plan for a fuel stop that doesn’t cost as much as Yosemite ($6 a US gallon), offers plenty of snacks and is near enough to be covered by the 330-mile range on a full tank.

We hit the 395 highway and as the long sweeping roads in the valleys lay out before us, it’s the first time we actually consider how autonomous driving might be a useful feature here. The adaptive cruise works down to 11mph before you have to take over and has more than the typical three distance settings, but, right now, it doesn’t have much to detect for miles on end, let alone any other traffic.

Still, the Mustang makes for a great cruiser and steering with your arms is hardly tasking. Bring a load of pre-made playlists if travelling on your own.

We stop at Lone Pine just outside of Death Valley, picking up plenty of water, a packed lunch and enough snacks to feed a family. As modern a car can be, it’s best to be prepared. Our shuttle bus driver from the night before told us how his boss returning from Vegas bumped into a group of guys touring from Germany who’d broken down there in an area with no phone signal.

Despite his boss offering to call the hire car company for them as soon as he’d have signal, the guys were probably left there waiting for about half a day. No thanks.

It soon dawns on us that you can never have enough USB ports, the reality of road tripping is summed up by the number of wires strewn across the centre console for charging devices.

We veer off the highway and begin heading towards Death Valley. The road tightens up, dropping from a dual carriageway to a single one, and the initial section of twisting tarmac almost acts as a brief wake up call before the long, never-ending straights lie ahead of you.

As we rise and drop in altitude between 4,000 and 2,000ft, the temperature fluctuates before settling at 36deg C.

What we find slightly disconcerting is the heat haze slithering across the width of the road surface. It makes a perfectly flat road look completely undulated – right up until the point you’re about to drive through it when it simply disappears.

We’re now officially in the desert. Seeing the road lie ahead of you for endless miles is incredible, with the mist acting as a slightly hazy filter. We’d done well to keep the Mustang this clean until now, but now there’s officially a dusting of desert sand all over it.

The heat is also unbearable now and you begin to understand why all those luminous high-sugar drinks make sense. This is also where the air-con is having to work its hardest. The cooled seats are a godsend in bringing the searing hot leather back down to a comfortable temperature, but the air itself struggles to get through our clothing. So, we’re still baking.

Right, back to city life. The heart of Vegas itself may not have a great deal to offer in terms of driving roads, but there is the Shelby Heritage Center; showcasing its historical models and concepts at one end of the building – some of which are available for purchase.

If you’re concerned a 700hp F-150 might be too much for your 23kg luggage limit, the other end of the building is simply a store full of merchandise awaiting to test your self-restraint. You can peek into the workshop next door, too, allowing you to see how someone’s Mustang is receiving the firm’s GTE treatment.

If the time coincides, you might be able to scratch that NASCAR itch at the Motor Speedway up north out of town, but for the time being, we’ve peaked at 43 degrees C and there’s absolutely nowhere we’d want to be unless there’s air-conditioning.

Finally writing up the American road trip. I would never get bored of remote starting a V8. @Ford @forduk #FordMustang pic.twitter.com/IDiKWCpthD — Lorenzo Cheung (@FWMotoring) 9 November 2018

Speaking of air-conditioning, using the keyfob to remote-start the car from a distance brings valuable moments of ventilation into the cabin as you load up the boot.

Plus, since we’re staying in a multi-storey car park, firing up that loud exhaust acts as an audible flag to find out where you’ve parked, sending music to your ears as you approach from a distance with the V8 rumble echoing its way down walls.

In a city full of randomly-themed buildings, the Mustang’s 3D sat-nav helps when navigating your way around – even if the graphics look a bit N64-like.

That said, proving how this place is constantly changing, it becomes confused once or twice, telling us to leave the freeway, only to rejoin the slip-road at the same junction again.

Threading through LA

After a few days in Vegas, it’s definitely time to escape. We thread our way through Los Angeles with driving fun on the agenda.

The Angeles Crest Highway seems prime as a driving road. We even bump into a filming of Jay Leno’s garage just as they’re packing up for the day.

There’s nothing to fault the smoothness of America’s road surfaces and the Scion FR-S, Toyota GT86, and Subaru BRZ appears to be the weapon of choice. We see groups of these up here.

I’d be terrified to drive a pickup truck – especially a jacked-up modified one – but they still tackle it in their droves, crushing all the small, fallen rocks sporadically strewn across the road.

The @Ford Mustang’s ~330-mile fuel range dropped considerably at this point. @forduk @FordMustang #holiday #roadtrip18 pic.twitter.com/pxl6J98fiU — Lorenzo Cheung (@FWMotoring) 7 June 2018

The active exhaust makes for great entertainment through the tunnels too, although the fuel range dropped considerably at this point after multiple runs. The pre-facelift models sounded a little muted, but now this is much more like it. You might look for the 5.0 badges on the front wings to indicate whether this is the V8 or not when it’s switched off, but once fired up, this Coyote V8 is so loud you wonder how much more the GT350 and its Voodoo engine could be.

How does the Mustang handle this?

The Mustang’s width makes it feel quite stable – but you can also sense this coupe is quite heavy, especially when people and luggage are on board. Factor in the higher 40psi tyre pressures to cater for it and the Mustang runs out of grip too soon – especially up front.

And that’s the reality: you can’t escape the added weight you have to lug around with you when you’re on a road trip.

The steering wheel is also a tad too big and it could do with a quicker rack, but with its primary purpose serving as a GT, this makes for a fairly decent compromise.

Taller drivers may brush their knee on the centre console when encountering twisty roads, but you can still build a decent rhythm from one bend to the next.

While the last six-speed auto ‘box procrastinated at changing gear most of the time, this 10-speed version seems more up to the task – even if it’s not perfect.

It’s eager to change down as you brake towards bends in S mode, keeping your revs just below 3,000rpm, and yet it can be stubborn and decide to be lazy on its own accord – sometimes it’ll want to just sit at 1,500rpm in 9th.

The changes can be jerky too. Whether it’s a deliberate calibration or not, it’s just not as smooth as a DSG ‘box or a Lexus 10-speed – and there are a lot of gears to go through, so you can imagine how frequent that’ll be.

Santa Monica – where Highway 1 begins for us.

After a pit stop at Venice Beach, the early evening begins and we embark on the roads that kick-started this whole thing in the first place.

By complete accident, the whole cliché of driving your muscle car into the sunset suddenly began. We hadn’t planned this, honestly, but this was simply one of the best settings we’d stumbled upon, without anticipating it. I give in. Cue the house music.

We arrive in Santa Barbara just as it gets dark for our overnight stay, and make a dash for what seems to be the latest fad in drinking estalishments: a microbrewery. The Mustang gets a time-out the next day as we exchange four wheels for two, cycling around the coast as a break from driving.

We leave Santa Barbara around midday just before it gets too hot and head up north. Due to landslides, we can only head up as far as Ragged Point where the road ends, before heading back down south to our Motel.

As we stop and take pictures, it doesn’t take long before a passing tourist winds down their window to ask ’they shut the road?! Where do we go now?’.

Perplexed that all these people didn’t do their research beforehand, we shrug our shoulders, continue taking pictures and soak in the coastal sun. Another sunset cliche win.

Right here, right now, why would you want to be anywhere else?

Cambria – a good opportunity to test the Mustang’s Quiet Mode…

Staying at one of the traditional American motels allowed us to try the Mustang’s latest trick: Quiet Mode. The active exhaust also allows the valves in the exhaust to remain closed so that you don’t wake up the neighbours with a satanic bark in the morning.

It certainly works, but only goes so far. Especially when your quad exhausts are facing the other side of someone’s window. You may as well try and silence the hulk when he gets angry.

To Big Sur…

After the V8 wakes up several motel guests that day, we continue heading up north. To rejoin Highway 1 above Ragged Point, we have to take a brief detour inland and pass by Fort Hunter Liggett along the way; a United States Army fort with over 165,000 acres of training ground.

We have one of those moments of trepidation when we’re not sure whether our sat-nav is supposed to send us to a military base as part of the route – the barriers are open, so it should be ok, right?

We hesitantly pass through the barriers and immediately see a parked-up tank. It’s out of service, obviously, but intimidating enough for us to consider doing a U-turn and rerouting.

We cautiously persist. We don’t want to be a moving target for anyone anytime soon and it doesn’t take long to see the military shooting grounds on either side of the road. We calculate which parts of the land are used to shoot what with help of the roadside warning signs, which, coincidentally appear to be as frequent as those indicating the speed limit. Luckily, the road diverts into the woodlands before the military buildings start to come into sight.

This is the first time the Mustang suddenly feels wide as the narrow roads resemble those in the UK. Never mind a pony car meeting a pick-up truck coming the other way, I genuinely would rather be in a hatchback right now.

Strangely though, the number of Mustangs we pass suddenly ramps up. They’re a frequent sight around here – with many an Ecoboost too – but if you do miss the V6, you could pick up a used 2007 model for under $10k in the classifieds.

Even though the Mustang is popular around here, our one still manages to draw attention from a few people. We reckon about half of the Mustangs we’ve seen are hire cars, but our GT with its optional wheels and louder active exhaust seems enough to engage more interest.

Once out of the woodlands and back on the coastal road, we suddenly feel less claustrophobic; the sea is back and brings immediate comfort.

This is it. What we’ve been reading about and seeing pictures of after all these years. This elongated road that drapes along the Cliffside has been worth the wait. Typically, the best stopping points are either far too packed with tourists or you’re too busy piloting your way over it, but this view is hard to beat.

As we start heading into Monterey in the late aftenoon, signs of life start to build up again and, before you know it, you’re stuck in a middle suburban traffic jam with people queuing for Pebble Beach. What a day’s driving. And as nice as Monterey is, I’d happily just sleep in last night’s motel again and relive today’s drive tomorrow.

We check-in at Monterey and, as tired as I am, I’m also restless. Now I want to see more and I’m tempted to go find somewhere to catch the sunset again. Head right up north in Monterey and you get to Lovers Point. That’s the closest place to park along the coast as you can get.

Laguna Seca is only a half hour drive from where we’re staying too. The drive itself is pretty dull, but this is the first time I’ve been to this place and finally get to see it outside of a TV screen.

There’s a motorbike group here today and each one of the riders are taking it gingerly, especially when it comes to the corkscrew. And even then it doesn’t take long to see one slide off their bike right at the top, only to watch their pride and joy scuff its way down the gravel towards the bottom, before hitching a ride back with a considerate passer-by.

Back to where it all began…

As we start heading back into the centre of San Fran on our final day, driving over Bay Bridge simultaneously brings back familiarity and a horrible realisation that the time with the Mustang is imminently about to end. Oh shit. I hadn’t prepared for this. My time with this wonderful V8 is up and I’m genuinely sad about having to hand the keys back. It’s evening rush hour in the city and I’m genuinely happy about the congestion adding time to our destination.

Our GT has done 2,000 miles, it’s covered in desert dust and it hasn’t missed a beat. What makes the Mustang slightly compromised in the UK just isn’t an issue here, whether it’s the physical size or daily fuel fill-up.

I’ll have a V8 in Orange Fury please, with some slightly stickier tyres. If you want subtle, don’t get a Mustang V8. Even the chrome finish aluminium wheels have me converted as they always look clean – useful when you proceed through a dust-ridden desert.

I wake up the next morning to hear it start up as it gets picked up. It makes me laugh how loud it is, but I also want to run across to the car park just to see it leave.

Would we have picked anything else?

For three people and their luggage, the Mustang and its mixture of theatre, relative size and driveability is going to be hard to beat.

The rear seats are a squeeze for adults, requiring those sat up front to compromise their leg space for those behind them. The back of your neck feels the full force of that sun too with the rear windscreen being a headrest.

Still, sitting here means you get to feel the full force of the optional Shaker pro sound system and the exhausts. And with so many stopping points, you’re not sat here long enough to develop chronic pain.

The convertible will have a tad more headroom but the backrests themselves almost rotates their posture towards the centre. A four-door version would be ideal, but that doesn’t exist.

The F-150 that followed undoubtedly offered more space for luggage and passengers. But to pilot that on the winding roads meant endless twirling of the steering and its slow rack, accompanied with motion sickness for everyone else. Great for attacking highways and off-road ventures but not much else.

If you wanted a Mustang previously in the UK, it would have resulted in a left-hand drive import with an archaic suspension system.

Things have changed since 2015. Now that this global car has been engineered with Europe in mind, it’s not so easy to dismiss; you sit on the right side of the car and there’s independent rear suspension to deal with our roads. So I guess Ford has done its bit, it’s just a shame our roads haven’t changed to accommodate them.

