3000+ Mile Cross Country Road Trip

[RadoRage]

Why didn't you take off the racks before you left on a 3000 mile trip? Are they difficult to remove?

I would have removed them, but I have no where to store them...the bed and cab are packed!

Not too hard to install/remove btw, and look great!

Sponsored

 

[RadoRage]

I know the temp effecting the range, but still surprised to see 450Wh number with conservative speed per OP!

Yeah, I was really happy while it was around 420/425 for a significant amount of the trip, but then the cold & wind did a number on her. I will update what the final numbers are when I get to DC

 

[Jimo]

Hi all,

Currently about midway through my 3000+ mile cross country trip, traveling from California to the DC area. Wanted to record my observations & experience along the way.

Model: 2024 AWD Dual Motor w/FSD, All Season tires/Core Wheels

Cargo: Approx 1,200 lbs of cargo throughout bed & cab

Average weather: 10s-50s degrees, some light rain/snow, but windy

Speed: set to a max 65 for duration of trip, for best efficiency/range experience

Average Energy: 451 Wh/mi during trip

Stops: all experiences reported on the PlugShare App:

- Lovelock, NV
- Wells, NV
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Rock Springs, WY
- Evansville, WY
- Rapid City, SD
- Murdo, SD
- Mitchell, SD
- Worthington, MN
- Saint Peter, MN

Observations:
- Driver's upper arm rest uncomfortable (too angled and significantly colder than piece directly below it. Normally like to rest arm up top, but found it more uncomfortable
- Drivers seat, while comfortable, could be better for long travels

FSD:
- Used for 95% of entire drive, incredible
- Annoying feature adjusts set "Max Speed", had to roll back to 65mph many times (this is likely due to changes in the posted speed limit)
- Only reduced speed once due to poor driving conditions, and only for a minute
- Total issues across trip...3 all seemed to be due to high winds or snow, drifting into

Other fun:
- Stumbled across the 2025 Stock Show in Rapid City at my hotel...was an interesting night trying to charge amongst rows of diesels . Chargers all taken up by gas breathers, but I got creative (with the support of the hotel manager)

Will keep updating as I go, let me know if y'all have questions!

I totally agree about the MAX SPEED creep-up! It has become so aggravating that I don't use FSD as much as I'd like to. I want to just set the speed and forget about it, unless I need to speed up or slow down!
Hopefully Tesla will address this in future updates.

 

[MeadowShade]

Honestly, everyone drives a little different, but I have found that the charging stops don't extend my trip time by much at all.

Between charges is usually around 300ish miles or 3 hours, and after 3 hours of driving I want to get out of the vehicle and stretch my legs/eat/bathroom/check my phone etc. If a charging session is around 45-60 minutes, that gives me the perfect amount of time before I get back on the road.

Sure...it could be faster in an ICE which fills up in 5 mins, I could rush to the bathroom, grab a gas station sandwich and be back on the road quicker...but I'm good with taking and enjoying my time

Wait a minute .... 400 wpm and 300ish miles per charge and in 3 hours? Just want to check the math. 300 miles in 3 hours is 100 miles per hour. Maybe 200 miles in 3 hours? That would be 65 x's 3 is 195 and About 90kw or 80% about?

Towing our camper, I went much of the same road OUT from VA to Rock Springs last fall and averaged 600 WPM but I did stretch it to 180 miles per leg two times. From Rock Springs to Jackson and Charleston WV to Lexington KY because the chargers were off line in Huntington WV.

 

[jsalamida]

Not noticeable extra wind noise during regular driving. However, I did hear a small difference only during the very high winds on the trip.

Thank you for the info!! I have a 3 and Y with roof racks and they add a lot of highway noise. I was wondering if the truck was the same. Thanks!

 

[RadoRage]

Wait a minute .... 400 wpm and 300ish miles per charge and in 3 hours? Just want to check the math. 300 miles in 3 hours is 100 miles per hour. Maybe 200 miles in 3 hours? That would be 65 x's 3 is 195 and About 90kw or 80% about?

