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You don’t really know what a vehicle is capable of until you take it on the kind of road trip that stretches both miles and patience. For many people, the idea of trusting a truck’s computer to handle most of the driving on a cross-country journey would seem unthinkable. But that’s exactly what one Cybertruck owner chose to do, and his reaction tells us a lot about where Tesla is pushing the future of long-haul driving. While scrolling through the “Tesla Cybertruck Owners” group on Facebook, I came across a post by Stephen Scott Holt who had just kicked off a multi-leg cross-country road trip in his Cybertruck. He decided to let Tesla’s Full Self-Driving handle most of the driving for the first time. What followed was a mix of surprise and confidence as he shared how well the system performed, with only a few moments when he needed to intervene.
“We left this morning on the first leg of our cross-country road trip in the Cybertruck. I drove the first segment from Bradenton, FL to our first supercharging stop in Brookville, FL. Once charged, I decided to give the FSD a go… something I’ve been leery of, as I hate not being in total control. IT WAS AMAZING! I let FSD do the driving the rest of the trip to Opelika, AL, stopping three more times for quick supercharging/walking the pups/empty bladders. I intervened a couple of times: leaving a parking lot after charging once, and across a narrow bridge in heavy traffic. The Cybertruck did hug the yellow line a few times when I was in the far-left lane, but otherwise it was great. There is still a bit of a learning curve for me…I wasn’t sure why the truck wouldn’t slow down when going through a reduced speed zone but discovered I could control max speed with the right scroll wheel. The truck would make a lane change a few times cutting in front a vehicle I thought was a little too close. However, it really impressed me by moving over to let vehicles merge or even if it detected a vehicle stopped on the shoulder. We begin leg 2 of our journey on Thursday morning, from Opelika, Alabama to Bentonville, Arkansas. The trip planner says that it will take about 12 hours. Leg 3 will begin on Friday, leaving Bentonville headed to Pacific Grove, California. After a week in California, we start leg 4 to Lehi & Price, Utah. Leg 5 will be back to Bentonville, Arkansas though Denver, Colorado. Our final leg 6 will take us from Bentonville, AR back to Bradenton, FL.I’ve had a Nissan 350Z, a Toyota Sequoia, two Ford F150 V8 Raptors, a Ford Mustang GT, a Jeep Wrangler, a Ram 1500, a Jeep Gladiator, a Ram 3500 Dually, and a Ford Ranger Raptor, so far, the Cybertruck is the most enjoyable vehicle I’ve ever owned. I haven’t experienced any hate, but I don’t really care. It’s my truck and I love it. The total trip time is about 3 weeks. I’ll post more updates and pictures as we go.”
Stephen’s words read like someone who went from cautious to convinced in just a few hours. His mention of FSD hugging the yellow line or cutting a little close when merging is a reminder that this is still evolving tech, but the fact he calls it the best vehicle he’s ever owned out of ten says a lot. For someone with such a diverse list of past cars, the Cybertruck has clearly set a new bar.
Why FSD Feels Different in the Cybertruck
FSD in the Cybertruck is not just about highway lane-keeping, but about long stretches of road where driver fatigue can become a real concern. Tesla has worked to make the system smarter in recognizing edge cases, like stopped vehicles on the shoulder or cars merging from on-ramps. That kind of adaptability gives drivers a sense of confidence. Even though the system isn’t perfect as Stephen pointed out, it’s advanced enough that he felt comfortable letting it handle the bulk of his trip. Many owners say the experience of road tripping in an electric truck with autonomous driving support feels like a completely new category of driving.
It’s not surprising then that other Cybertruck owners have echoed Stephen’s experience. Giovanni Notaristefano, another member of the group, wrote: “My first trip after a week of ownership was from central Florida to Savannah Georgia, and I decided to use FSD. What a great help, especially on longer trips. It made me stay alert but more relaxed and less tired overall at the end of the trip.”
This comment highlights one of the understated benefits of advanced driver assistance: the balance between keeping you engaged but reducing mental fatigue. Giovanni’s take mirrors a lot of Tesla owner experiences with long-distance travel using Tesla FSD technology. It isn’t about replacing the driver, it’s about making endurance driving more manageable.
David Green added his own perspective, saying: “FSD is addictive. I use it going around the corner to Dunkin’ Donuts 3 minutes away.”
That may sound casual, but it underscores how quickly drivers grow comfortable with the system. What begins as an experiment on long trips turns into a daily tool, something that makes short drives just as enjoyable. There’s a psychological shift that happens when owners realize how consistent the system can be, even in routine traffic.
And then there’s the comparison between models. Tamara Bradshaw Fox commented: “I have a 2021 Model S. The FSD in my husband’s Cybertruck is the next generation FSD software. It is so much more natural. I love it on long trips!”
Her point is crucial as Tesla isn’t just making incremental tweaks. The Cybertruck’s FSD is running the latest iteration of the software, and owners immediately notice smoother maneuvers and a more human-like driving feel. This comparison shows how Tesla is using the Cybertruck as a showcase for its most advanced systems, something that sets it apart even from other Teslas.
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The Bigger Picture on Road Trips and EVs
Stephen’s detailed outline of his road trip is also significant. Planning a route with multiple charging stops used to feel intimidating but Tesla’s Trip Planner integrates with Superchargers along the way. Owners like Stephen now treat it almost as second nature, proving that taking a cross-country road trip in a Tesla Cybertruck with FSD is far more practical than skeptics once claimed.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Cybertruck owners testing the limits of practicality on long trips. One owner recently explained how they only spent about $119 on electricity during a road trip across states, showing how electric truck charging costs for long distance travel can be dramatically lower than gas-powered alternatives. Stories like these highlight the evolving reality of EV road tripping.
At the same time, Cybertruck owners are still navigating public perception. In some cases, drivers have reported being told to “get something American made” just because of Tesla’s image. But as we’ve covered before, the Cybertruck is built in Texas, and debates over what qualifies as “American” reveal more about culture than manufacturing. For Stephen, though, none of that matters. He says it’s his truck and he loves it. Now I can get behind that.
What I find most striking here is how quickly trust can be built between a driver and a system they once doubted. Stephen started off hesitant and even uncomfortable with the idea of not being in control. Within a single leg of his journey, he was praising FSD as amazing. That shift says something about how technology earns credibility. I think stories like these show us that the future of driving won’t be about replacing the driver, but about redefining what it means to be behind the wheel.
Key Takeaways
- Cybertruck FSD delivers real-world benefits by reducing fatigue and keeping drivers engaged on long trips.
- Community reactions highlight the addictive nature of using FSD daily, from highway travel to short errands.
- Tesla’s next-gen FSD software in the Cybertruck feels noticeably more advanced and natural compared to older models.
- EV road trips are becoming easier and cheaper, thanks to integrated trip planning and expanding charging networks.
- Personal ownership experiences matter most. For many, the Cybertruck isn’t just a statement piece, as it’s the most enjoyable vehicle they’ve ever driven.
What Do You Think?
Would you feel comfortable letting Tesla’s FSD handle most of the driving on a cross-country road trip? Or do you think you’d still be too hesitant to trust it fully?
And if you’ve owned multiple cars or trucks over the years, which one surprised you the most in terms of driving enjoyment? How does it compare to what you’re driving now?
Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below.
Aram Krajekian is a young automotive journalist bringing a fresh perspective to his coverage of the evolving automotive landscape. Follow Aram on X and LinkedIn for daily news coverage about cars.
Image Sources: Tesla’s gallery.
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Source: torquenews.com