The thing is, even if I could afford one in the UK, the dreary lifeless backdrop in place is a complete mismatch, never mind how cumbersome it’ll be on our roads in comparison. In the meantime, I’ll just have to daydream about a GT350 to face reality back in Blighty. Until next time…

By Lawrence Cheung

Bauer Automotive's former senior staff writer; hot hatch hoarder, road trip hunter

Curbside Cars
Mustang USA
What Is A Puppyknuckle

From New York To LA, And Back Again: A Mustang Road Trip

June 25, 2014

This July, I am going to drive from my home in Brooklyn, New York, to Los Angeles and back again. It’s just something I’ve always wanted to do. It’s a special trip for me, not just because I get to see the whole country and spend time with some of my favorite people (including my dad, who will join me for the entire length of Route 66 from Chicago to California), but because the idea of driving a Ford Mustang clear across the USA has been on my mind ever since I was a little kid. It’s going to be epic, and I’m truly lucky that I get to do it. But why is the Mustang so special? Why does it matter what kind of car you take on a 6000+ mile trip?

Back in the 1980s in Boise, Idaho, I had three posters on my bedroom wall that I can clearly remember. The first one was the ubiquitous pre-pubescent male car poster: the Lamborghini Countach. A red one, in profile, with the scissor doors wide open. Truly a demonstration of my rare, refined taste, I thought, especially at my age, which I could still represent by holding up enough fingers. Then I also had a movie poster for a completely forgettable film called License To Drive starring both Corey Feldman and Corey Haim. (The late ’80s were peak Corey.) And finally, there was this poster, which 30 years later is framed and hanging in my kitchen:

Jason’s ’68 was a 289 V8 car with a dual exhaust (I think it had glass packs) and a three speed on the floor. I remember feeling like a huge bad ass when I got to join him and his friends cruising around Boise on a Saturday night. After Jason went to college, my dad would fire up the Mustang from time to time and say things like “hold on to your butts” and lay some rubber to entertain me and my friends.

As the years went by I grew up and never forgot about my dream of owning my own Mustang. I would rent them at every opportunity, trying to get a vicarious taste of what it would be like to own it, and still dreaming of the ultimate Mustang road trip. In 2012, after years of owning some real New York City beaters, I traded in and bought the first new car I ever owned, a 2012 Mustang GT. Here’s me with the car about 20 minutes after purchasing it in Brewster, New York:

MUSTANG USA, CONTINUED

Mustang usa part nine: wine country to mendocino, mustang usa part 8: cruising the pacific coast highway, mustang usa part seven: finishing off route 66, mustang usa part six: rust, dust, and spectacular route 66, mustang usa part five: standin’ on the corner of holiday road, mustang usa part one: into the land of lincoln, mustang usa part four: getting high in albuquerque, mustang usa part three: crossing the midpoint, mustang usa part two: in search of levi, mustang usa part ten: from the redwoods to crater lake, mustang usa part eleven: rattlesnake grade, heading for zootown, mustang usa part twelve: yellowstone and bluegrass, mustang usa part 13: the badlands and beyond, mustang usa part 14: racing back to brooklyn.

July 26, 2014

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February 15, 2020

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December 16, 2019

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October 25, 2019

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October 15, 2019

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August 20, 2019

Lotus Eleven and Peter Egan

August 3, 2019

I vividly remember a ride in Jason’s Mustang where he had the car going above 60mph on Mountain View drive (probably more like 40mph) and me crapping my pants a little at that speed. That was probably my first ride in a car driven by someone other than my parents. Great trips to you, looking forward to hearing about it!

And your arm is clearly given that rare brother touch exchange, but with the safe wedgie proof distance of six feet.

I remember riding with you in your mom’s (1970?) Chevy Nova when the throttle stuck wide open. We were in the back seat and about 10 years old. She very alertly put it in neutral to retain power steering/brakes, pulled over to the side of the road, and shut it down. These days I think most moms would panic, start texting for help and the car would go over a cliff, Toonces-style.

I saw the article over on Kinja. I know your trip is likely over, but having done the coast-to-coast drive a couple of times myself, try to see Zion National Park in Utah if you can on one of your future jaunts. Zion National Park and Glacier National Park are the two single most beautiful places I’ve seen in the US (so far). Thanks so much for the great articles!

My folks showed me pictures the took from their last trip to Glacier. Looks unbelievable, and kicking myself I didn’t have more time to include it. And I think my Dad would love Zion. Thanks for the comment!

Awesome story Dave, reading it through for the 3rd time in two weeks and you’ve inspired my wife and I so we’re planning for late spring to get in my new 2014 GT – Ottawa to Chicago and then RTE 66 to the Santa Monica pier, visit my Sister in Lake Tahoe then my Aunt and Uncle in Fernie BC and then home. Glad I got the Recaro’s…..nice work and great pics….gonna be looking for a nice used digital Nikon….. Scott

Scott – sounds like a great trip. Would love to see some pics! If you’re on Instagram, find me @puppyknuckles

Road Trip Review: The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E from California to Colorado

2021 Mustang Mach-E 4x First Edition in Grabber Blue Metallic. This specific one has AWD, an 88-kWh battery, 346 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque, and 270 miles of range. The total MSRP is $50,800.

Venice, CA to Denver, CO. 800 miles on the highway, then another 500 miles on back roads (paved and unpaved) through Aspen (fancy!), over Independence Pass (best road in the USA) into Twin Lakes, then onto Colorado Springs to climb Pikes Peak, before relinquishing the car in Denver.

The Question

Is the Mach-E a good adventure road trip rig for enthusiasts?

Does it easily chew up highway miles and twisty mountain passes? Will the interior soak up the gear and detritus of a week-long adventure? Is the “road trip” vibe adversely affected by range and charging? I’d rather focus on the drive, the playlist, where we’re eating, and where we’re staying (this is very much uncertain); is that possible? Or will the long shadow of range anxiety darken the trip?

The Ground Rules

One: Much has been written about the Mustang name on a crossover, so I’ll spare you. At this point, the conversation is a bit tedious. (There’s a joke in there somewhere about beating a dead horse…) Also, the name doesn’t affect the performance, even if it’s useful for metaphors.

Two: This is not a technical debrief. For detailed data and analysis, there are many great videos and stories. For a thorough and articulate overview check out the Hooniverse review (even though I don’t support Jeff’s “assertions” regarding the Galax-E name) . For “quirks and features”, Doug Demuro, of course . For comparisons with Tesla’s Model Y just… internet… but Jason Fenske of Engineering Explained is very good . And for EV-nerd analysis check out Inside EV’s reviews and Kyle Conner’s thorough and thoughtful review on Out of Spec . I’m not puking out a bunch of numbers, range testing down to zero, focusing on peak charge duration, or analyzing each charging station.

The goal here is different. We’re checking out the performance of the Mach-E as a multi-day road tripper for drivers (but not necessarily the EV evangelists) who like the skinny pedal, DGAF about the data, and simply want to feel good about the drive.

The Mustang Mach-E is a triumph for Ford. It’s a great car. It’s exciting to drive. It looks good. It charges fast. It’s the first real competition for Tesla. And when the Blue Oval narrows its focus and the blinders go on it can win. After all, the company won LeMans to sell cars. Okay, Carroll Shelby, Ken Miles, and Matt Damon helped, but you get it. The Mach-E is also a triumph for CEO Jim Farley and his EV team. Without Mr. Farley’s vision and commitment, Ford’s first major EV could have been stillborn. An uninspired, emotionless, compliance corpse. Early images from before his tenure show a front-drive electric crossover (lifted Focus?) with an anonymous cab-forward design and that derivative but trendy c-pillar/d-pillar break – a now tedious and outdated design flourish. Under Jim’s leadership, the EV team thankfully adjusted course, called upon their Mustang colleagues, and made a bet on rear-drive handling characteristics.

The Outside

I think the Mach-E is exciting for the eyes. It’s more aggressive than its peers and the long folded hood snarls like a steed on meth. I love it. The wide hips visualize the 25/75 rear-axle bias, even if the rear hooves are a bit narrow for a Mustang. The sloping roofline’s design wizardry looks quick, like a jockey hunched down at full gallop, even if it’s not 100% honest. Also shapely but misleading is the faux grill.

EVs don’t need big front grills and the Mach-E is no exception. Yet, designers feel the need to include them on new model version one body designs, like the original Model S. Below the big, beautiful, fake grill is very real active aero, louvers that open to assist battery cooling. How about incorporating the louvers inside the grill to motivate the design? If we’re leaning into aesthetic critique, the door handle winglets are an unnecessary visual flourish – if deleted, the functionality wouldn’t change (the rear doors work great!) and the design would be streamlined, more consistent, and more confident.

Dimensionally, the Mach-E is similar to its classmates. Length (~186”), width (~74”), and height (~64”) are within an inch of the Tesla Model Y and Volkswagen ID.4, except the latter is five inches shorter. The Mach-E looks much better than both. Interestingly, the Mustang Mach-E is over six inches SHORTER than the 1973 Mustang Mach One.

A digression on EV shape. Basically, there are two camps: Cabin Forward – think Tesla Model X, 3, Y, even the Cybertruck, Nissan Leaf, Kia/Hyundai, BMW i3. These designs leverage the EV’s motor location and size to maximize interior cabin space while chasing aerodynamic slipperiness. Then there are the Long Hoods that mimic traditional ICE shapes – think BMW i4, Polestar, Rivian, Bollinger, the Hummer EV, the F-150 Lightning, and the Mustang Mach-E. These designs are hunting the emotional response: familiarity, excitement, and power. In the Mach-E, I think it works. I like those feelings.

There’s no Ford branding on Mach-E (no Blue Oval!) and it doesn’t say “Mustang” anywhere. There’s just a galloping horse, racing toward the future, at the front and rear. The design is a clear winner at one thing: attracting attention. Whether driving the highways and side roads or parked on the street in town people stop to look, take photos, and ask questions. The Mach-E got thumbs up from drivers in a broad range of vehicles, from a heavily stickered and winged Nissan 240 (got downforce?!) to a 2021 911 speedster. Everyone seems to love it. Such is the power and novelty of the shape and logo.

On the road, the attention-grabbing design makes me feel good. It’s a ton of fun. Like I’m never a stranger and always have someone to chat with. For me, road trips are also about meeting different people from different places. And the Mach-E was a reliable social partner. But, warning, it’s not a good car for attention shunning misanthropes.

My impressions of the interior are consistent with the high marks it’s already received. Materials feel premium for the price but stop short of luxury. It’s thoughtful, intuitive, and comfortable. It’s also familiar and feels like a car. It’s not overly minimalist as sometimes less is too much. And it’s not trying too hard to be “techy”, like a drivable gadget. My personal Chevy Bolt is the latter and doesn’t “feel” like a car to me. The Mach-E is slim on switches and knobs in a good way, yet there are manual controls in natural spots: window switches on the door, cruise and media buttons on the steering wheel (not my favorite steering wheel controls), and a parts bin PRND knob in the center. There’s even an instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, which is a feature that’s useful but endangered for reasons I don’t understand.

This 10.5” digital display provides critical info like speed, speed limit, navigation, and state of charge (but additional info during charging would be appreciated, specifically kWh). Above, the fixed panorama glass roof (included in the premium package) is striking and makes the cabin feel like a Model S (ahem) I mean, feel bigger than it is.

The seating position is low-ish for a crossover, with leg positioning ever so slightly more horizontal and less “chair-like”. The car “feels” sporty, as if it handles well even if the front view includes a lot of hood. The seats are comfortable but side-bolstering is noticeably absent. This omission undercuts the sporty feeling and contradicts the Mustang brand… but seems to ensure comfort for a greater variety of body types. (Will Recaro’s be available as an option like the coupe? Maybe in the GT?) The perforated ActiveX synthetic leather feels premium. But the lack of cooling to go with the tiny holes is a bit of a tease, especially when available elsewhere at this price point. Max lumbar support is my jam, especially on long trips, and the lack of lumbar height control doesn’t bother me at all, even if this annoys others. My son thinks the back seat is spacious and 38-inches of legroom is indeed bigger than the 36-inches in the back of our Bolt. Good eye on that kid.

Overall, the setup (essential manual controls and eye-line display) is perfect for long hours on the road in a ride I’m just getting to know. But will 12 hours of direct sun and 100-degree heat burn out our road trip? With the “heat dome” descending on the West and 100-plus degree days along the route I really wish we had cooled seats. But I’m still psyched to spend time in the cabin. For those going full EV but looking for a familiar (and very good!) interior – the Mach-E is perfect. Is it good for a 1300 mile adventure road trip? We’ll see.

The 15.5” portrait-oriented, rectangular, glass monolith is best-in-class and the single physical knob for volume is thoughtful, practical, and innovative. You’ll also find this setup in the new F-150 Lightning. I love it. There’s no denying the efficiency, usefulness, and inevitability of touch screen computers controlling vehicle systems. But, newsflash: the digits at the end of our arms are really useful, especially the incredible opposable thumb! Sometimes the brain is most satisfied by using this incredible system to adjust its surroundings. A single-digit sliding across a smooth surface to adjust every possible outcome in our environment isn’t how we’re designed – no matter how good the UI is. The act of grabbing a physical dial to crank up Radar Love through the superb Bang and Olufsen system on a beautiful stretch of empty road is satisfying in a way that’s impossible to replace with a finger slide. It sounds minor, but this is about a road trip and here moments like this matter: emotion, anticipation, and gratification. So, bravo Ford, you nailed this one. Bravo. But don’t take a bow yet, the UI still needs some work.

