sac42c
2026-03-11 23:16
Charging speeds slow down the closer you are to the battery being full. 80% is a pretty good indicator of speed slowing down so it’s better to get it there and move on.
xavier19691
2026-03-11 23:18
Follow the cars navigation
fratzba
2026-03-11 23:19
I like to add an additional 5% or so, to deal with unexpected detours, headwinds, etc, but beyond that, you’ll have an easy time. You should plant on arriving at chargers with less than 20% if possible. (Sometimes it’s not, based on where chargers are located, especially in the west)
SuperMarioVT
2026-03-11 23:22
I think it mostly comes down to personal preference. I usually charge to at least 80%, even if the Tesla navigator says a lower amount is enough for the next stop. I just like having a little extra buffer in case something comes up, and it usually only takes a few extra minutes at a Supercharger. My wife is even more conservative. If time allows on road trips, she’ll often charge close to 99% just for the extra peace of mind.
notabear87
2026-03-11 23:27
We charge to 100% the night before, or if we’re staying at a hotel with charging.
Charging to 80% at every SC generally; it doesn’t take very long.
dapi331
2026-03-11 23:29
If you’re ok spending more $ for charging, for a faster trip with better stops (food bathroom) you’ll benefit from an app for third party superchargers. Even more if you have a CCS1 adapter.
I recommend the app ABRP and authorize it as a Tesla Key and give it api access. Easy to revoke later. That app has a similar trip planner but shows non-Tesla superchargers.
Or use PlugShare (filtered by superchargers) which is similar but has no trip planner.
Sometimes Tesla chargers are in inconvenient locations in terms of food and bathrooms (gas station parking lots, hotels, or desolate areas). ABRP helped me plan my trip also using EVGo, Ionna, GE, Shell, Rivian, ElectrifyAmerica, Pilot, Revel Chargers, etc in addition to Tesla chargers.
This helped me eat better / have bathrooms / walk less and avoid idle fees. It also helped me find superchargers closer to when I’d be at 10% battery.
It made the road trip better where Tesla chargers are more sparse or at locations without good businesses.
As far as downsides, I’d say non-Tesla chargers were 50% more expensive in most cases, up to 100% more (2x). It also won’t precondition which isn’t a big deal unless it’s freezing, and lesser of a deal if you’re eating while it charges instead of just wasting time.
Using only Tesla chargers I would have made it across the country, but some stops were super slow and long (approaching charge limit) and at less than ideal locations.
justxagirl
2026-03-11 23:29
Thank you!
justxagirl
2026-03-11 23:30
Okay thank you!
justxagirl
2026-03-11 23:30
Oh this makes sense! Thank you for commenting!!
justxagirl
2026-03-11 23:30
99% but not 100%!! Okay thank you!
justxagirl
2026-03-11 23:31
Oh yes will be looking for a hotel with charging! Thank you!!!
EdB-3372
2026-03-11 23:34
Following the navigation will likely make for a faster trip. Even if more stops.
gmatocha
2026-03-11 23:36
Navigate to your destination and follow the navs charger and departure recommendations. It's conservative and safe. You can do better (faster) but not by much.
fratzba
2026-03-11 23:42
FYI, if you ever find yourself unexpectedly running low on battery, lower your speed substantially, which will extend your range.
theallsearchingeye
2026-03-11 23:50
Stay at or under 65 mph, it will dramatically improve range, and drive on chill mode. FSD helps pass the time
unamatadora
2026-03-11 23:54
Check to see if the charging stations along your route are operational, and have a plan to use alternate chargers (Blink, EVGO, ChargePoint, etc.) nearby.
rademradem
2026-03-12 00:14
You do not really have to plan at all. Charge up to 100% before you leave. Put your destination in the Tesla navigation system and follow its directions. It will take you from supercharger to supercharger plotting the fastest trip with the least amount of time charging. It will tell you how much to charge up at each supercharger and how long each stop will take. It also takes into account how busy each supercharger is and it will sometimes tell you to do things that do not seem to make sense. Follow its directions because it knows better than you do. If you want to feel a little better, charge an extra 5% or so at each supercharger beyond when it says you can leave.
justins_dad
2026-03-12 00:33
Why is that? I’m brand new to EVs
wtfredditacct
2026-03-12 00:33
Highly underestimated. I drive from Vegas to LA on one charge at 60-65... it takes an extra hour, but I don't have to stop in Barstow 😂
Whaleflex08
2026-03-12 00:42
Set schedule to charge and precondition for departure time. It will slow down a lot over 50/60%. Keep an eye on how fast the stations are that you stop at. Generally just follow the car, it is optimized for fasted trip. Set arrival energy at end of trip to maybe 20 or so minimum.