Towing our camper, I went much of the same road OUT from VA to Rock Springs last fall and averaged 600 WPM but I did stretch it to 180 miles per leg two times. From Rock Springs to Jackson and Charleston WV to Lexington KY because the chargers were off line in Huntington WV.

Using very generalized numbers...still on the road and each day is different. Will give exact numbers when the trip is over...but yes, normally run around 3ish hours of travel in between charges

 

[REM]

It's past time we start putting more pressure on property owners who offer charging as a part of their amenities.

I've never witnessed an EV obstructing a gas pump.

 

[JoeHill]

"Speed: set to a max 65 for duration of trip"
Really you did 65 mph on I-80 through Nevada, UT and Wyoming? In much of that it's 15 MPH below the speed limit and 18-19 mph below typical traffic flow. How much did you get honked at for impeding traffic and unnecessarily causing a road hazard?

 

[RadoRage]

"Speed: set to a max 65 for duration of trip"
Really you did 65 mph on I-80 through Nevada, UT and Wyoming? In much of that it's 15 MPH below the speed limit and 18-19 mph below typical traffic flow. How much did you get honked at for impeding traffic and unnecessarily causing a road hazard?

Impeding traffic?? Wow, it's called the right lane man.

Impeding traffic is typically defined when not operating a vehicle reasonably, so as to block the normal flow of traffic. I never did that operating in the right lane, and was followed by many big rigs following similar speeds.

 

[JoeHill]

Impeding traffic?? Wow, it's called the right lane man.

Impeding traffic is typically defined when not operating a vehicle reasonably, so as to block the normal flow of traffic. I never did that operating in the right lane, and was followed by many big rigs following similar speeds.

At 65 mph on winding and uphill stretches like Park City to Evanston, WY most Semis do drive faster than 65 mph but not at 80 mph. So they'll get in the left lane for long periods of time and block others because you chose to drive very slowly on the Interstate. If you wanted to drive at 65 mph max then highway 50 would have been a much more appropriate route for your trip.
Look I get it, many drivers aren't aware of their surroundings / impact on others and they don't mean to be inconsiderate.

 

[smg]

I'm impressed with your patience driving 65mph for that many miles, but with over 3000mi, driving 75mph would have saved you 6h in the truck!

 

[RadoRage]

I'm impressed with your patience driving 65mph for that many miles, but with over 3000mi, driving 75mph would have saved you 6h in the truck!

Not in a rush, but it's about the efficiency at 65mph compared to 75mph. While my speed is faster (less driving time)...I would have to stop more often due to the loss in battery efficiency.

Haven't figured out the exact number yet, but will definitely compare to consumption at 75 to see the difference

 

[RadoRage]

At 65 mph on winding and uphill stretches like Park City to Evanston, WY most Semis do drive faster than 65 mph but not at 80 mph. So they'll get in the left lane for long periods of time and block others because you chose to drive very slowly on the Interstate. If you wanted to drive at 65 mph max then highway 50 would have been a much more appropriate route for your trip.
Look I get it, many drivers aren't aware of their surroundings / impact on others and they don't mean to be inconsiderate.

Inconsiderate...aren't aware of my surroundings??

Dude you are a joke...safe travels

 

[AlmostHuman]

Honestly, everyone drives a little different, but I have found that the charging stops don't extend my trip time by much at all.

Between charges is usually around 300ish miles or 3 hours, and after 3 hours of driving I want to get out of the vehicle and stretch my legs/eat/bathroom/check my phone etc. If a charging session is around 45-60 minutes, that gives me the perfect amount of time before I get back on the road.

Sure...it could be faster in an ICE which fills up in 5 mins, I could rush to the bathroom, grab a gas station sandwich and be back on the road quicker...but I'm good with taking and enjoying my time

Same

 

[AlmostHuman]

"Speed: set to a max 65 for duration of trip"
Really you did 65 mph on I-80 through Nevada, UT and Wyoming? In much of that it's 15 MPH below the speed limit and 18-19 mph below typical traffic flow. How much did you get honked at for impeding traffic and unnecessarily causing a road hazard?

You are a fool.

Sponsored