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Most of us like the idea of a long road trip to see national parks, theme parks, and monuments. Doing it in an electric car adds another element to the adventure. Some folks take it to the extreme. Here’s a cool, Reddit post about a 14,000-mile road trip in a Hyundai Ioniq 6 through 12 national parks, 5 theme parks, and 3 monuments with zero times getting stranded due to range.
“We bought a Hyundai Ioniq 6 in March and took it for a spin around the country starting in July! Somehow, we stayed within schedule the entire trip which is no small feat when traveling with kids.
Having an Ioniq 5 would have been nice for the trunk space, but the Ionic 6 held up like a champ, even when we inadvertently went off-roading in West Virginia.
We didn’t even need to use a Tesla Supercharger, though we did use one since it was next to our hotel instead of driving to the normal charger. Supercharger speeds are way slower than Electrify America so we avoided them all trip.
The car has 20-inch wheels that caused us to blow two tires simultaneously going over train tracks in New Jersey. We’ll probably go with 17” or 18” when we replace them for the added range, and to avoid problems like that. We averaged 3.6 miles/kw, and had charge limited to 90%.
The worst chargers in our experience was ChargePoint. Their chargers weren’t all that fast and their connector seemed to be prone to issues. One we used would disconnect if we bumped the cable – LOL.
We bought the Electrify America charging pass to save money, but used probably 10 different charging brands though the course of the trip. Pilot gas stations were a frequent hit for a couple of days and we had good experiences there, though they were expensive.
We deviated from our itinerary and skipped the Grand Canyon due to the fires and added Bryce Canyon and Zion instead. We also drove more in NM down to Gallup and added more stops on the way (Like Wall Drug and Badlands National Park) which added to the mileage total.”
India_ofcw8BG asked about the non-Tesla charging experience, to which lightofhonor responded:
“Most networks were true to their speeds, though a few times I needed to swap to another charger. Normally if the charger was older.
Max speeds were 235-240kw in the Hyundai Ioniq 6, though only two networks were able to hit that (Electrify America and EVgo which is found at Pilot gas stations).
We tried to use Electrify America as much as possible since they were reliable and we subscribed to their plan for this trip to save money. EVgo was also without issues, but it cost more. The only time we had any problems was with the Rivian Network. The car said we could charge there but it wasn’t open to non-Rivians. We had to slow charge for a bit to drive to another charger since it was a remote place.
For the first half or so, we used the inbuilt planning on the car. The back half, after the Rivian incident (which is probably Rivian falsely reporting at one point it was open), we did it ourselves. Really the car would have been fine doing it all, though it’s pretty aggressive on the charging so we would manually tweak it a lot.”
Letsgotime asked about staying in hotels, to which lightofhonor responded:
“We did stay in hotels. While normally there were a few options in each town that provided chargers, we normally prioritized cost and quality/ratings over saving $30 on a charge so we only used it maybe five times.”
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Public Charging Is Getting Better and Better
There’s good news for EV drivers considering a long U.S. road trip. The number of public chargers is growing rapidly. According to the Congressional Research Service, the number of public EV chargers doubled between 2020 and 2025, going from 96,521 public charging ports to 207,227 and the growth rate continues to increase.
The three largest public EV charging providers in the U.S. are ChargePoint, Tesla Supercharger, and Electrify America. ChargePoint leads in total charging spots with a broad network owned and operated by businesses and municipalities, offering flexible hardware and software solutions. Tesla’s Supercharger network dominates fast charging with unmatched reliability and strategic placement along major travel corridors, now opening to non-Tesla vehicles through the NACS charge plug standard. Electrify America delivers ultra-fast charging powered by 100 percent renewable energy, with locations often at retail destinations.
Each network has its strengths. ChargePoint thrives in urban areas and workplaces, Tesla excels on cross-country routes, and Electrify America offers high-speed charging with sustainability in mind. Together they form the backbone of the nation’s public charging infrastructure, reflecting different approaches to speed, coverage, and energy sourcing while supporting a growing EV market.
There Are Some Great EV Choices for Road Trips
If you are looking for an EV for your road trip, four models come to mind based on price, range and cargo space. They are the Chevy Equinox EV, Kia EV9, Hyundai Ioniq 9, and the Tesla Model Y. All four have ranges in excess of 320 miles. With the exception of the Hyundai Ioniq 9 at about $60,000, all are priced in the low $40,000 range.
Based on cargo space, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 leads with a spacious three-row interior of about 87 cubic feet. Next is the Kia EV9 which also has three rows and about 81 cubic feet of cargo space. It followed by the Tesla Model Y with about 72 cubic feet behind the front seats. Last is the Chevrolet Equinox EV with about 57 cubic feet.
Bottom Line
EVs are becoming more than just city commuters. EV road tripping and “adventure culture” is quickly becoming one of the most exciting parts of electric vehicle ownership. What started as cautious weekend getaways to test charging networks has evolved into ambitious, coast-to-coast road trips, national park tours, and even months-long expeditions. Owners are proving that electric cars can handle everything from high-speed interstate cruising to backroad detours, often documenting the journey in real time on social media.
The appeal comes from more than just saving on fuel. Drivers are embracing the planning challenge, celebrating each successful long-distance leg as part of the experience. Scenic routes are often chosen around charger locations, turning recharging stops into moments of exploration. As charging infrastructure doubles and networks become faster and more reliable, the idea that “you can’t road trip an EV” is rapidly fading. This cultural shift is pushing automakers to design vehicles with more range, smarter trip-planning tools, and cargo space for adventures.
Please Drop Your Thoughts in the Comments Below
Have you ever taken a long road trip in an EV, and what was your biggest surprise about charging on the go?
Which charging network has been the most reliable for you, and which one let you down the most?
Chris Johnston is the author of SAE’s comprehensive book on electric vehicles, “The Arrival of The Electric Car.” His coverage on Torque News focuses on electric vehicles. Chris has decades of product management experience in telematics, mobile computing, and wireless communications. Chris has a B.S. in electrical engineering from Purdue University and an MBA. He lives in Seattle. When not working, Chris enjoys restoring classic wooden boats, open water swimming, cycling and flying (as a private pilot). You can connect with Chris on LinkedIn and follow his work on X at ChrisJohnstonEV.
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Source: torquenews.com