SP3NGL3R
2026-03-12 00:42
The <20% suggestion is very odd to me. The peak charge speeds are 20-80% so why risk going below 20%?
I can fully appreciate the "unplug at 80% to save time if you're in a hurry" but targeting <20% before charge? Why?
SP3NGL3R
2026-03-12 00:46
What I prefer is to set my arrival % and just trust the car from there. Holding 65mph is ideal for range but the car will adjust if needed. My point about arrival % is that the car will ... WILL. Assume you've got a charger there. I like to set arrival% at like 60-80% so I can relax when I get there. One final 10 minute stop at the closest super charger is fine by me for that peace of mind upon arrival.
Actuarial_type
2026-03-12 00:50
ABRP (A Better Route Planner) is badass, and free. Everyone should have it.
justxagirl
2026-03-12 00:56
Thank you!
neo_deals
2026-03-12 00:57
If navigation suggests charging to 55% then charge 5 to 10% extra as a buffer in case the next supercharger is not functional or something. But don't try to charge over 80% of the battery capacity as it would take a hell lot of extra time to charge. Did that mistake on my 1st ev trip. On the way back only charged as per the suggested % by the navigation and saved close to 90 minutes.
TowElectric
2026-03-12 01:00
Follow the nav.
It's true you can save like 5 minutes per stop by arranging your driving so you arrive at the charger when the battery is totally dead (I sometimes target like 3%) and then only charging to 55%. Because that's where the battery chargest the fastest.
But unless you don't have a lot of range anxiety and really like hyper-optimizing, it's no big deal.
One MAJOR TIP I learned over the years of road trips is if you start to look like you're going to arrive with less battery than you're comfortable with... just show down 5mph for a bit. It'll tick right back up.
Some people do crazy stuff like turn off the climate control and the radio. Nahhh. Just go a few mph slower. You use a TON less power just a few mph slower.
midnight_to_midnight
2026-03-12 01:05
I don't follow the mantra of only charging enough to get to the "next" Supercharger, as very often these days there are ones close enough (~50-75 miles) that skipping them is easy, plus you'll still be getting enough kW that it makes more sense (to me) to stay and then skip a few chargers. But that depends on location, charger layout, and speed you'll be running.
I never charge over 80%, though, unless I absolutely *have* to for a long stretch without a Supercharger.
RyanOfTheVille
2026-03-12 01:06
Because peak charging SPEED is actually below 20%
SP3NGL3R
2026-03-12 01:08
So <20% is just a bad SOC to hangout in? Like >80% is bad if you don't use it quickly? But both are fine for the battery.
I just avoid arrival % <20% because I still have some angst about finding the nearest charger if this one is down or has a queue.
Lumpy_Emu7182
2026-03-12 01:24
I did a very long road trip, Austin to Los Angeles and back. I tried Tesla’s navigation, ABRP, and they both are fairly similar. What you said about charging enough to get you to the next station is true, follow that rule definitely. Because charging to 80-100 is much slower so you end up paying more and spending more time. I’d say maybe add 5-10 on top of the recommendation.
Depending on your road trip flavor, I would make sure to configure Tesla’s navigation to prioritize charging stations with amenities. I don’t like sitting and waiting to charge. I’d rather park and walk, stretch, use the bathroom, etc…
Good luck, it was one of the best trips ever.
KilroyKSmith
2026-03-12 01:25
If you get below 10%, two things happen:
1. The charging rate when you first plug in will be slower until the battery gets near 10%.
2. If you haven’t built trust in the cars estimate of range remaining, your stress levels will go up.
Other than that, it’s really not a big deal. For your first trip, don’t leave the supercharger until you’ve added about 10% more charge, just to give a bit larger margin. As you get more comfortable, you’ll probably start reducing that. When you pull into the supercharger, look at the battery percentage, did you end up higher or lower than Tesla said?
That’s a long, boring drive. Use AP as much as possible, or FSD if you’ve got it. Bring some music on a USB drive, or on your phone, because there’s gonna be areas with no cell coverage.
RyanOfTheVille
2026-03-12 01:25
It’s just about risk mitigation. If you show up at 2% you your first ~60mi get added REAL quick, but if there’s a queue or a bad charger you could have trouble making it to a different charger. It’s up to you and your specific situation
KilroyKSmith
2026-03-12 01:26
Not something you really need to worry about if you’re using the cars navigation. It’ll warn you long before there’s a problem to slow down; if it says that, SLOW DOWN.
comicfromrejection1
2026-03-12 01:26
how long is that trip with FSD?