The Mach-E runs Ford’s new Sync 4A, the same system used in the new F-150 Lightning. It’s very good, considering it’s their first shot at an EV “user interface” with a screen the size of a pizza box. I don’t experience any lag and the menu file structures are intuitive. In reverse, the multiple camera views are appreciated. But the “overhead” “satellite” view (stitched together from side cameras) leaves a black border along the sides of the car, exactly where a visual is most needed. The “overhead” view on our Chevy Bolt is seamless to the edge of the vehicle and if GM can get that right, surely Ford can do better. Most importantly, the system has CarPlay (wireless!), and pairing the iPhone is simple and quick. So many manufacturers get this wrong and it’s inexcusable for new cars to omit CarPlay (looking at you Tesla), honestly, it’s a safety issue. While the wireless CarPlay works flawlessly, the wireless charging, not so much. There are two, side-by-side, wireless charging positions in the center stack – a great feature and useful on a long trip. Unfortunately, my phone only charges about 10 minutes before an error indicates a “charging malfunction” suggesting the phone was misaligned. This message is consistent during our week with the car. I stubbornly refuse to plug in the damn iPhone, despite two ports, USB-A and USB-C, located in the same area.

While the Sync 4A is good for a first pass, there could be more oddball features that surprise and delight. The Mach-E doesn’t need to put on a light show or fart like a Tesla – that would just be derivative. But, it’s a computer, and opportunity is only met halfway. The designers and engineers could take more chances and have more fun. Or, the execs could let the team run with a few crazy ideas. Crazy concepts must exist in notepads and minds. Jim Farley is, after all, a cousin of legendary comic genius Chris Farley. If the team could channel a bit of that panache… imagine! Yes, the synthetic engine noise has been well received but this feature takes itself very seriously! And it won’t make my kids laugh, or surprise guests. OK, spitballing here, how about including an option to play the sound of galloping “mustang” hooves that match the speed of the car during acceleration. Too much? Terrible? Probably. So, I leave it to you Ford, surprise and delight.

Listen, like many of us, I have trust issues with manufacturer navigation software so I rely on a patchwork of third-party apps: Google Maps, Waze, and various EV charging providers. In the Mach-E, this is a misstep but an understandable one. The Sync 4A map is good. The search feature is excellent and the integration into the overall system is functional. I’d like to know where Ford sources the map data – this might bolster confidence for myself and others. (NOTE: the system will not allow both vehicle navigation and CarPlay navigation simultaneously. Choosing “confirm route” on one system will cancel the route in the other.) But, and this is a but that Sir Mix-a-Lot would appreciate, the navigation isn’t perfect.

Charging locations are buried too deep, grouped with restaurants and accommodations. This is a mistake. “Nearest charging station” should be up front, always visible as options on the map (see Tesla). This proves to be an annoyance throughout the trip.
After searching within the map (mostly for charging locations) you cannot “pinch to zoom” to look at specific results within the map. Basic handheld device functionality is missing here, surprising for a 15.5” screen. Interestingly, the map and search features within the FordPass app are much better and I often used this app for the initial search. (More on the FordPass app later.)

These are minor annoyances, not dealbreakers, and Ford is continually updating the system. (NOTE: Between our road trip and publishing Ford added a “view chargers” button to the front page of the app.)

Besides navigation, the system offers convenient customization. Frequently used “app buttons” auto-populate on the main page. The climate control takes a hot minute to learn – but we’re a long past the days of three simple knobs for fan speed, temperature, and floor/vent/defrost. The “E-heat” icon is sure to confuse everyone, Ford should go ahead and lose that. (Note: The Mach-E doesn’t use a heat pump but Darren Palmer, Ford’s GM of Battery EVs told me they’re working on a “high-efficiency vapor injection heat pump”. So… it seems like they’re waiting to incorporate the newest, best technology. For now, that could be a dealbreaker for customers in colder climates.) “Driver assistance” options are thankfully easy to find, where traction control can be turned off (stability control is always on). The system also has three driving modes – these made me crazy. Let’s talk about that.

The Driving Modes?

Yes, the Mach-E is a helluva fun ride. But when saddled up, this pony only travels in one of three “modes”: “Engage”, “Whisper”, or “Unbridled” (basically normal, mellow, or aggressive). I’m not a fan. I can’t be sure what they do so I don’t feel in control of the driving experience. The “mode” descriptions veer into “yoga babble”, a term coined by NYU marketing professor Scott Galloway to describe corporate mission statements that replace specificity with lofty rhetoric. “ Whisper: Seamless, calm, and quiet ” doesn’t say much but “ Unbridled: Exhilarating drive, machine, and road align as one ” somehow uses more words to say even less. This misstep is compounded by the expanse of the blank screen under the text! It seems Ford is trying to describe a desired “vibe” or “emotion” for the driver. Umm, no, just, please… no. Just tell me what the modes do to the car and be clear so I can make a decision and move on. Despite their electric powertrains, EVs are still mechanical instruments and precision is king when expressing vehicle setup.

There is a time and place to employ wordsmithing to express intangible emotional quality but too often this tactic dances around certainty and sidesteps decisiveness. I like certainty and decisiveness in my cars. Don’t misunderstand, driving modes can be very useful but only if you know what they do. In the Mach-E, the descriptions don’t explain what the driving modes do. Drivers can find a bit more info with a deep dive into the digital user manual. Here, they’ll find longer descriptions (more words!) and may be able to decipher what specific characteristics the modes adjust. But this is inadequate.

Don’t present a problem without a solution!

Ford could take a cue from Tesla and offer individual driving characteristics as separate choices: Steering resistance, throttle responsiveness, lift-off regen, along with one-pedal driving and all the rest. (In the future, suspension stiffness would be an appreciated addition.) Then the driver can create a personal setup to save in their driver profile. (Their own, personal “mode”.)
2) Ford could still offer their three driving modes, Engage, Whisper, and Unbridged, as options for customers that don’t want to build a custom profile using specific characteristics. I also suggest adding “conservation mode” dedicated to maximizing regen and reducing power usage for those special occasions when all you care about is squeezing out every last mile per kWh. It happens.

The Storage

Similar to exterior dimensions, interior storage (~ 30 cu.ft. behind rear seats, ~60” cu.ft. when seats folded flat, and ~5 cu.ft. in the frunk – all rounded up) is less than a carry-on bag shy of the Tesla Model Y and Volkswagen ID.4, although the later “people’s car” doesn’t have storage up front. The Mach-E has additional storage under the rear floor, convenient for the charging equipment or keeping items out of sight but it should be said the Model-Y has more under-floor storage. The rear footwell is flat and perfect for a row of grocery bags full of snacks. For us, there are enough cubic inches for a week’s road trip into the mountains. The rear soaks up the XL duffel, climbing and camping gear, (plus extras) and it all fits under the rear shade. The shade rises up with the rear hatch so it’s out the way while loading. A nice touch, but not quite “Built Ford Tough” – high speeds and low windows blow the shade off of its holders every time. However, the shade is removable and conveniently folds up, a feature I should have used. (Yeah, yeah, I know open windows are a gut punch to efficiency but it’s a road trip and this is about Dark Side of the Moon and Colorado mountain air, not the drag coefficient.)

A couple of 12 packs of LeCroix are stored in the frunk and whew, not only is it not insulated (if this is still a question) but the cans get hot, hot, hot. Not so sure about ice, but the drain hole is nice. The dividers are still in place (no one is climbing in the frunk on this trip!), an inconvenient compliance detail that’s easy to remove. The only criticism is the vestigial “hood release” mechanism located under the steering wheel and requiring two pulls. Accessing the frunk is like stepping into the past to access an engine. An annoyance compounded by a double whammy: both the app and the key fob lack a frunk button. Maybe the former will get a button via a software update.

NOTE: In a moment of duress I checked out the trunk to ensure I could sleep there with the seats folded down (the kid gets the front). Sure enough, my 5’ 10” frame could just barely stretch out and catch some z’s if needed. Luckily, it didn’t come to that.

The FordPass App

At the time of writing the Ford Pass app has 4.6 stars on the App Store. That’s about right. For me, it’s solid and functional. The car controls and “phone as a key” (PAAK) work fine. But it’s not perfect (Though it’s much better than the “myChevrolet” app). Annoyingly, to use PAAK, you must set location permissions to “always”. PAAK does not work if you close the app, yet, Ford still wants to track you. Not cool Ford. Not cool at all. Moving on, to their credit, the Ford team knows the app needs constant improvement. And with Jim Farley betting big on electrification, they’re ante-ing up on the updates.

While app functionality is a convenience for ICE vehicles it’s nearly essential for EV charging. Yet it seems the FordPass app is serving both ICE and EV vehicles and this tension could be a drag on customer experience. There are oddities like a “fuel” button next to the “charger” button. As well as a “find a dealer” button on the front page (it’s TWICE as big as “view chargers”) and a “dealers” button on the map page. (They already bought the car, you don’t need to get them into a dealership). Also, one of the best features of EVs is nearly zero maintenance, limiting dealer visits to… nearly zero. The dealership experience remains one of the most disliked aspects of automotive purchasing and ownership. EV customers don’t want dealership reminders unless there’s a DC fast charger there. Perhaps the “fuel” and “dealer” buttons can be removed to optimize the app when used for EVs.

For EV customers, Ford’s biggest challenge isn’t a slick interface or superior functionality. It’s customer awareness and adoption of the ambitious and extensive FordPass charging network. Despite the marketing might by the Blue Oval, convincing EV customers to incorporate the app into their world remains tricky. My story is a case in point. With an EV in the stable, I use an array of charging and map apps: EVGo, Charge Point, Electrify America, and PlugShare combined with Google Maps, Waze, and Apple Maps. Annoying but effective. So, like many, I plan the trip using a system I know. I assume the “manufacturer” app is… suboptimal. And, other than the aforementioned automotive functionality, I give FordPass… a pass. This is unfortunate. It’s not until a nightmare charging experience in Aspen (more on that later) and a call with the Ford team that I learn the most important feature in FordPass – the Charging Network.

Here’s the deal (literally), the FordPass Charging Network aggregates data from the biggest standalone charging providers (Electrify America, ChargePoint, EVGO, etc…) and seamlessly combines this info to create the biggest single charging network in the country. This means I can use the network to find available chargers (filtering for desired options like level 2 or DC Fast, etc.) and I can use the FordPass app to pay and start charging (instead of the charging unit). This does, in fact, mitigate a big EV pain point. The next day I adjust the filters, then use the FordPass app to find a (ChargePoint) DC Fast charger on the route, and activate it when I arrive. No more third-party charging apps. One app to rule them all, and it actually works! I use this system for the rest of the trip. For me, it works great. Seriously.

Listen, the FordPass Charging Network still doesn’t have all the chargers. To see everything , PlugShare is your huckleberry. But Ford says they’re continuing to add more providers to the network. FordPass could be a game changer. Could. Now, Ford just needs to spread the word.

The Battery (for the nerds)

Let’s talk about the battery. The Mach-E has a 98.7 kWh battery. That’s big. Bigger than the biggest battery available the Tesla Model Y. But Ford adjusted how they’re communicating the size, now saying the same battery has 88 kWh “available”. That’s 11% of the battery that seems to be “unavailable”. Honestly, I’m unsure exactly what this means or how to compare it to contemporaries. Info is tough to find. And this makes it tricky to build a point-of-view on the Mach-E battery performance. But, do customers care? Most people don’t even know the volume of their fuel tank.

So, because the charging curve drops like a rock at 80%, if you’re on the road, you’re disincentivized to charge beyond that – not worth the time. If the math works, this means you’re only using 70.4kWh of the battery, or 71% of the TOTAL battery size. More math. If the 98.7 kWh battery in the Mach-E weighs about 1,500 lbs. (300 pounds heavier than Tesla’s smaller Model Y battery) this means you’re hauling around 435 lbs. that you’re almost never using. Literally, dead weight. And if the Mach-E weighed in at 4,365 lbs, as opposed to 4,800 lbs., the revised power-to-weight ratio would approach 12 lbs/ hp and a very different driving experience. And it’s already very, very good.

(NOTE: Battery weight info is hard to find so the data could be off.)

An analysis by Green Car Reports suggests Ford may be leaving this some kWh (11%) on the table to soak up battery degradation over time (all batteries slowly lose charge capacity, like a gas tank slowly getting smaller!) ensuring the Mach-E’s battery maintains it’s original advertised charge capacity for “six, eight, or possibly even 10 years.” However, when Ford has more data on battery performance (years of data!) the numbers may suggest the batteries are performing better than expected. Then Ford may unlock part of that 11% to offer new customers a larger capacity battery without new hardware. Getting crazy here, the increased capacity could also be provided to existing customers through an OTA update. Just a bit speculative for now but oh so interesting.

