Your First Tesla Road Trip: Easier Than You Think
Taking your first Tesla road trip can feel intimidating, but it's actually simpler than gas car trips. The car plans everything for you—where to charge, how long to stop, and ensures you always have enough range. This guide walks you through every step so you can road trip with confidence.
Step 1: Let the Car Plan Your Route
Tesla's navigation system is your best friend for road trips. It automatically plans Supercharger stops and accounts for elevation, weather, and traffic.
How to Use Tesla Navigation:
- 1.Tap the navigation search bar on the touchscreen
- 2.Enter your destination address or name
- 3.The car will show your route with Supercharger stops
- 4.Each stop shows arrival battery %, charging time, and departure battery %
- 5.Tap "Start" and follow the directions
The car will precondition the battery before each Supercharger stop for faster charging. This happens automatically when using Tesla navigation.
Step 2: Charge to 100% Before Departure
The night before your trip, set your charge limit to 100% and schedule departure time. This ensures you start with maximum range.
Pre-Trip Charging Checklist:
- ✓Set charge limit to 100% (tap battery icon)
- ✓Enable scheduled departure for morning preconditioning
- ✓Leave as soon as charging completes (don't let it sit at 100%)
Step 3: Understand Supercharger Stops
Supercharger stops are typically 20-30 minutes every 150-200 miles. This is perfect for bathroom breaks, meals, and stretching.
What to Expect at Superchargers:
- •Pull into any available stall (the car shows which are open)
- •Plug in the connector (it unlocks automatically)
- •Charging starts immediately (no payment needed)
- •The car tells you when you have enough charge to continue
- •Unplug and go (billing is automatic)
Only charge to the percentage the car recommends (usually 60-80%). Charging to 100% at Superchargers takes much longer and isn't necessary.
Step 4: Monitor Your Range
The car constantly updates your range estimate based on driving conditions. Trust the navigation system—it knows better than the range number.
Range Tips:
- •The navigation shows arrival battery % at each stop
- •Aim to arrive at Superchargers with 10-20% remaining
- •If range gets tight, the car will suggest alternate Superchargers
- •Highway driving uses more energy than city driving
Real Example: San Francisco to Los Angeles
Let's walk through a real 380-mile trip to see how it works in practice.
Departure (San Francisco)
Start with 100% charge (358 miles Model 3 LR)
Stop 1: Harris Ranch Supercharger (190 miles)
Arrive with 15%, charge to 70% in 25 minutes
Stop 2: Tejon Ranch Supercharger (180 miles)
Arrive with 12%, charge to 65% in 22 minutes
Arrival (Los Angeles)
Arrive with 25% remaining
Total trip time: 6 hours driving + 47 minutes charging = 6 hours 47 minutes. Compare to a gas car: 6 hours driving + 10 minutes gas = 6 hours 10 minutes. The difference is minimal, and you needed those breaks anyway.
Common First-Timer Mistakes
Not Using Tesla Navigation
Third-party apps won't precondition the battery or optimize stops. Always use the built-in Tesla navigation for road trips.
Charging to 100% at Every Stop
Only charge to the recommended percentage (60-80%). Charging to 100% at Superchargers takes much longer and isn't necessary.
Range Anxiety
Trust the navigation system. It has never let millions of Tesla owners down and accounts for all conditions.
Skipping Bathroom Breaks
Use charging time for breaks. Don't rush—the car needs 20-30 minutes anyway, so take your time.
Frequently Asked Questions
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