CourseEcstatic6202
2026-03-12 01:30
I try to never roll in with less than 20% just in case.
Big_Fox_8383
2026-03-12 01:36
This
theallsearchingeye
2026-03-12 01:37
I think you may have replied to the wrong comment?
Khaszar
2026-03-12 01:45
doesnt work the other way around unfortunately. I remember it as pretty much a lot of elevation gain.
wtfredditacct
2026-03-12 01:45
South Vegas to Ontario (not quite LA 😂) is usually 3.5-4 hours.
wtfredditacct
2026-03-12 01:46
The Cajon Pass will absolutely murder your range
Inside-Bet6499
2026-03-12 01:52
Your first stop will be the least accurate since it's going to be based mostly on your local driving. After that, the estimates will get much more accurate.
KilroyKSmith
2026-03-12 01:52
No, the correct message. You can start your trip at any speed you want, don’t have to limit yourself to 65, and let the car tell you if you need to slow down, as long as nav is active to the next charger.
JuniorRepublic2438
2026-03-12 01:54
I went from Las Vegas to Austin tx straight shot. Never got close to running out of juice. Always charged it a little beyond what it recommended to make it to the next charger. Sometimes longer if I needed a break that would allow me to skip an extra stop. Have a good time!
FullSelfDog
2026-03-12 01:55
Arrive at Superchargers with the lowest SOC possible. Batteries charge more slowly as they approach full charge. It’s not about total charge, it’s about the portion of the battery needed to reach your next charge. Put another way, only plan on a reserve for your final destination (_e.g._, overnight losses, Sentry). Besides that, trust the trip planner. World’s best (data) scientists and engineers designed it!
comicfromrejection1
2026-03-12 02:03
🤣 that’s not bad.
Hairy_Promotion_1710
2026-03-12 02:06
I driven from Dallas to Denver a few times and I always charge 5% or 10% more then what it says to have a lil extra energy, I have a heavy foot so I use up more energy.
justxagirl
2026-03-12 02:09
Thank you!!
Anichyaamonk
2026-03-12 02:10
I concur with others about maintaining a buffer of 5-10% in your battery level (more than what Tesla’s navigation predicts the remaining battery level at your next destination). For instance, I recently drove 180 miles from a Supercharger to my home in northern New York, leaving 15% of the battery. However, I arrived home with only 3%. My 2024 MY LR AWD was driving in heavy rain at 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and I was driving 5 mph above the speed limit.
Therefore, weather conditions, speed, wind, and other unforeseen factors can significantly impact the remaining battery percentage at your destination. It’s always a good idea to charge your battery by 5-10% more than you anticipate.
Additionally, it’s wise to have backup charging options ready. I use the PlugShare app to look ahead for other fast and slow chargers, CCS converters, and J1772 connectors for slow charging.
I also recommend using the website dcfctraker.com to find all other fast chargers. The “look ahead” maps tab provides information on nearby DC chargers.
Stay safe on the road!
justxagirl
2026-03-12 02:11
Thank you!
idk012
2026-03-12 02:26
Peak charging is up to 80% from the starting point.
AZFJ60
2026-03-12 02:42
Yeah, the bad news is that the middle 80% of that drive is through the middle of BFE, and you're gonna want to drive as fast as you possibly can... West Texas is...bleak... NM not much better. I10 is the bleakest of all routes. Some of the other state highways are more scenic/less boring, and only slightly slower. But even the state highways in West Texas have speed limits of 75 or 80 mph and are great roads with little enforcement.
Armaced
2026-03-12 02:47
My son made a video of our road trip from California to Denver in our Model 3 back in October of 2023. It’s a long video but I love watching it.
We talk a lot about strategies, fears, and there is a lessons learned section at the end.
https://youtu.be/rd_aopGxnDo?si=g347QBV_AYi3-u0H
Long story short:
* use the Nav system to find charging stops
* slow down to extend range if you are worried
* keep a squeegee and a spray bottle of water in the frunk. No gas stations means no using their squeegee.
* Don’t try to charge in Cheyenne (shouldn’t be a problem for you)
Ok_Reception4417
2026-03-12 02:54
Check weather. Unexpectedly drove into heavy rain and ended up taking out the power grid in the town I’m supposed to stop in. I had to skip the stop and drive back which was the closest one and ended up arriving at 0%
menntu
2026-03-12 03:10
I drove 55 mph and pissed off the world, but I swear by it when you need to pull maximum efficiency from the battery.