(NOTE: When Ford, or other manufacturers, do OTA updates information flows both ways. If you opt-in, they collect information on your EV performance. This is a VERY good thing. This keeps the technology moving forward).

The Highway Charging

Our highway route runs from Venice, CA to just beyond Grand Junction, CO. It’s entirely Electrify America stations, except a single level 2 charger at a hotel (it didn’t work). There are more than enough EA stations along the route and the longest distance between stations is about 110 miles. The 88 kWh (available) battery in the Mach-E gets 270 miles at 100%, but we never charge much more than 80%. This is a result of a charging curve that goes full kamikaze after 80%, only adding around 1 mile every 5 minutes (that’s slow!) and a dearth of overnight charging infrastructure at hotels. (Corporate partnership opportunity?)

At 80%, the Mach-E estimates around b miles of range, on average. (Range estimates vary from mid 170s to mid 190s because yes, I’m driving like an a-hole. Don’t judge.) If my math is correct this is about 2.63 miles per kWh. Some people like that stat, for me it’s not important. We’re driving fast, going uphill, using the AC, and blasting music. And it’s a press car. I assume estimates are on the low side. EA jumps are typically ~90 miles or less and with 185 miles in the “tank” there’s no range anxiety here. I feel good, free to focus on other things. This makes for a good road trip. Playlist? Food? Hotels?

The first section is Venice to Barstow via Palmdale. This avoids an ever-present blood-red ribbon representing the 15 just north of San Bernardino. We pull into Barstow at 38%. The data says we can make it to the next EA station in Baker but I don’t want to risk it. This exemplifies the entire highway leg. EA stations are about 80-90 miles apart (EA says 70 but like most things out west, this section is more stretched out) and range estimates around 185 miles, to leapfrog or not to leapfrog, this is the question .

Road trip charging strategy is kinda like F1 tire strategy. Do you go for a two-stopper and absorb more downtime or do you attempt to finish (each leg) in one stop, riskier but potentially faster?

Normally, I don’t mind pushing the fuel gauge deep into the red. But it’s not the same in an EV. Ford’s Darren Palmer said the car can run into single digits without concern. And reviews indicate Ford underestimates the range. But still… we’re climbing nearly 5000 feet before turning off the highway and elevation gain is a range eater (Is there a Naismith’s Rule for EVs?) We’re also on a tight schedule with a limited window to climb the mountains. We can’t afford to get stranded. How would that even work? We decide on two-stoppers.

So here we are, hopping from EA station to EA station, to hotel. Rinse and repeat. The chargers are typically in a Walmart or Sam’s Club parking lot, or a gas station/convenience store. Serviceable. A notable exception is the EA facility at the impossibly cute Green River Coffee Co. in the eponymous town. An unexpected pleasure. Typically, we’re pulling in with 20-30% charge. Charge times are consistently 30-40 minutes. I’m not really counting minutes in either direction. The system works and it’s consistent. That’s what I care about. Remarkably, the “plug and charge” feature works perfectly almost every time. (Honestly, I had low expectations.) This means you pull in, plug in, and the car charges. No app, no payments, no worries. The “handshake”, or time for the charger to communicate with the car prior to charging, seems to vary between 10 seconds and over a minute. This is largely based on the charger. I know others have had charging issues, specifically with the plug and charge feature, but this isn’t my experience. The EA “plug and charge” is very good. Is it perfect? No. A 38 kWh charge rate forces us to swap charge stations once (but only once!) and at the final EA charging stop, the car won’t accept a charge. Instead of electricity, we get 30 minutes of error messages. The cause of the error messages is frustratingly unclear. After a day burning through Utah with average speeds over 90 and ambient temps over 100, I worry the battery is too hot and must cool before charging. Later, Ford tells me this likely isn’t the case – but either way, after 30 minutes the car mysteriously starts charging. No idea why.

We’re the only car at the EA facilities except on two occasions. At a North Las Vegas Walmart there’s not one, but TWO other Mach-Es. (Vegas, Baby!) Interestingly, when we pull up one owner tells me the charger didn’t work for him but I plug in and bam(!) it starts charging, right to 159 kWh. (Charging voodoo works both ways!) Both owners love their Mach-Es, almost in that Tesla acolyte kinda way. One guy actually swapped from a Tesla into a Mach-E. And he’s using the frunk as a cooler – who knows, maybe that’s why he swapped! He dumps several bags of ice into the frunk, with drinks, and couldn’t be happier. I’m not sure so sure. The LeCroixs in our (uninsulated!) frunk are like drinking from a volcanic hot spring. In 15 minutes that Mach-E will be leaking from the drain like a Cars character with bladder problems. Despite the overwhelming enthusiasm for the vehicles, both owners complain about the FordPass app: problems with pairing and not-so-great experiences with PAAK. But it’s their only issue. (And they don’t know each other!) Hopefully, Ford’s aforementioned updates ameliorate their woes. At the next stop, we meet a family in the Volkswagen ID.4, on their own road trip. The wife loves the Mach-E, test drove it, and thought it handled better… but “the ID.4 was a better choice” for them. Subtext: price was the decider. With the Mach-E close to a $10k premium for similar range, that’s understandable. Especially when the young kids will reign destruction (and boogers!) upon the interior.

CAUTION: We all must sleep. So, unless you’re camping, trucking, or behind bars, (gotta watch those speed traps!) you’re overnighting in a rented room. And hotel EV charging infrastructure is thin. You can find it, but what must you sacrifice? Outside St. George, Utah there’s a new Best Western with a few chargers, but these don’t work for us. And neither our Hilton property in Colorado Springs nor Denver has chargers. The lesson, if you’re taking to the road in an EV, don’t count on overnight charging. ALL hotels should install, at minimum, multiple Level 2 chargers and educate their employees on the systems. Looking at you Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, and IGH. Sort. It. Out.

Overall, my experience with highway charging using the Electrify America network and “plug and charge” is very, very good. Not perfect, but nothing is. As long you keep tabs on the EA stations and don’t get caught out between stations, all is good. The same goes for gas stations when you’re driving out west, it’s a thing. Sure, it takes a bit longer to “fill up” compared to gasoline but how often are you going for F1 pit stop speeds (2 seconds!) on a road trip? Unless you departed the Red Ball at zero-dark-thirty and have reservations at the Portofino Hotel you’re probably taking a beat to hit the bathroom, clean the windscreen, and grab a drink. And at that point, in the Mach-E, you’re back at 80%.

NOTE: Ford included free charging within the FordPass network so charging cost was not considered. I did not run a comparison on cost per mile. I was testing smiles per mile.

The Highway Driving

Superb. Hauling ass on the highway in the Mustang Mach-E is great. This e-pony gallops for long stretches in the high double digits and still passes instantly when provoked. Immediate EV torque, even at highway speeds is gratifying, helpful, and dare I say it, safer. There’s no downshift, pause to build power, or second thoughts, simply make the request and you’re already past. The ride is smooth and predictable on rougher sections of “maintenance deferred” tarmac (even at speed!). The driving is even better when the highway weaves into Utah and Colorado’s canyons. Here, you’re still just shy of triple digits but the beautiful roads have more bite. Weaving through long radius esses, the Mach-E feels stable, planted, and predictable. There’s a hint of body roll but very little relative to the weight. As the canyons tighten, the car gets more fun. But these aren’t mountain twisties. There’s no braking just confident, subtle, and smooth direction change. Even if the handling is a bit short on feedback, it’s still a good ride!

Co-Pilot 360 Assist 2.0 is great. For our road trip, it’s huge. The lane centering and adaptive cruise control system is the third member of our crew, the grabber blue metallic missile seemingly driving itself on hundreds of miles of highway. This is a real help when you need your hands to eat a sandwich or slam some GORP. (No meal breaks!) The Speed Sign Recognition catches me by surprise but I love it – a clever layer of defense against the dreaded reduced limit speed trap. Co-Pilot 360 is a great system but not yet at the level of Tesla’s autopilot. When tested, tighter sections of highway are too much and the system gives up control. You need to pay attention. But… the Mach-E (along with the F-150) is equipped with the latest hardware to enable (via an OTA update) Ford’s new BlueCuise level 2 driver assist system, unlocking autonomous driving similar to GM’s Super Cruise and Tesla’s Autopilot. If only the damn cars could pick up my kids from soccer practice.

The Backroad Charging

The backroad route dives off the highway in Colorado, between Grand Junction and Denver, and climbs into the Rockies toward Aspen, with a detour to Snowmass. Then we continue climbing over Independence Pass, down through Twin Lakes, into Buena Vista, and onto Colorado Springs with another climb up Pikes Peak. If you haven’t been to Colorado that probably doesn’t mean much. So, it’s like 500 miles of backroads climbing and descending thousands of feet. Amazing roads, but is the charging infrastructure sufficient?

Charging the Mach-E on backroads isn’t as smooth as the Electrify America highway system. There are no “plug and charge” or 350 kWh chargers. And DC fast chargers a few, far between, and of varying wattage (50kWh instead of 150kWh).

In Snowmass, the Mach-E sucks down juice from a 110v outlet and takes a nap alongside an AMG S63 Cabriolet, Audi SQ7, 1965 Porsche 356SC Cabriolet, Defender 90, and an assortment of dirt bikes. Come morning, the stablemates all want to hear from the Mach-E. They’re impressed by this new EV. We don’t mention last night’s lackluster charging. After exactly 10 hours the car adds 25 miles or 2.5 miles per hour. You know, walking speed. Note to self, don’t get caught out and need to wall charge – deadlines will crumble.

Next stop Aspen. I love this town but… it’s BY FAR the worst charging experience on the trip. Away from the EA network, I’m using PlugShare to sort chargers (haven’t yet pivoted to the FordPass Charging Network). There are nine charging locations and only two are DC Fast. Should be okay… riiiiiight? Ha. No. It’s the middle of a weekday and both DC Fast chargers are occupied by Teslas… looking smug. The Level 2 chargers on the street? Also occupied. No available chargers… in town… at all.

Now, let’s talk about America’s EV charging infrastructure. There’s not enough of it for future EVs. Aspen is affluent and ahead of the curve. People here own EVs now . But the technology’s getting better and more affordable. Soon most people will own EVs. It will happen fast. Sure, people can charge their vehicles at home, overnight, etc. But most residences don’t have the infrastructure to DC fast change, and they won’t. So, this whole charging SNAFU in Aspen, it’s coming to a town near you in about five years. Unless we double down on electric infrastructure. Which we won’t. Because we like to learn the hard way.

The experience doesn’t improve when I finally get a spot at a DC Fast Charger. After a few tries, the damn ChargePoint system still won’t give me electricity. And the stainless steel flap covering the charging handle bites my hand. Now I’m bleeding all over, the car’s not charging, and I’m late for lunch at Clarke’s. Expletives flow forth like the crimson fluid covering my hand. The humiliation is amplified by the stream of people looking at, asking about, and photographing the Mach-E. A couple of teenage boys utterly ignore a Ferrari burbling by (license plate: FERRARI), intoxicated by Ford’s latest concoction. But don’t worry, we sort it out. I’ve got a medkit in the climbing bag – hand sorted. And… I delete my entire ChargePoint account and reinstall – Boom, charging sorted. Walking away from the car I get a call from a Ford tech (I called them in the middle of this nightmare) and she tells me the ChargePoint system should be in the FordPass network and if I had used the FordPass app to activate the charger it probably would have fired right up.

After lunch, the battery’s at 92% (with 208 miles of range) and we point the Mustang’s snarled nose toward Independence Pass and flick the reigns. I love this road. We’re now wide awake after that midday charging nightmare and the drive is all the more beautiful. The road and sky are clear and we’re at 12,095 feet before we know it. We drop down the east side of the Continental Divide to the tiny town of Twin Lakes, home for the next couple of days. No charging here. The innkeeper offers a 110 outlet but I decline. It’s not worth the trouble and we’ve got more than enough range to cover the 44 miles to the next DC Fast charger in Buena Vista, CO. He’s considering installing a level 2 – I’m not the only guest asking about charging. I bet he’s not alone. I bet there are lots of small business owners, B&Bs, motels, etc. that want to install EV chargers. Someone should help these people.

The Mach-E takes a rest day while my son and I take on Mt. Elbert, the second-highest mountain in the lower 48. During post-climb beers at the Twin Lakes Saloon (for me, not my son, he’s only 12!) I deep dive into the FordPass app and Charging Network. After tweaking the filters, sure enough, the system shows the charger I so thoroughly mismanaged in Aspen. The Ford tech was right on. The system also identifies an in-network DC Fast charger in Buena Vista. Onward.

