A proper extended-weekend expedition: Alsace's fairy-tale capital, one of Europe's greatest cathedrals, a half-timbered canal quarter, and — thanks to an exceptional cycling network — the best city in France for the bike-in-the-car setup.
Strasbourg is the furthest-east destination in this series and it earns the drive: a UNESCO-listed old town, the Gothic cathedral Victor Hugo called a "gigantic and delicate marvel," the postcard canal district of Petite France with its half-timbered tanners' houses leaning over the water, and a genuinely EU-scale, walkable, bikeable city center. It's also one of the most cycling-friendly cities in the country — Strasbourg pioneered urban cycling infrastructure in France decades before it was fashionable, and its dense network of protected lanes makes the bike-in-the-car setup shine here more than almost anywhere else on this list. At ~490 km it's a proper trip, not a weekend jaunt, so this itinerary is built for a long extended weekend (3–4 nights) with real Supercharger stops mapped both ways.
Meudon-la-Forêt → Strasbourg is about 490–500 km door to door via the A4, roughly 4h30–4h45 of pure driving time before charging stops. That's comfortably beyond the realistic ~330–370 km range of a 97%-SOH Model Y Premium, so plan on one solid charging stop each way, with a second as a buffer.
Long driving day — leave early, stop to charge and stretch legs around Metz, arrive Strasbourg mid-to-late afternoon. Top up again at Strasbourg Sud or Vendenheim on arrival so the car sits comfortably full for the rest of the stay. Evening: an easy first wander through Petite France — free, and best at golden hour when the half-timbered tanners' houses along the Ill canals glow. No entry fee, just walking.
The cathedral itself is free to enter. Two paid add-ons worth doing: the famous astronomical clock performance — the mechanical Apostles' procession — runs daily at 12:30pm (not Sundays/some holidays), tickets €3, sold same-day only at the cathedral shop from 10am or the entrance from 11:30am, no advance booking. Separately, the tower platform climb (332 spiral steps, 10–20 min up) costs €8 for adults and gives one of the best panoramic views in Alsace — reduced rates under 18, free under 5. Spend the rest of the day wandering the old town: Place Kléber, Place Broglie, the covered market, and the Palais Rohan area.
Morning: a proper walk through Petite France in daylight — the Ponts Couverts (covered bridges) and Barrage Vauban both free to visit and give great views back over the canals. Treat: a Batorama boat tour departing from the Palais Rohan embarcadère — a 70-minute audio-guided loop past Petite France, the Barrage Vauban, the Ponts Couverts and the European/Imperial quarter. Adult tickets run roughly €16–19 depending on route/season; discounted with the Strasbourg City Card (€11.90) or Pass Alsace (€5 add-on). Afternoon: rent a bike or use your own for a ride along the Ill and out toward the European Parliament quarter — flat, mostly car-free, and genuinely pleasant.
Splurge meal before the drive home: a proper choucroute garnie or tarte flambée at a winstub. Budget options like Au Coin des Pucelles run choucroute garnie around €17; mid-range spots like Le Tire-Bouchon (Bib Gourmand) run €15–21 for mains; the well-known Chez Yvonne is pricier at ~€26. Pick one, eat well, then start the drive home, charging again around Metz or Nancy.
Strasbourg is arguably the single best city in this whole series for the bike-in-car setup: France's pioneer cycling city, with an extensive network of protected, dedicated cycle lanes threading the entire center and out to the European quarter and the Rhine. Bike loaded inside per the Car Camping & Bike Guide — no roof/hitch rack, no range penalty. Reassemble the front wheel at the aire or campsite and you can genuinely cover the old town, Petite France, the canals, and the parliament district faster and more pleasantly by bike than on foot or by tram.
| Category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tolls (A4/A31, round trip) | ≈ €35–45 |
| Charging (2–4 Supercharger stops round trip) | ≈ €35–50 |
| Lodging (free aire, or ~€19–30/night Camping de Strasbourg × 3) | €0–90 |
| Cathedral clock (€3) + tower platform (€8) | ≈ €11 |
| Batorama boat tour | ≈ €16–19 |
| Treat meal (choucroute/tarte flambée) | ≈ €17–21 |
| Food (mostly self-cooked, rest of trip) | ≈ €40–50 |
| Total | €180–260 |