How to Plan a Tesla Road Trip — Charging, Routes & What to Pack
Everything you need to know about planning a Tesla road trip — from the built-in planner to charging costs and what to pack.
In This Guide
Road tripping in a Tesla is genuinely different from a gas car — and after the first trip, most Tesla owners say they actually prefer it. The built-in navigation handles nearly all the planning automatically.
Tesla's Built-In Trip Planner: How It Works
Enter Destination
In navigation search bar
System Calculates
Checks current charge vs. route
Superchargers Added
Automatically if needed
Pre-Conditioning
Battery warms as you approach
Always Navigate to Superchargers
Driving to a Supercharger without navigation = no pre-conditioning = slower charge rates, especially in winter. The battery needs to be at optimal temperature for fast charging.
Tesla Go Anywhere Tool
Beyond the in-car planner, Tesla offers a web-based trip planning tool at tesla.com/trips — the "Go Anywhere" calculator. Enter origin, destination, and your Tesla model to see the complete route with Supercharger stops plotted.
Are Tesla Charging Stations Free?
Current Status (2026): Not Free by Default
Supercharging is not free for current Tesla buyers. Tesla charges per kWh at Superchargers.
Typical US Cost
$0.25–$0.45 per kWh
~$10 per 100 miles
Home Charging
$0.10–$0.15 per kWh
~$3–$4 per 100 miles
Referral bonuses: Periodic Tesla referral promotions include free Supercharging miles. Check active referral codes at teslarefer.com/referral-codes.
How Long Does It Take to Charge?
| Charger Type | Power | Miles/Hour | 20–80% Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 (120V outlet) | 1.4 kW | ~3–5 mi | 60–70 hours |
| Level 2 (240V home) | 11.5 kW | ~30–44 mi | 8–10 hours |
| Tesla Wall Connector | Up to 48A | ~44 mi | ~8 hours |
| Supercharger V2 | Up to 150 kW | ~170 mi | ~1 hour |
| Supercharger V3 | Up to 250 kW | ~285 mi | ~25 min |
| Supercharger V4 | Up to 500 kW | ~570 mi | ~15 min |
V2 Stall Tip: V2 stalls are paired (1A/1B share peak power). If you pull into a paired stall that's already occupied, you'll share bandwidth. V3 and V4 stations are independent.
Road Trip Planning Tips
Before You Leave
- Set charge limit to 100% the night before for maximum starting range
- Check the route on tesla.com/trips for Supercharger spacing
- Enable "scheduled departure" — Controls → Charging → Schedule
Favorite Road Trip Routes
Pacific Coast Highway
EasyLA to San Francisco
Superchargers at regular intervals, scenic driving
Route 66
ModerateChicago to LA
A few gaps in the middle — web planner essential
East Coast I-95
EasyBoston to Miami
Dense Supercharger coverage along the corridor
Mountain West
ModerateDenver to National Parks
Elevation changes affect range — budget extra charging time
How to Add Uber to Tesla
The Uber app is not natively available on Tesla
Tesla runs a custom Linux-based OS — the standard Uber app cannot be installed.
Use your phone
The simplest solution. Pair via Bluetooth.
Tesla browser
Uber's mobile website works — not ideal but functional.
Packing for a Tesla Road Trip
Adapter Checklist
- J1772 adapter — included with new Teslas, for Level 2 charging
- CCS combo adapter — separate purchase for non-Tesla DC fast chargers
- Mobile Connector — portable Level 2, plugs into NEMA 14-50
- PlugShare app — finds non-Tesla Level 2 chargers at hotels
Planning Your First Tesla Road Trip?
Use a referral code and get 3 months of free FSD to experience the latest features on your trip.
Browse Referral CodesLast updated: March 2026