TowElectric
2026-03-12 04:02
The peak charge speeds on a Tesla is ballpark 5%-30%. It starts slowing down at 30%.
My car (older one) peaks at 175kw. It's over 150kw between about 5% and 35%. By 50% it is below 100kw. So ideally, I'm charging from 5% to 50% or so for maximum speed charging.
ran6942
2026-03-12 04:06
Pre-pack food. There is nothing along that route.
TowElectric
2026-03-12 04:15
I've only used superchargers about 380 times over 6 years... but I've never once waited more than 1-2 minutes for one.
And the only wait I ever had was in
1) downtown Anaheim CA
2) downtown Brooklyn NY
3) downtown Toronto ON
The majority of road trip chargers across the bulk of the USA are just empty.
fratzba
2026-03-12 04:20
Charging to anything over about 90% will take a lot longer. I wouldn’t, if possible.
notwihoutafight
2026-03-12 05:51
The superchargers at Lordsburg, NM, in September 2025 were a strange experience during a road trip to and back from CA to TX. FSD took me through the fast food drive-thru next door. Fortunately, it was a 2-lane drive-thru, and when I entered I did not hit the car attempting to exit. Bearded Tesla Guy on YouTube had the same experience. Please post if that is still an issue. I imagine it has been fixed.
RickS50
2026-03-12 05:59
I've done Houston to Phoenix and Phoenix to San Antonio and back before. This is a very long all day trip and you'll cross two time zones. Figure 14+ hours. Here are some hints because there are some older V2 Superchargers (shared power between two chargers so mind the charger etiquette):
Junction: V2 only, unavoidable.
Ozona: There are two chargers here, if the nav tries to take you to the hotel ignore it, a half mile west is a much larger V3 charger at a dine in Sonic. It's a much better stop.
Fort Stockton: V2 only, unavoidable but it's at a nice Flying J gas station at least.
Van Horn: V3 at a small grocery store. I couldn't find a usable restroom there last time and there's not much to do there.
El Paso: You have many options here and I have only used two of them. The North most one is a good size V3 charger at an outdoor mall so there's plenty to do here.
Las Cruces: You can in all likelihood skip this stop now that there is a charger in Deming, but the Roaster Rooster restaurant is an absolute gem of a stop to make. I had a cherry lime iced tea here and it was fantastic. So good I'd go out of my way to stop here again.
Demming: I haven't used it, but it's a new V4 installation and would probably be quicker for you. I recommend skipping if possible and using Lordsburg as you'll want to skip Wilcox if possible.
Lordesburg: I haven't used it either since it's new, but again it looks like a V4. They added a lot of options in New Mexico. I used an Electrify America the last time I went through to avoid Wilcox.
Wilcox: Avoid unless needed. It's at a hotel and there's nothing to do. I had a bad experience here with several broken chargers during a busy weekend.
Tucson: The South Tucson Supercharger is an older V2, but it's never been busy for me and it's at a Pilot. I'm not sure if you'll need to use it or not, but it's decent. There are several newer V3 chargers around town now.
Be aware we're getting a heat wave next week and will likely be seeing 100+ degree temperatures so plan accordingly. I wouldn't count on roadside to do much for you out there in the middle of Texas so you may want to pickup a tire patch kit and compressor if you don't already have one.
Mobile-External6554
2026-03-12 07:07
I like to set the final destination charge amount to a minimum of 30% just in case the chargers are taken at the hotel. That way I don't have to worry about searching for chargers at the time of check in if I'm getting to the hotel late at night. Have a great trip!
Hopeful-Lab-238
2026-03-12 11:25
Can also adjust AC higher/heat lower to reduce its load as well.
Hopeful-Lab-238
2026-03-12 11:27
I’ve been from Austin to Seattle and Austin to Apopka FL many times. Range anxiety was only a problem the first time, you’ll find out the car is pretty efficient on longer trips.
kevan0317
2026-03-12 12:11
This. You’re gonna stop to charge often but only for a few minutes.
If you want to burn extra time then hangout and charge more at a stop of your choosing.
Don’t charge past about 80%. It slows way down and you’ll be wasting time. It does this to protect the battery.
justxagirl
2026-03-12 12:34
Oh definitely planning some homemade goods! Thank you!
Slayerz00m
2026-03-12 13:23
Depends on what your priorities are.
If you want the quickest trip, then reach the supercharger at around 5% battery level.
But sometimes it can get scary if you get stuck in traffic or encounter high winds or very high/low temp.