The beautiful town of Buena Vista has one ChargePoint DC Fast Charger. Only one. And at 50 kW it’s not that “fast”! Once plugged in I find the charger in the FordPass app, make sure to select the correct unit (there are a few level 2 chargers on site) and then select “Activate”. Sure enough, after a couple of clicks and hums from the charger, the Mach-E is charging. Easy enough, but not perfect. After a few minutes, the car throws an error code: “Charge station fault. See manual.” (NOTE: There’s no mention of “Charge station fault” in the digital or physical manuals!) But despite the error message, the Mach-E continues charging. Glitchy, but I’ll take it. We add about 90 miles in 50 minutes and move on. No resolution on the error message.

This is a good lesson. On road trips, charging stops with only a single DC fast charger don’t inspire confidence. If there are any technical issues or other EVs you’re stuck for hours at a level 2, charging at 7 kWh, adding only 25 miles each hour. Luckily, this didn’t happen to us, but it sure could have.

The rest of the charging is in Colorado Springs where there are three DC Fast charge locations (still doesn’t seem like very many!) and Denver where there’s plenty of juice. At the ChargePoint locations, activation is smooth with the FordPass app. (Once again!) Lesson learned.

Overall, the charging experience on Colorado’s backroads is good. There are just enough DC fast chargers (almost exclusively ChargePoint) to make the most out of the Mach-E’s typical range of 185 miles at 80% charge. Honestly, with more focused planning that prioritizes accommodations with overnight charging, you could stop much less. But that’s not what this is about. We’re asking if you can simply jump in the Mach-E, go on an adventure, and sort out “fueling” en route. The answer is definitely yes! But like any adventure or any great road, be ready to embrace the twists and turns. If the sole DC Fast charger is down, you might be stuck in a random town charging at 25 miles per hour. But who knows, you might be luckier for it. There’s no adventure without risk.

The Backroad Driving

Independence Pass (Colorado State Highway 82) runs 37 miles, climbing 5000 feet from Aspen before crossing the Continental Divide at 12,095 feet and dropping 3400 feet to Twin Lakes. A beautiful drive with long radius sweeps, lots of medium-speed turns, and a couple of tight switchbacks. It’s fun and just a bit edge-y, occasionally narrowing to just over a car width, squeezed between mountain and cliff. It’s no wonder Red Bull featured Independence Pass in Max Verstappen’s cross country adventure in the beautiful RB7, (check out the link!) the same car in which Sebastian Vettel won the 2011 F1 championship!

The Mach-E is fun as hell – better in the mountains than anticipated considering its mass. While precise, it’s not a precision instrument, it doesn’t “attack the corners” like an F1 car, but the RB7 can’t hold climbing gear in the back, food in the middle, and drinks (On ice!) in the front. Independence Pass is mostly medium and long turns and the car feels exceptionally planted with only a whiff of body roll. (Wait, does that sound kinda weird?) The handling inspires enough confidence along the cliffs to make passengers nervous. The steering is sharp and compliant (I wish I could say the same about so many people), if not eager. It’s definitely not twitchy like other “sporty” EVs. It rotates nicely but as turns tighten and turn-in speeds drop, understeer creeps in. But at over 5000 pounds (including the driver) what do you expect? Maybe I’m just struggling to arrest that momentum. Maybe it’s the… brakes. The braking system is a blend of regenerative braking via the electric motors and mechanical friction brakes, 18-inch vented rotors and 4-piston calipers up front, and 17-inch solid rotors with a single caliper in the rear. (The red Brembos look hot!) So, the first part of brake-pedal travel is only regen with the mechanic brakes kicking in later. For me, the transition to mechanical brakes was unpredictable and grabby. The experience may be specific to this vehicle (Press cars get a workout!) but either way, when I’m hard on the brakes before a tight turn this Mustang feels just a bit unsettled and unpredictable, throwing off the turn. Honestly, it’s a minor quibble. The Mach-E’s not designed exclusively for performance. (Tracking is discouraged!) And overall, it’s a blast to drive.

Pikes Peak Highway climbs just over 19 miles from base to summit, a combination of long, sweeping turns and tight, cliff-edge switchbacks. The higher you climb, the more incredible the view. (After all, this view inspired America the Beautiful .) The mountain’s also a tourist destination and it takes 6 miles of climbing before traffic thins out enough for enthusiastic driving. Luckily, we’re only concerned with the top two-thirds. This is the route of the annual Pike’s Peak International Hillclimb: The Race to the Clouds . Started in 1912, it’s one of America’s oldest races. Climbing 12.42 miles through 156 distinct turns with massive temperature changes is one of the world’s most challenging circuits. And we came to drive it. We’re here for the road, not the view. But we’re not “racing”, we’re simply seeking gaps between SUVs and passenger vans loaded with view-seekers.

Here, the brakes are still grabby but it’s less unsettling. Maybe I’m used to the feel or maybe I’m better at tossing around the weight. Either way, the brake-turn transitions are smoother and I feel more confident. This is… (ahem) good… because the top third of the mountain is non-stop, hairpin, switchbacks, with copious exposure. (There are some gnarly videos out there of brave PPIHC drivers misjudging corners.) The sheer quantity of slow-speed corners is an opportunity to fully appreciate the pull of this pony upon exit. Enthusiastically load up the go-fast pedal as the road straightens and the Mach-E shoots out. Grabbing a bit of speed is anything but unbridled, it’s linear and controlled. For me, the Mach-E’s acceleration is most exciting with some momentum, rather than from a standstill. If you’re into stoplight-to-stoplight time trials en-route to soccer practice, the Mach-E will beat most kid haulers, but some 5-seat EVs are more violent on blast off. But… to haul people and gear on a road trip through the mountains while enjoying every twist and turn… look no further the Mach-E.

The last couple of miles atop Pikes Peak are closed due to construction at the summit. (PPIHC is also adjusting this year’s finish line!) Interestingly, a thunderstorm descends on the summit while we’re there. But the lightning and hail have little effect on a group of EV owners interested in checking out the Mach-E! Heading down I use “one-pedal drive” mode to gain range. We don’t experience the “One-Pedal Drive Fault” or re-gen related overheating reported elsewhere.

Between Twin Lakes and Pikes Peak are beautiful stretches of unpaved state roads. A perfect place to check out the Mustang-ish 25/75 rear-axle bias. This is where I have the most fun, here on the dirt and rock, where the Mach-E nukes expectations. (And the car is at home?!) A few clicks through “driver assistance” and traction control is “off”. (Stability control is always on. Will off be an option in the GT?) A quick flick along with the skinny pedal consistently induces yaw… and smiles. In a medium-speed series of bends (esses?) the rear swings from one turn (kinda) into the next in a lively but messy maneuver. The chassis doesn’t complain despite the low, 5.7” ground clearance. (About the same as a stock Mustang coupe!) I expect it to bottom out at least once but the gnarly scraping and accompanying wince never arrive. (OK, we weren’t exactly rock crawling, but still…) The car feels solid and Earle McPherson’s tried and true suspension setup carries the weight well. (Original 1949 Ford patent #2,660,449!) The electronics don’t take over or glitch and seem ok with slip they’re likely programmed to mitigate. Listen, an early review found the Mach-E lacking on unpaved roads… this wasn’t my experience. The steed is surprisingly composed with reasonable input, but with a flick of the reins and a whack of the spurs, it swings its ass side-to-side and tosses stones in the air like it just doesn’t care. Love it. LOVE. IT.

Looking in the rearview mirror, the Mach-E is a fantastic driver, mostly because it’s not a one-trick pony. The long highway stretches, twisting mountainside ribbons, lose dirt backroads… it’s all a ton of fun. Ok, maybe two and a half tons of fun. And it’s sophisticated, comfortable, and familiar… with usable interior space. For this adventure road trip, it’s perfect. Is it a perfect car? No. Lots of room to improve. Is it perfect for us and for this? Yes.

Ok, I get it, we’re all short on time. So here you go.

Is the Mustang Mach-E 4x First Edition a good adventure road tripper for enthusiasts? Yes. I love it. The exterior looks great. It’s sporty, muscular, and attracts attention (if you’re into that kinda thing). It’s the best-looking EV in its class. All this makes me feel good. The interior is also very, very good. The screen (15.5”!) and accompanying dial, materials, seats, seating position, and glass roof combine to make Mach-E a superb place to spend time and make up for the limited USB outlets and UI that need a bit more work. The vestigial “hood release” is laughable but there’s enough storage in the front and rear for a road trip. Charging is fast and the available range makes the trip easy and relatively drama-free, even though the charging curve limits the car to 80% of battery capacity on road trips (~185 miles of range) and requires us to stop a bit more often. Most importantly, it’s tremendous to drive. On the highway, in the mountains, on the dirt, it’s… So. Much. Fun. I don’t want to give it back. And this is what matters most to me. Like all good things, I’m left wanting more. I’m looking forward to Ford’s next big EV moves and the true potential of this incredible Mustang Mach-E platform. I can’t wait for the GT… and the models after that. How will the technology and lessons from the incredible Mach-E 1400 find their way into production? (How about a “safari” version with a light lift and an offroad body kit? Oh, hell yeah.) Good times are ahead.

But… make no mistake, Ford is the underdog. Their years behind Tesla and Ford’s EV production is a fraction of what Tesla cranks out. Ford has produced maybe 40,000 EVs in-house, Tesla has produced over a million. (Enthusiasts looking for a fight might cite the companies’ size: (on paper) Tesla is over 10x bigger, by market capitalization. But I would never use such a loaded statistic.) No, the rich history and cultural significance of the Blue Oval don’t guarantee victory, even if the company defeated Ferrari at LeMans. To use a final Formula One reference, the Mach-E is in second place but it’s not in the slipstream, it’s in dirty air where following is tough and gaining… even tougher. Now, Jim Farley and his talented EV team need to drive smarter and push harder to continue making up ground. The Mach-E is very, very good, but still, it’s not good enough… not yet. And I don’t know about you, but me, I root for the underdog. Every time. Drive fast and take chances.

The Epilogue

Not only did I love the Mustang Mach-E for an adventure road trip story, now I want to buy one for my family. Seriously.

Patrick Costello

Patrick is an unscripted television creator, executive producer, and showrunner. He brought to air Truck Night In America and Top Gear (USA) – both on History Channel. His first car was a 1970 BMW 1602 and he still daily drives his manual 1997 Jeep Cherokee. IG: @jamespatrickcostello

9 responses to “Road Trip Review: The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E from California to Colorado”

Awesome experience! I just (begrudgingly) had to turn my press loaner Mach-E in last week. It’s very much something I would spend my own money on, and I don’t say that about most press loaners.

Interesting read, thanks. I laughed at the TL:DR, if you’ve made it that far…

With the frunk mounted with all the powertrain cooling stuff I dare say even insulating it is probably a waste of time for storing cold stuff (versus a cooler in the trunk, boring as that may be), better to store stuff not affected by heat.

Have you seen Sandy Munro’s review of the Mach E? I’ve only seen a bit where he was making a big deal of less than elegant/simple cooling circuits, and also a mention that now he is a Tesla shareholder and not as impartial as he used to be.

I have to ask. How was the AC in this serious western desert heat? Our Accord with auto climate struggles (it’s 10 years old) but our GX is like an old GM frigidiaire. I hate loud blowers, adds to the fatigue of a long drive in hot temps.

One of the big benefits of EVs and Hybrids is the electric AC compressor. The electric power means that compressor can run at the needed rpm instead of being tied to engine rpm. With the ICE driven compressor it needs to be designed to not explode when you rev it to redline but then is expected to be able to cool the car when loafing along at cruising speed.

Interesting comment on the Mach E and charging infrastructure. I never thought about the US 110V electrical system being an issue for overnight charging on granny plugs…my house is at 254-256V, and the difference does work out to be substantial for everyday charging/driving. It’s an obvious thing, but it became clear to me only now. Taking boogers into account upon car purchases makes sense and is an age-old approach for tired parents.

Here in Norway, charging infrastructure is good and you have at least type 2 charging at most overnight locations. There are still issues though. With two pandemic style summer vacations in a row, in a country with ~60% EVs among new cars, almost everyone has to wait for charging. From Tesla’s network to various other offerings, prepare to take a longer break. Some camping sites have also been reported to have ridiculous pricing; 40$ for 4$ worth of electricity are common. You’re still beating gas, but in a lacklustre way.

There’s also a few things I disagree with. Ford is never the underdog. They’re literally the first behemoth, and never stopped being one. The fact that they’re late is only and exclusively due to decisions at the product planning level. Every single big car company had the means to take on Tesla right away, but they didn’t. That doesn’t make them underdogs. The Mach E isn’t the first real Tesla match either, I’d look to Polestar for that and say the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is the real Tesla beater with an existing, progressive lineage – also from an industry titan though.

