3000+ Mile Cross Country Road Trip

[AlmostHuman]

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.

Incorrect. Drive that often. The rigs are not doing 65 up those hills. You seem fun to be around.

Sponsored

 

[AlmostHuman]

Like the OP said. Driving those speeds in the right lane is completely fine. Everyone is in such a hurry. Don’t get my wrong, I like speed as well but it is so much more relaxing to chill out on long road trips.

 

[fishtek]

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

When I'm on the interstate (I drive Omaha, NE to Billings, MT) every so often, I have wondered this myself. With all the metrics Tesla is calculating, I wish they would tell me what speed to drive to minimize my overall trip time. Seems like it would be a cool "extra" they could throw in when calculating the full route. i.e. "For this next stretch of I-90, drive ## to minimize overall trip time."

 

[MeadowShade]

Like the OP said. Driving those speeds in the right lane is completely fine. Everyone is in such a hurry. Don’t get my wrong, I like speed as well but it is so much more relaxing to chill out on long road trips.

Hmmmm
Some harsh comments it seems. Me thinks that they doth protest too much!

Tey might pull out the long knives if you drove 60 or God forbid 55.

When I drive my 1929 Model A Ford, it only goes 50 mph with a tailwind. Most are patient, waive and I Oooooga!

But there are those that choose to show how macho they are and Roll Coal as they show me a finger on their way around on a double yellow line. Maybe some of these guys are the same only they are spilling electrons! Ha!

 

[HaulingAss]

When I'm on the interstate (I drive Omaha, NE to Billings, MT) every so often, I have wondered this myself. With all the metrics Tesla is calculating, I wish they would tell me what speed to drive to minimize my overall trip time. Seems like it would be a cool "extra" they could throw in when calculating the full route. i.e. "For this next stretch of I-90, drive ## to minimize overall trip time."

If you have a normal density of Superchargers on your route, the shortest trip time would be in the triple digit speeds.

But who's in a hurry when they're on vacation? Sometimes I get antsy to just "get there" but it's usually a better experience to leave earlier and just chill in the driver's seat. Time in the driver's seat will generally beat fast driving with more rest stops (and fast driving makes me want to take more rest breaks than charging breaks). When I chill out and cruise slower, I enjoy it more. Most trips are a combination of the two.

It's the old story of the tortoise and the hare.

 

[Gaximus]

Also I found it’s more satisfying when parking next to a gas guzler, to set the ride height to high. That way they have to look up to see it.

 

[AlmostHuman]

If you have a normal density of Superchargers on your route, the shortest trip time would be in the triple digit speeds.

But who's in a hurry when they're on vacation? Sometimes I get antsy to just "get there" but it's usually a better experience to leave earlier and just chill in the driver's seat. Time in the driver's seat will generally beat fast driving with more rest stops (and fast driving makes me want to take more rest breaks than charging breaks). When I chill out and cruise slower, I enjoy it more. Most trips are a combination of the two.

It's the old story of the tortoise and the hare.

Word

 

[Crissa]

Hmmmm
Some harsh comments it seems. Me thinks that they doth protest too much!

Tey might pull out the long knives if you drove 60 or God forbid 55.

When I drive my 1929 Model A Ford, it only goes 50 mph with a tailwind. Most are patient, waive and I Oooooga!

But there are those that choose to show how macho they are and Roll Coal as they show me a finger on their way around on a double yellow line. Maybe some of these guys are the same only they are spilling electrons! Ha!

Yeah, like my father's Karmann Ghia, or my '87 Civic. Only way I got over 65 was downhill from Prescott to Phoenix! Dad drove that Ghia to Portland from way down where we lived on the coast in Southern Oregon for two years as he got his Master's. Heck of a commute, and I never understood why he wasn't deaf after it, either.

-Crissa

 

[MeadowShade]

Yeah, like my father's Karmann Ghia, or my '87 Civic. Only way I got over 65 was downhill from Prescott to Phoenix! Dad drove that Ghia to Portland from way down where we lived in Southern Oregon for two years as he got his Master's. Heck of a commute, and I never understood why he wasn't deaf after it, either.

-Crissa

I had a Ghia for about 3 years. Loved it, wife hated it.

 

[M0unt41nm4n]

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.

Love the trip report. These are great to read.

Just FTR... keep aware in CO, driving slow to impede normal traffic flow is a violation. Driving below the speed limit not due to safety is against the law:

https://law.justia.com/codes/colora...-traffic/article-4/part-11/section-42-4-1103/

The legislature passed this due to what was called "passive aggressive drivers". The overly slow drivers in the right lane cause other slow vehicles to go into the left lane to pass leading to aggressive driving and road rage. When it passed, the local news stations were following CSP and videoing them giving tickets to people driving way under the speed limit without safety cause.

 

[MeadowShade]

We have that on VA interstate and it is posted. In CO and WY and other flat states, last fall, while towing our camper 60-65 was most of the time for me. Except near or in cities, being tagged as impeding just won’t happen because that is why there are two lanes.
Sure I got some fingers and even a brake check once but only my uncle, who had to always be the fastest guy on the road, was overly impatient.
An hour at 70 mph vs 60 mph only saves 10 minutes. Not worth it to be, on the steering wheel, all the time and it makes a huge difference in range.
I have driven Teslas between Florida and VA a dozen times. Getting off in Richmond or Orlando, I can still see many of the same cars when i first pulled on hundreds of miles before.
But the big bonus is, I am relaxed and not exhausted from yelling, cussing and calling people that won’t go at least 80 mph morons. Just not worth it.

 

[RadoRage]

If you have a normal density of Superchargers on your route, the shortest trip time would be in the triple digit speeds.

But who's in a hurry when they're on vacation? Sometimes I get antsy to just "get there" but it's usually a better experience to leave earlier and just chill in the driver's seat. Time in the driver's seat will generally beat fast driving with more rest stops (and fast driving makes me want to take more rest breaks than charging breaks). When I chill out and cruise slower, I enjoy it more. Most trips are a combination of the two.

It's the old story of the tortoise and the hare.

Exactly my approach to my trip, made it a LOT more enjoyable (both for me and my pets)

 

[RadoRage]

Thanks all, finished my trip last Saturday and have been busy setting up the new house.

Went back to the original post and posted the final numbers so check it out!

 

[AlmostHuman]

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

What is the upper arm rest? I’m not trying to be silly or rude, genuinely confused.

 

[RadoRage]

What is the upper arm rest? I’m not trying to be silly or rude, genuinely confused.

Lol, no problem, not really sure what to call it but:

Red area = "Upper arm rest"
Blue area = "Lower arm rest"

I'm a taller guy, so the upper area is normally my arm rest due to my height, as the lower area is a little low for me.

Sponsored