Road Trip Advice

[JerseyMike]

Taking a road trip from central NJ (08501) to Charlotte, NC next week with family of 5 (5yo, 8yo, 9yo)

we have the CyberTruck with FSD and an escalade with super cruise.

Initial thought was no-brainer for escalade as no need for charging stop (maybe 1-2 stops for gas only each way)

The new FSD is so nice we are thinking of CT instead.

drive down: we stay in richmond overnight so really not a challenging drive with the CT (my thought is charge to 100% in NJ and then maybe 2 stops (one short stop for food and charge and then again charge near our hotel in richmond)

drive up: this is the challenge, would go straight from ballantyne charlotte, NC to NJ

route planner says 4 stops (about 600miles total), 10-20min each or 3 stops (2 20-25min and 1 10-15min) how accurate are those planners and what are thoughts from those of you that have done roadtrips?

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[UberNoob]

I do FL - AR trips, about 10 hours each way. tuck likes to arrive with 10% reminding at each charger so I sit an extra 5-10 mins at the charger so I arrive with 20. It’s good if there any surprises detour etc. it’s 4 stops but after a bunch of of mt dew I’m ready to pee anyway. The charging only adds about 1 hour to the trip compared to gas with no stops to pee. TIP2, make sure tires at 50 - 55 psi, you will use significant more energy if they get down to 45 due to cold.

 

[Gundo]

in my experience, the Tesla route planner is very accurate and I just use that
we've been from Connecticut to Cleveland, Connecticut to Buffalo, Connecticut to Phila and back with no problems
only issue is when you have a quick turn at your destination and there's no easy way depart with a 100% charge - which means you are beginning a return trip with a low SOC which can be a bit frustrating
and don't forget, those stupid AppleGreen rest areas on the NJTP use frankenstein NACS plugs that don't fit the Cybertruck without an adapter

 

[Ken in Miami]

Taking a road trip from central NJ (08501) to Charlotte, NC next week with family of 5 (5yo, 8yo, 9yo)

we have the CyberTruck with FSD and an escalade with super cruise.

Initial thought was no-brainer for escalade as no need for charging stop (maybe 1-2 stops for gas only each way)

The new FSD is so nice we are thinking of CT instead.

drive down: we stay in richmond overnight so really not a challenging drive with the CT (my thought is charge to 100% in NJ and then maybe 2 stops (one short stop for food and charge and then again charge near our hotel in richmond)

drive up: this is the challenge, would go straight from ballantyne charlotte, NC to NJ

route planner says 4 stops (about 600miles total), 10-20min each or 3 stops (2 20-25min and 1 10-15min) how accurate are those planners and what are thoughts from those of you that have done roadtrips?

From years of experience traveling with kids, take the Escalade for the third row seating. It just makes it easier if one kid gets tired or they’re arguing and gives you a little bit more space you’re going to be stopping anyway so it’s not really relevant whether it’s electric or gas But the seating will make a big difference in family comfort. One of my daughters has an electric Escalade and that’s really nice because of the third row. My other daughter has two full-size Escalade’s and if we go anywhere that involves five or more people, it’s a no-brainer you have to have the third row

 

[cadamo001]

With FSD I wouldn't dream of taking any other vehicle. I've done the trip from Jackson, NJ to Columbia, SC twice. I've taken both the western route and the I95 route. Both in the CT. Both really weren't an issue. If you are looking to shorten the trip, stop more often and charge shorter times. Unless you are all eating then charge deeply. Most stops for me are just enough time to get to the restroom and back to the car.
If the kids fighting are too much of a distraction then discipline them more...

 

[REM]

When I travel long distance, I always compare A Better Route Planner against the official tesla route planner. If stopping overnight, I pick a spot that has highly rated charging on PlugShare.

 

[CapheDa]

We travel last minute all the time and we don't do any planning except make sure our destination has a Level 2 charger for overnight charging. The truck will figure out where and when to charge on the way - we don't care. On the way, when the truck has a supercharger in mind, I hop on Yelp to determine what we will eat when we get there. The truck is done before we are done eating, usually. I just passed 50K miles and I took delivery March 2024.

 

[kdn]

I take our CT to our cottage in Ontario. 480 miles of FSD does it for me. I plan my trip and charge with 4-8% charge left. I use he CT route planner but adjust it if I have a tailwind and can make the next charger. I wouldn't drive any other vehicle ...but it is just my wife and I onboard. I would think the kids would think it was a cool trip in the CT but you know your kids. I also look on my screen before I leave where all the chargers are on any trip. If there are any amount of chargers on your route you have options. If they are scarcer then you want to error on the +side with remaining charge when stopping. Above all .....BE SAFE.

 

[Jbrazda]

Taking a road trip from central NJ (08501) to Charlotte, NC next week with family of 5 (5yo, 8yo, 9yo)

we have the CyberTruck with FSD and an escalade with super cruise.

Initial thought was no-brainer for escalade as no need for charging stop (maybe 1-2 stops for gas only each way)

The new FSD is so nice we are thinking of CT instead.

drive down: we stay in richmond overnight so really not a challenging drive with the CT (my thought is charge to 100% in NJ and then maybe 2 stops (one short stop for food and charge and then again charge near our hotel in richmond)

drive up: this is the challenge, would go straight from ballantyne charlotte, NC to NJ

route planner says 4 stops (about 600miles total), 10-20min each or 3 stops (2 20-25min and 1 10-15min) how accurate are those planners and what are thoughts from those of you that have done roadtrips?

This may be unpopular but, ON THE INTERSTATE, supercruise, and FSD are equal. They are the same. No difference. They will both drive you perfectly.

 

[cadamo001]

This may be unpopular but, ON THE INTERSTATE, supercruise, and FSD are equal. They are the same. No difference. They will both drive you perfectly.

Is it available on every single stretch of highway? Or are there unmapped sections where it doesn’t work? What about construction? How does it handle that?

 

[JerseyMike]

Thanks for all the tips, tough call

I was thinking about kids fighting (Escalade with captain chairs and 3rd row are great)

Supercruise is very good but no where near the current FSD iteration…..it disables in some construction areas, no backroad driving either

Still deciding

 

[hemiarch]

We’ve been Tesla roadtripping so long I don't even remember what a gas trip feels like. It’s part of our family culture. Supercharging stops are great for kids.
We do most of the time prefer our three row model x with three kids to our truck unless we are carrying a lot of stuff or plan on going off-road in any fashion.

 

[SlegMD]

Go with your heart, not your brain.

LoL.

Safe travels !

 

[hemiarch]

Go with your heart, not your brain.

LoL.

Safe travels !

Good advice. My heart would go the Tesla route but I can’t speak for yours.

 

[SlegMD]

Good advice. My heart would go the Tesla route but I can’t speak for yours.

Of course, that’s why I said it. Plus I wasn’t driving my ICE’rs anymore so I sold them, I wouldn't have a choice!

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