The issues with rapid charging to 80% are not Mach E specific. That’s just a lithium battery thing and shouldn’t be Ford’s troubles alone. Overall, I’m not very clear on what exactly are the negative points on the Mach E ref. your tl;dr.

US homes also have 220-240V circuits, typically for high consumption appliances and often used for installed EV chargers. 110-120v is the normal plug which will only give that trickle to an EV.

“Some camping sites have also been reported to have ridiculous pricing; 40$ for 4$ worth of electricity are common.”

Many of the early adopters of EVs used the campground trick to do road trips. I know a couple of those early adopters and they reported a range of reactions from the camp grounds. There were a few that let people charge for free if they had unsold spaces, others that wanted a full night’s rate and others some where in-between. (In the US it is not uncommon for campgrounds set up for larger trailers and RVs to have a 30a 240v or occasionally 50a 240v outlets for each space) One of the guys who were early Leaf buyers and the Tesla Roadster owner had their charging equipment on a piece of plywood with a cord attached and they carried a number of adapters so they could charge from various RV and dryer outlets.

Yeah, I’ve read about that. There’s a difference between occupying a full RV spot for charging and having outlets and chargers at the parking lot though. I can understand if the campground is near full, occupying a spot has a cost. Chargers at the parking lot though should function by different rules with reasonable prices.

I’ve lamented the lack of a four door shooting brake based on the Mustang as it would be my ideal car, I could see the Mach-e filling that void and being a damned fun commuter.

Re: Big trips out West…I was in Lajitas, Texas one time and there was a dude that bravely took his Model 3 all the way out there. There’s no fast charging infrastructure in Lajitas, because in Lajitas, there’s barely anything at all. Anyway, he left his car plugged in for like 3 days, hope he made it back to the one charger in Marfa or Fort Davis.

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Our heart says "Ford Mustang" or similar we will be using Avis do to status with them. However we will have 2 large suitcases plus carry ons. We don't really want to advertise "tourist" with cases on back seat. I'm worried the bags won't fit in the boot/trunk or the Mustang so am considering something larger but would love to open road experience.

We will be traveling as a couple in February

Fastback or convertible?

Look at the specifications.

http://www.ford.com/cars/mustang/2017/models/v6-fastback/

If you do a search on ford mustang trunk space you can see lots of talk and hand wringing and youtube videos.

An old post of mine generated a lot of conflicting views / advice

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g1-i12567-k7681435-Ford_Mustang_good_car_for_Road_Trip-Road_Trips.html

You pays your money ... you takes your choice!

We rented a dodge challenger for our 2 week southern road trip and had no issues fitting 2 large suitcases and 2 carry on bags.

Although with shopping it quickly filled

Challenger has a much bigger trunk than Mustang or Camaro. Challenger is also not available as a convertible.

You might want to rethink the size of your bags. Two large suitcases probably means you are packing too much. If you pare down the amount of stuff you take, a Mustang will work.

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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MOCSEM Mustang Memories 2020 Road Tour

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Jul 23, 2020 | compiled by ford performance staff, mocsem takes mustang memories to the streets in aug. 16 road tour.

When we first reported back on June 4, 2020, that the Mustang Owners Club of SouthEastern Michigan (MOCSEM) was forced to cancel its 45 th Anniversary “Mustang Memories” Show planned for August due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we noted that the club was intent on coming up with another idea in place of its mega one-day all-Ford extravaganza. That show is held each year at Ford World Headquarters and has long been the hot-ticket Ford event to attend each summer the Sunday following the famed Woodward Dream Cruise.

That note we posted from MOCSEM president Mike Rey had said, “ Although we can’t have the event we hoped to have, we are actively working on plans for something different on or around that weekend. We will do our best to make it the type of event that only MOCSEM can offer. Details will be released just as soon as we have them.”

Well, we are pleased to announce that we now have them. In fact, MOCSEM has announced a whole series of events taking place leading up to the traditional Woodward cruise weekend that had been cancelled for 2020. Check the MOCSEM website for details on the week’s activities, which include a Mohawk Track Experience at Gingerman Raceway, a local Drive-In movie, a Cruise-In at a nearby Ford dealership, and the “M1 Motorsports ‘Crusin’ the Concourse” event on the Saturday that the Dream Cruise was to have been held. Then comes “Mustang Memories” – only “with a twist,” as MOCSEM is taking this show on the road as its main event for the week, called the “Mustang Memories Road Tour.” As MOCSEM explains it, “We couldn’t have the show we wanted, so we decided to have four instead. This is an event like no other that will combine a road rally with a car show. You will begin at Ford’s Garage in Dearborn where you will receive instructions. Following those instructions throughout the day, you will travel to four car shows, each at a unique location with a unique focus. They’ll all be different and have different things to do and see. You’ll get a little over an hour at each show and then you’ll go on to the next. Your instructions will tell you where to go and when and you’ll be rewarded at the end with one of our club’s signature goodie bags -- if you hit all the locations at the right times.”

The club won’t reveal the special locations until participants pick up their info packets, but they’re all less than 30 minutes apart, and include very special stops and attractions for any Ford fan. It’s a road rally and four shows in one day, Sunday August 16 th from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The cost is $20 per car and preregistration is required, with only Ford-powered cars allowed. The number of cars is limited so don’t wait until the last minute to register. To sign up, visit http://www.mocsem.com/mustang_memories/mustang_memories_v2.php and we’ll see you there!

Mustangs On A Mission Event to Host a Virtual Car Show Plus Unique Online Celebrity Panel Q&A on August 22-23

So how does an event organizer hold a car show and a meet & greet with a myriad of hobby celebrities so that every enthusiast can experience both without fear of health consequences during the COVID-19 Pandemic? Why, he creates something new in the virtual world, that’s how! And that’s exactly the idea behind “Mustangs On A Mission: The Experience” that will be held August 22 nd without the need for attendees to travel a single mile. All you need is to register and have access to an internet connection. Here’s the full story: "On the Road Again" was the title of a famous Willie Nelson song. Unfortunately 2020 has kept most of us at home and not on the road -- way more than we would ever have planned, in fact. Hitting the road this year to attend car shows and events can be summed up in one word: cancelled. Staying home taking care of the kids because schools have been closed and figuring out how to work from home has changed many of our lives. Having meetings from our home offices, living rooms or dining rooms has become – as they now say – the new normal. The term “Zoom Meeting” has become part of our everyday life. So it is that many of our daily activities have become virtual ones, and even for enthusiasts, enjoying our weekends have now been possible due to the advent of the Online Virtual Car Show . If you have been on the Mustang and Ford car show circuit over the past several years, then you likely know or have heard of Dan Neve and his “Cruise for a Cause” crusade. Neve has been traveling the country attending Ford and Mustang events for more than a decade now, raising awareness and funds in the fight against breast and prostate cancer. But the cancellation of car shows this year has crippled Dan’s important mission and donations have dropped drastically. It was a friend who told Dan that he needed to do something to continue to do the great work without traveling to shows, so he needed to come up with a unique online event. Virtual car shows were already happening, so what could be done to make Neve’s not only different but special?

After Dan reached out to others in the hobby and active in social media, an idea was surfaced to create a platform for enthusiasts to not only showcase their cars but to also have them interact with some of the top names in the Mustang hobby. That’s when "Mustangs on a Mission: The Experience" was born, and it’s set to place the weekend of August 22-23, 2020.

The team of Dan Neve (Cruise for a Cause); Doug Sandler (‘Ford Mustang the Early Years’ Podcast Host and Producer); Mike Rey (President of the Mustang Owners Club of South Eastern Michigan); John Clor (Enthusiast Communications Manager, Ford Performance); Bradley Belcher (Millennial Mustang Registry President); Natasha De Melis (Mustang Performance Social Communications and "Mustang Marie" Public Figure); and Jaron Cole (Founder of Mustangology and Mustang Fan Club) finalized the idea and reached out to their contacts to assemble a panel for the live interaction part of the show. So far, they have recruited the likes of Dave Pericak, Jim Owens, Mark Schaller, Art Hyde, Kevin Marti, Aaron Shelby, Vaughn Gittin Jr., Carl Widmann, Jack Roush Jr. Billy Johnson, Lee Holman, Justin Pawlak, Gary Patterson, Amy Boylan, Donald Farr, The Ring Brothers, and the list goes on and on . . .

So for your chance to show off your ride, see many other fine Fords and not only hear from these Ford experts and professionals online, but to also get some of your questions answered – all from the comfort of your own home -- make sure to sign up early as bandwidth will be limited. Simply visit https://www.mustangsonamission.org/ to see all of the names that will be taking part in this two-day virtual event and to register, as you will not want to miss what will surely be the epic Virtual Mustang event for 2020!

Get Your Tickets for the 2020 Roush Stage 3 Mustang Raffle to Support the Restoration of Historic Fair Lane Estate

Whenever we get an email from Edsel Ford II, you can bet all of us at Ford Performance pay serious attention – and this time you should, too. That’s because the note we received from the great grandson of Henry Ford (and son of Henry Ford II) offers some great news for Ford fans, who now can not only have the chance to win a brand-new high-performance Mustang, but also to help in the ongoing restoration efforts on the Ford Fair Lane Estate in Dearborn. Here’s Mr. Ford’s note, entitled: “2020 Roush Stage 3 Mustang Raffle To Support Fair Lane Estate Restoration:” “I would like to invite you to join me in supporting the ongoing restoration of Fair Lane: Home of Clara and Henry Ford. As an independent non-profit organization, Fair Lane relies on philanthropy and contributions to fund its work to preserve and restore this National Historic Landmark. “Like many non-profit organizations, this year they needed to find a different way to raise funds and are excited to announce the launch of an online raffle where you can enter to win an amazing one-of-a-kind 2020 Roush Stage 3 Mustang. You could be the lucky winner and command the road with this custom, 1-of-1, 2020 Roush Stage 3 Mustang that includes a number of unique features including carbon fiber mirror caps and manual shifter ball, serial dash badge 1-of-1, specially branded seats and custom-lit door sills, as well as the personal signatures of Jack Roush, Sr. and me.

“For just $10 , you can purchase your raffle ticket online at mustangforfairlane.com . You can follow the progress of the raffle and get additional information about Fair Lane – and this amazing vehicle – on Facebook and at henryfordfairlane.org . The winning ticket will be drawn on Oct. 1, 2020.

“Thank you for your consideration and your support that will help ensure the legacy of Clara and Henry Ford endures and continues to inspire others to follow their dreams and make a positive impact in the world.”

--- Good luck!

Edsel B. Ford II

Now is the Perfect Time to Get Out to Your Garage and Teach the Kids about Basic Car Care and Maintenance

Because Ford-based car clubs have a direct link to both Ford Motor Company and each other via FordPerformanceClubConnect.com, we’re able to keep up with what’s happening in the Ford enthusiast community much better than ever before. All the tips, news, views and comments about the Ford collector car hobby that you send to [email protected] are both read and valued, because it’s only when you talk and we listen that there is real enthusiast communications taking place.

That’s exactly how we came across a great idea for a family activity that you can plan and do right now. Original ‘65 Mustang owner Lyn Adams of Fairfax, Virginia, (see: https://performance.ford.com/enthusiasts/fan-spotlight/2014/10/fordfanspotlight.html ) sent us a note recently in support of a suggestion she spotted online. It was for parents being “sheltered in place” with their out-of-school children during the global pandemic, noting that one worthy activity they could do together would be to take them out to the garage and begin training them about the care and maintenance of the family’s automobiles. Lyn received an email newsletter from Carlisle Events which she forwarded to us. In it, Carlisle sponsor RockAuto.com posted the following, entitled “Kids & Cars:”

“Toilet paper may be in short supply, but there are now plenty of children wandering around aimlessly after their schools shut down and booted them out the door. Now is a great opportunity to get kids interested in cars. A little tinkering on cars can help teach them how to use their minds and hands to prevent and solve problems. Increased confidence and competence will make them better able to handle and enjoy life's challenges. “If they have replaced heater hoses on a car, then they probably will have the confidence to replace a leaky bathroom faucet in their own homes someday. Instead of feeling helpless and panicky when the toilet paper shelves are empty, they will stay calm, trusting in their ability to come up with their own solutions if necessary . . .

“Car ‘tinkering’ does not have to start big. A child's first car project could be as simple as learning how to properly wash a car. It is easy to forget that a younger child may not even yet know how to connect a garden hose to a spigot. He/she will beam with pride once he/she has that knowledge and sees how nice the family vehicle looks after winter grime is washed away. The adults involved in all this mentoring will have memories of good times spent with the kids that drown out insignificant memories of empty toilet paper shelves.”

Truly, this could be a rare opportunity for enthusiast parents to share some car culture with the next generation of Ford lovers! And the idea seems to be taking hold: The NAPA auto parts online blog now has lots of great tips on teaching kids about car repair, and Car and Driver magazine recently ran a story about how this would be a great time to spend a few hours in the garage with kids of all ages to begin teaching some auto repair basics.

Of course for some of you, working on a Mustang in the garage with your kids is second nature, as we often chronicle in our weekly Ford Fan Spotlight . For proof, consider the garage time shared by Keith Brunson of Frisco, Texas, and his father, who had taught Keith about working on cars after getting him a 1968 Mustang to wrench on back in 1988. These days, Keith works on his late-model Mustang GT with his own son, Sam, who he says, “schools other kids on various models that are on the market and why Fords are the best.” You can read about them again here , and then send us your own “garage time with the kids” story (and photos) to [email protected] . After all, Ford fandom and knowledge -- like charity -- begins at home.

Now Read Our Enthusiasts News Each Week on Ford Performance Club Connect

One race – one win – was all it took for Henry Ford to generate enough buzz and belief in his engineering among investors to secure funding and launch the Ford Motor Company. At Ford Performance, we have never forgotten where it all began. So we’ve been honoring our heritage, our products and our relentless competitive spirit by shining a light on motorsports and the Ford enthusiast world each week with our Fast News e-newsletter.

From news on our hottest cars and trucks or performance parts to the latest scoop on all the must-see Ford enthusiast events and shows, our weekly Fast News email has been your ticket to stay connected to the company that put the world on wheels. But trying to keep up with emails has left some of you in the dust. So that’s why Ford Performance is now posting our weekly Enthusiast News directly on www.FordPerformanceClubConnect.com -- so you can check it out the next time you’re online without sorting through your email inbox. So put our FordPerformanceClubConnect.com website on your Favorites list, and then hop-in, buckle-up and hang-on each and every week for our Enthusiast News, because like you and all of us in the Ford enthusiast world, we’ll be driving Ford passion!

Time to Register your Ford Fan Facebook Group with Ford Performance Club Connect

The primary goal of our Ford Performance Club Connect program is to get everyone to register their club – at no cost – and get themselves on our Ford enthusiast group map so that we can all connect with each other. Once there, you’ll be able to see all of the other clubs and groups who have registered in your region – not just Mustang clubs, but ALL Ford vehicle organizations. And now we’d like to invite all of you who are part of any Ford vehicle Facebook Group to register with Club Connect, too. Why? Because connecting your Facebook Group with more owners and fans makes your group more worthwhile – and registering with Club Connect will link your online group with participants who may never have known that your group exists. The value in all of this is that whenever you plan a club or group activity, you can see what other clubs and groups are in your area that you may wish to contact and ask to join you at a show or event. It also allows Ford Performance to see all the clubs and groups in a certain area, so that when we are coming to town or planning a special Ford event in your city or state, you and your club members can be contacted to participate.

It takes only a few minutes for a club principal or board member to register your club and establish a direct link for your members to Ford Performance. And now, you can also register your group and logo with Ford Brand Licensing all in the same process. Have a product or parts question that you want answered? Wish you could get some free club event promotion in our weekly “Fast News” e-blast that goes out to more than a quarter-million Ford fans each Thursday? Looking for event coverage for your show in the Enthusiasts section of FordPerformance.com? Hoping you could find a cool Ford goodie-bag or door-prize item, or a banquet guest speaker? How about requesting on-site show support with an appearance by our Ford Performance Meet & Greet tent, along with FREE Mustang poster giveaways for all show attendees? Individual requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, but they can ONLY be awarded to clubs who are registered. So go to www.FordPerformanceClubConnect.com and click on the “Find Your Club” link to see if you are on the map. If not, then act now to register your Ford-based club or Facebook Group so that you can join this special program -- all backed and supported by a real enthusiast staff managed by Ford Performance. If you have questions or want more info, you and your members can always email us at [email protected], or can simply call our Ford Performance Info Center, toll-free during regular business hours, at 1-800-FORD-788 (800-367-3788). So what are you waiting for? Get online and make sure you’re connected. Then plan to enjoy your performance Ford later this year so that you can discover the fun and all of the friendly people involved in the world of Ford Performance. We’re sure that being connected with each other and with Ford will make your ownership experience even more enjoyable!

FordShowParts.com Now Offers Factory Correct Window Stickers for 87-88-89 Mustangs

Any collector car owner will tell you that having factory documentation can often increase the value of your vehicle – and one of the most popular documents that owners want to have for their car is the factory window sticker. The problem is, most were discarded after the original sale or destroyed in the process of trying to remove them from the car’s window glass. Those lucky enough to get theirs off intact or smart enough to secure a copy from the selling dealer when the vehicle was purchased new had an advantage on the rest of us – until now.

While a few online companies have offered reproduction VIN-based window stickers (otherwise known as “Monroney Labels”), the problem is most are just that – printed reproductions that can offer some of the VIN-based build info but often don’t look very much like what came on the car from the factory the day it was built. For the past few years, Ford Performance has been offering factory window stickers for some 2007-2019 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles though the FordShowParts website. But the Ford Performance Info Center has also been working on a program to have factory-correct window stickers reproduced for older classics, especially Mustangs. We’re pleased to announce that the first to come out of that effort are window stickers for 1987, 1988 and 1989 Ford Mustangs. These are authentic Ford reproductions, with all the proper info in the factory format – right down to the correct sticker size, print font – even ghost-printing and colors just as Ford had made them. While we hope to add more years and more cars in the future, if you happen to own an 87-88-89 Mustang, you owe it to yourself to purchase the correct factory window sticker for your car, so don’t delay. All you need is the VIN for your 1987-88-89 Mustang listed as sold, and a valid credit card. (These custom-print orders take 4-6 weeks to ship, but are worth the wait!) You can go online to FordShowParts.com HERE to order, or you can call the Ford Performance Info Center TOLL FREE at 800-FORD-788 for more information.

Ford Show Parts.com Expands its ‘Certificate of Authenticity’ Program Offerings

That also means you can now get a full Ford Performance Certificate of Authenticity Package for owners of any 2015-2018 Shelby GT350 or GT350R, which includes the following: An official Ford performance Certificate of Authenticity, VIN decoder, Production Summary Chart, Poster, Tri-Fold Brochure, Certificate Sleeve, Track Tips, Window Sticker, "Disc Brake Rotor & Caliper" Business Card Holder, as well as a Cobra logo Keychain. Many GT350 owners and enthusiasts will notice that this special package contains many of the items that were included in the Owners Supplement kit that came with GT350's when they were originally sold. Please note that there is LIMITED AVAILABILITY for these items, so order now!

What’s more, official Ford Performance Certificates of Authenticity are available for a wide variety of other performance and specialty Ford vehicles. All you need is your vehicle’s VIN number and a valid credit card. Order either via our Ford Performance Info Center by phone (1-800-FORD-788) or online directly from our Ford Show Parts website. Own a 2005-2014 Mustang? You Need to Get Your Mustang’s Airbag Recall Completed!

In 2014, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Takata Corporation determined that a defect related to motor vehicle safety may arise in some non-desiccated, ammonium nitrate airbag inflators due to propellant degradation occurring after prolonged exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling. This degradation can cause the propellant to burn too quickly, creating high pressure inside the inflator, and in extreme cases causing the inflator to rupture in the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment. A ruptured inflator can send inflator parts toward vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Additional information regarding Takata recalls can be found at www.nhtsa.gov and www.safercar.gov .

Parts are readily available to repair currently recalled Mustang vehicles. Ford sent out weekly mailings last October and November to all Mustang owners whose vehicle currently has an open Takata airbag recall. It is important that you determine if your vehicle is affected and, if so, have it repaired FREE by a Ford or Lincoln Dealer, especially before you drive it this summer.

In some cases, only the driver’s or passenger’s side may be affected. In other cases, both the driver’s side and passenger’s side need to be repaired. The passenger side airbag cover is not replaced during the repair, so any signatures or other insignia on your dash will remain.

This situation requires immediate attention and is not to be taken lightly. You can input your VIN at www.FordAirbagInfo.com to see if your vehicle is affected by the airbag recall and locate a dealership to you schedule your repair. If you need assistance scheduling an appointment, or your dealership indicates that they are not able to obtain parts to repair your vehicle, please contact our Ford Customer Care Team at 1-866-436-7332.

Replacement 2001 Mustang Bullitt ID Labels Still Available for Limited Time

With Bullitt making Mustang headlines these days, did you know that the Ford Performance Info Center has recently begun handling replacement requests for the 2001 Mustang Bullitt shock tower holographic I.D. labels? The Info Center has acquired all remaining inventory of the labels and once they are gone, they are gone for good, so if you need a replacement for a damaged or missing factory label, the time to order yours is now! The Ford Performance Info Center will mail you a new label for your 2001 Bullitt, upon receipt of the following information (via email to [email protected] ):

Full VIN of the vehicle
Picture of the damaged / missing I.D Label
A contact at your local Ford dealership (Service Advisor is usually the best)
Please include the dealership’s shipping information

Note: Your Ford dealership MUST perform the removal / installation of this official Ford factory replacement label. These original labels are the only remaining inventory, which were made back in 2001 when the first Mustang Bullitt models were being built. Contacting the Ford Performance Info Center is the ONLY way to get your factory replacement label. This program is offered free of charge and is being done as a courtesy to all 2001 Mustang Bullitt owners.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Ford Performance Info Center at 800-367-3788, option 1, or via email: [email protected]

Join the Online Stampede: Check Out ‘The Mustang Store’ on Amazon.com

Being involved in the Mustang hobby goes far beyond loving, owning, driving and celebrating all years of the Ford Mustang. Every self-proclaimed Mustang fan also has a prized collection of their favorite Mustang memorabilia – from posters, books and keychains to apparel and die-casts. The fact is, no true Mustanger ever really stops collecting cool Mustang stuff.

But the problem with collecting Mustang stuff is that the market is flooded with poor-quality imitation knock-offs. Real Blue Oval fans want the real deal -- officially licensed Ford products. That’s why Ford Licensing has recently approved the launch of “The Mustang Store” on Amazon.com. There, the Ford faithful can find the latest in officially licensed Mustang apparel, gifts & novelties, toys & collectibles and automotive accessories – all with the quality you expect and the ease of ordering from Amazon. So get online to check out www.amazon.com/fordmustang and get the best new official Ford Mustang items delivered right to your door!

Here’s How Easy it is to Have Your Car Featured in our Ford Fan Spotlight

No matter what you decide you’d like to do with your free time, the great thing about owning a performance Ford is that – unlike with buying one of those “appliances” produced by other automakers – when you buy a Ford, you buy into an entire enthusiast world! That’s because Ford cars and trucks have the kind of personality and style that forges a personal connection with their owners, who in turn celebrate ownership each year at hundreds of enthusiast events all over the country. Stay tuned to our “What’s Happening” section under the “Enthusiasts” tab of FordPerformance.com to catch the latest show news. We’ll also provide the best online coverage from some of the top-notch venues sponsored by various Ford enthusiast clubs with our “Quick Look” photo galleries, or via the special features posted in our Enthusiasts Newsroom . There you’ll get the inside stories on Ford people, events and places plus unique Ford club content that you can't find anywhere else on the Web.

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Ratings and reviews are provided by customers who have either purchased a vehicle or visited a dealership for service.

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Customers are invited to participate in a survey administered by MaritzCX, an independent, third-party supplier.

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A Mustang ® 60 Years in the Making

Stay up to speed about the upcoming, limited-edition Mustang ® 60th Anniversary Package. Exclusive to the 2025 Mustang ® GT Premium coupe and convertible, it features the following and more:

20" x 9" Wheels Painted Dark Gravity Gray w/Bright Machined Details
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12 Things To Do In Moscow: Complete Guide To A Unique Idaho City

Learn about Moscow, Idaho's history, and all the things to do in this picturesque city.

Read update

There Are More Things To Do While In Moscow, Idaho!

Moscow, Idaho, is a small city with plenty to offer lovers of the outdoors and culture aficionados. Moscow is the county seat of Latah County in the panhandle region of Idaho. It’s known as the home of the University of Idaho, which is a great campus with galleries and gardens for visitors to explore.

Moscow’s landscape is particularly unique as it is set in the Palouse region , an area between Idaho, southeastern Washington, and even Oregon, known for its peculiar rolling green hills, which make it one of the most beautiful vistas in the state . d.

UPDATE: 2023/08/22 16:57 EST BY NOAH STAATS

This article has been refreshed with new stops in Moscow, Idaho, as well as tips, tricks, and things to experience in town. From fun waterslides to nature preserves to beer, here are all the reasons Moscow should be on the itinerary this fall and beyond!

Things To Do

Here is everything travelers need to know about planning a great trip to Moscow, Idaho, including the best time of year to visit, where to eat and drink, and the best activities.

1 Check Out The Historic McConnell Mansion

One thing to do while in Moscow, Idaho, is to go see the McConnel Mansion , located in Moscow's historic neighborhood. Here is where a home built by the former governor sits, now working as a place to learn more about Moscow, as well as see how life and architecture looked back then.

Constructed in 1886, this museum also features period rooms and decor, so it's certainly worth seeing for people in the area.

Address: 110 S Adams St, Moscow, ID 83843
Hours: Dependent on season/tour

2 Soak Up The Sun At Hamilton-Lowe Aquatics Center

The next thing to do in Moscow, Idaho, is to check out the Hamilton-Lowe Aquatics Center . Here is where families or groups can enjoy the outdoor seasonal water park with a lazy river, large pool, waterslides & interactive play area.

This aquatic center boasts a great summer itinerary, making it perfect for travelers with children.

Address: 830 N Mountain View Rd, Moscow, ID 83843
Hours: Open daily from 12 PM to 7:30 PM (Open at 11 AM on Saturdays and Sundays)
Tickets: Children 3 and under FREE, Children 4-17 $5.75 including tax, Adults 18-64 $7.75 including tax, Seniors 65+ $5.75 including tax

3 Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute

Another idea while in town would be to visit the Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute. Here is where people visiting Moscow can explore a 26.2-acre nature preserve in the city, as well as walk around and enjoy the fresh air.

Address: 1040 Rodeo Dr, Moscow, ID 83843
Hours: Open Monday - Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM

4 See A Show At The Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre

The next idea for a Moscow, Idaho, visitor is to catch a performance at the city's Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre . Here lies a restored historic theater that offers classic films, community events, and a variety of stage performances.

Address: 508 S Main St, Moscow, ID 83843

5 Cycle Some Of The Palouse Bike Trails

A very popular tourist activity in Moscow is to rent a bike and cycle through some of the Palouse bike trails. A popular trail is the 7-mile Bill Chipman Palouse Trail between Pullman in Washington and Moscow.

Admission: Bike rental costs will vary; check out Paradise Bike Rentals
Address: The trail end points are SE Bishop Blvd. (Pullman, WA) and Farm Rd. (Moscow, ID)

6 View The University Of Idaho Arboretum & Botanical Garden

Spend an afternoon checking out the countless plants from across the world in the University’s Arboretum & Botanical Garden . The garden is open every day, from dawn to dusk.

Admission: Free
Address: 875 Perimeter Drive MS 2281, Moscow, Idaho

7 Head To The Moscow Farmer’s Market

Visiting the Farmer’s Market is the big thing to do in Moscow and is incredibly popular with locals and visitors alike. It’s held from May to October from 8 am to 1 pm on Saturdays. Check out the fresh produce and enjoy some local performers entertaining the crowds.

Address: 101-155 W 4th St, Moscow, ID 83843

8 Camp Out In Robinson County Park

This campsite is great for those who would like to immerse themselves in nature but also want to be close to town, and the campsite in Robinson is just a ten-minute drive from downtown Moscow. This park has plenty of trails and picnic spots to enjoy.

Admission: $20 a night to camp
Address: 5168 Robinson Park Rd, Moscow ID 83843

Related: 8 Idaho State Parks To Add To Your Scenic Bucket List

9 Check Out The Appaloosa Museum & Heritage Center

For those wanting to learn about the history of the beautiful Appaloosa horse breed, native to the Palouse region, the Appaloosa Museum & Heritage Center is a perfect place to spend the afternoon.

Here is where guests can tour the Davis-Gillman Activity Center, Gift Shop, and Picnic Area, all while learning more about this area's rich culture.

Address: 2720 Pullman Rd, Moscow, ID 83843, USA
1912 Center: Check out some local art and learn about cultural initiatives in Moscow
Address: 412 E. Third St. Moscow, ID 83843

10 Tour The Third Street Gallery

Next up, guests of the city of Moscow, Idaho, can check out the Third Street Gallery. The Third Street Gallery is located on the second and third floors of Moscow's beautifully renovated and historic City Hall, making that another nice thing to see while here.

Address: 206 W 3rd St, Moscow, ID 83843, USA
Hours: Seasonally/dependent on art and creators

11 Skate At The Palouse Ice Rink

Another fun stop in the Moscow area is the Palouse Ice Rink , a fun place to visit for all the family for some ice skating and hockey in the winter and rollerblading during the summer.

This could be a nice location to bring the family, especially for people with young kids.

Admission: Adults - $10, Children 6-17 - $8.00, 5 and under free
Family Admission (up to 5 members) - $35.00
Address: 1021 Harold St, Moscow, ID 83843, USA

12 Taste Local Moscow Craft Beers

Moscow has a pretty extensive craft beer culture, and it's well worth making a day of visiting some of the local breweries. Here are several great breweries to check out.

Moscow Brewing Company : Be sure to visit Moscow’s first brewhouse for some great history and even better beer

Address: 630 N Almon St #130, Moscow, ID

Hunga Dunga Brewing Company - Offering unique IPAs, Stouts, and so much more.

Address: 333 N Jackson St, Moscow, ID 83843, USA

Rants & Rave Brewery - A brewery and a grill, what’s not to love?

Address: 308 N Jackson St, Moscow, ID, USA

13 Best Time To Go To Moscow, Idaho

Moscow, Idaho, has a temperate climate with hot summers and cold winters. During the summer months, the temperature can reach into the 90s and can be quite dry. The winters are cold, with temperatures often dropping below freezing and the area receiving some snowfall. Spring and fall are mild, with temperatures ranging from the 40s to 60s.

The best time of year depends on what visitors have planned for the trip. The months of June, July, and August are great for outdoor activities like hiking and biking.

Related: Drive Mesa Falls Scenic Byway & See Idaho's Most Stunning Views

However, in the winter months, there are local mountains and resorts suitable for snowboarding, skiing, and snowshoeing for those interested in winter sports. The Palouse Ice Rink is a popular spot for locals and visitors during the winter, too, and also offers some family-friendly activities the whole year round. Even a scenic road trip can be enjoyable during Idaho's winter .

The city tends to be a bustling hub of activity during its festivals, like the Rendezvous in the Park music festival, which usually takes place on the third weekend in July, or the Moscow Winter Carnival, which takes place in early December.

14 Best Ways To Get Around Moscow Idaho

Moscow is a very walkable city, and most of the main destinations for tourists can be accessed on foot, especially during the summer. Getting around on a bike is a great option; Moscow has 36 miles of paved trails, so renting a bicycle in town could be a good choice for visitors.

Paradise Bike Rentals is a convenient bike rental shop on Main Street.

Moscow also has a public bus system called the Sustainable Moscow Area Regional Transportation or SMART transit that covers two loops, one in the west and one in the east of the town, and the fixed routes are free.

There are multiple taxi and rideshare companies in Moscow, and Uber and Lyft are also available. Here are some local Taxi company options:

Moscow Taxi
Pegasus Taxi

It’s possible to rent a car coming from the regional Pullman Moscow airport from companies Avis, Hertz, Enterprise, and Budget.

15 Where To Eat In Moscow, Idaho

Moscow, Idaho, has some great spots for food, drinks, and coffee if visitors know where to look. The food options in Idaho tend to pleasantly surprise visitors. As it's a student town, there are more than a few fun bars too.

Best Breakfast in Moscow, Idaho

One World Café, Breakfast Club, Varsity Diner

Delicious Lunches in Moscow, Idaho:

Shari’s Café and Pies, Einstein Bros Bagels, Stax

Fantastic Dinners in Moscow, Idaho:

Nectar, Tapped - Taphouse & Kitchen, Lodgepole

Great Coffee Shops in Moscow, Idaho:

Café Artista, Bucer's Coffee House Pub, Steam Coffee

Fun Bars in Moscow, Idaho:

John’s Alley Tavern, Mingles Bar & Grill, Neat Whiskey Bar

16 Where To Stay In Moscow, Idaho

There are a number of hotels and rentals in the city, although some travelers also opt to stay in the nearby Washington state town of Pullman. Here are a few options in Moscow itself:

Highly rated hotels in Moscow Idaho

Best Western Plus University Inn : Room rates at the Best Western Plus University Inn start from $120 per night

Amenities: Swimming pool, fitness center, on-site restaurant, and bar
Address: 1516 Pullman Road, Moscow, Idaho 83843

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Moscow : Room rates at the Fairfield Inn & Suites start from $140 per night

Amenities: Free breakfast, indoor pool, and fitness center
Address: 1000 West Pullman Road, Moscow, Idaho 83843, United States

Mid-Tier hotels in Moscow

The Monarch Motel Room rates at the Monarch Hotel start from $100 per night

Amenities: garden/chill-out area
Address: 120 W 6th St, Moscow, ID 83843, United States

Hotel Mccoy Pullman Room rates at this property start from $140 per night

Amenities: Fitness center, Restaurant, Bar/Lounge, Free Wi-Fi, Free parking
Address: 455 Southeast Paradise Street, Pullman, WA 99163

Related: Idaho The Potato State: Why Not Sleep In A Hotel Shaped Like One?

Budget hotels in Moscow Idaho

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Moscow Pullman : Room rates at La Quinta Inn & Suites start from $130 per night

Amenities: Free breakfast, airport shuttle, shuttle to local attractions
Address: 185 Warbonnet Dr, Moscow, ID 83843, United States

Super 8 by Wyndham Moscow / Pullman: Room rates at Super 8 by Wyndham Moscow start from $80 per night

Amenities: Mobile check-in, Wi-Fi, free coffee & breakfast Item
Address: 175 Peterson Drive Pullman Hwy and 175 Peterson Dr, Moscow, ID 83843

17 Tips For Visiting Moscow, Idaho

Moscow is a University city in north central Idaho and has a population of just over 25,000. It’s about 8 miles east of the Washington State border. It’s been home to the University of Idaho since 1889.

Moscow is served by a regional airport, The Pullman Moscow Airport is four miles west of the city, and the closest major airport is Spokane International Airport in Washington, located within 90 miles east of the city.

From here, visitors can rent a car or arrange a shuffle to get to Moscow; it will take about an hour and 40 minutes.

Related: Explore Idaho's Capital City: The Ultimate Travel Guide To Boise & Things To Do

Moscow is located along Highway 95, which runs north and south through the city. It’s also possible to travel to Moscow by bus from Spokane and Seattle. It’s good to know a little bit about the unique landscape travelers will get to explore when visiting Moscow. It’s part of the Palouse region, which encompasses parts of north central Idaho, southeastern Washington, and a little bit of Oregon.

Its distinctive and peculiar rolling green hills are made of a material called loess, which is mainly dust and silt blown in over thousands of years from the southwest.

After periods of deposition and erosion in harsh weather, unique dune-like shapes formed in the landscape. The Palouse region is a major agriculture zone, mainly for grain production, and it's also a stunning place to experience as a tourist.

18 How To Spend The Perfect Day In Moscow, Idaho

A perfect day in Moscow will start with a great breakfast, so head to the popular One World Café for a delicious bite to eat and then get ready to take on some of the incredible Palouse biking trails. Rent a bike for the afternoon and take the Bill Chipman Palouse trail nearby by Pullman and back.

Don’t forget to bring a camera. Head for lunch at Stax for some soup and sandwiches, and then visit the University of Idaho campus for a stroll through the arboretum and Botanical Garden. While on campus, check out some of the famous landmarks, like the Kibbie Dome or the Prichard Art Gallery.

In the evening, enjoy a fancy dinner at Lodgepole and polish the evening off with a drink at John’s Alley Tavern.

The Best Small Town Getaway In Idaho: Best Things To Do In Moscow

Courtnie Erickson

From Southern Utah to the Panhandle in Idaho, Courtnie Erickson has lived in what she believes are the best (and the most beautiful!) areas in the country. She graduated with a journalism degree from Utah State University and has more than 15 years of professional writing experience. You’ll likely see her with a Dr. Pepper in her hand and a pair of running shoes on her feet. Courtnie is a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState.

More by this Author

Idaho is a nature lover’s perfect escape. From the beautiful Sawtooth Mountains to the majestic lakes in the panhandle, there are some of the most beautiful and bucket-list-worthy destinations in the country found in the Gem State. Some of these must-visit destinations include the most charming small towns, and while there are dozens of these places in Idaho, one that has truly captured our heart is Moscow.

Moscow, Idaho is the perfect place to escape for a weekend. This area has something for everyone from its stunning location to its plethora of festivals to even its recreational activities and excellent food — there are so many things to do in Moscow. With so much to offer, there’s no doubt that it is the best small town in Idaho for a Small Town Getaway .

Do you love visiting and learning all about America’s small towns? Take our interactive quiz to discover which Small Town Getaway you should take this year .

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You will never be bored when in the small town of Moscow, Idaho. So, let us know, what else do you need to know for the ultimate Moscow travel guide? Are you planning a weekend escape to this small town in Idaho or maybe even a day trip to Moscow? What are your favorite activities in Moscow or what are some of your favorite things to do in Moscow? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments! And, if you are planning on visiting this community during an epic road trip, make sure you are prepared. Check out our ultimate road trip packing list to ensure you have everything you need for your upcoming journey.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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