When I was new to Tesla, I always hit the Supercharger around 20%
With time the confidence in the car's nav has increased, and now I typically reach SC around 3-5%
Also, for the start, I charge only to 96% That way, the battery has some space for Regen braking
And charging to 96% is much less stressful for battery than charging to 100%
Best-Republic
2026-03-12 13:48
Here is my experience, after numerous long trips along the east coast and in and out of Canada - I personally like to hover between 20% and 60%; yes that means I am taking frequent stops probably one every hour but the stop is less than 10 minutes.
Tesla app makes longer stops around 20-40 minutes every other hour but I don't see value waiting for 30-40 minutes at a stop. I can stop, grab a coffee OR use the restroom OR just stretch and I am off to the next one till I need a lunch break where I stop for a decent top off.
Dalekanium_Certified
2026-03-12 14:22
Drive from CT to CA two summers ago in my Model Y. I followed the charging map, except I always charged a bit more than recommended just to increase driving time or if my wife or myself were grabbing a snack/stretching
andershaf
2026-03-12 14:45
You charge faster (percentage points / minute) with low battery, so just have enough buffer to get to the next place, but nice to not have too much juice when you get there. Generally the car's recommendation is what you should follow!
Slayerz00m
2026-03-12 14:58
Interesting...
Having driven 10k+ highway miles on family trips, I never had to use non-Tesla Superchargers
My family members only eat at McDonald's, Chipotle and Panda Express _(everyone has different choice, i.e not all of them eat at any given restaurant)_, but I've always been able to find Superchargers near them
And what about third party chargers being unreliable? I've heard so many horror stories from Non-Tesla EV drivers where they desperately seek alternatives when their charger ended up being out of service
waterproofmonk
2026-03-12 15:08
"FSD will pass the time" - by wildly varying your speed from 5mph under the speed limit to 17 over, in my experience.
ran6942
2026-03-12 16:06
I just did a similar drive and was surprised how few options there were for coffee and food. Enjoy the drive!
theallsearchingeye
2026-03-12 16:54
Turn on Chill mode
Key-Birthday-3865
2026-03-12 17:03
Me tomorrow but opposite
dapi331
2026-03-12 17:10
I have never had to use them during the 8k mile road trip. I mentioned that at the bottom. I found it more convenient though and was able to spend less time charging by taking more but shorter stops. In other words less charging to 80/90% at 50W.
I wouldn’t personally consider that good food except occasionally chipotle. I wouldn’t eat any of that every/most days of a road trip. Maybe that’s where we differ flipping the value proposition.
As far as reliability I never had a single issue outside of Tesla chargers. I found Tesla ones to be the least reliable but perhaps because they’re the most used? I had one Tesla location almost entirely not working and generally stalls were hit or miss, usually a few out of commission.
PlugShare is a decent app to have as well because people can leave reviews so you can see if in area is prone to issues. In most cases after a bad review good companies will service them next day or two and report back in the app.
Many 3rd party ones are also moving to NACS. Ionna and a few others has NACS options which were more convenient. Hopefully tesla enables plug & charge with 3rd parties soon.
Zippy114
2026-03-12 17:34
If you're going to stop for the night (and no L2 charging at your hotel) hit the SC before stopping. A heated battery charges much faster than a cold battery in the morning.
Slayerz00m
2026-03-12 17:34
Yeah my perfect isn't everyone's perfect
The 3rd party chargers aren't always reliable... But that's just hearsay for me, never done anything other than Tesla Superchargers.
Surprised to know you found Tesla supercharger unreliable. There maybe one or two stalls out of order, but never seen a whole station unusable
But then I am in CA, maybe they have better service here
Turbulent_Tomato5159
2026-03-12 18:06
I would just add to keep in mind holidays, especial events, etc. and travel just in general. All Teslas are going to use the same superchargers along the route so, there is a chance you will have to wait to charge. Last time I traveled from Texas to Arizona I had to use two Electrify America chargers because there were very long lines at the Tesla SC.
PintSizeMe
2026-03-12 18:06
I use ABRP to plan, then in car for the trip. I also when possible make sure I can go to a different supercharger in case the one I'm going to is offline when I get there, which has happened to me four different times. I also make sure I have at least a planned 20% remaining when I get there in case of traffic or other delays. My exception to the 20% is if it's my destination where I will be able to charge and then I'm willing to go a bit lower to about 10%, if it's home I'm willing to go even lower, but I have superchargers 25 minutes each direction on the interstate near home, so if it starts to look a little touchy I have options for stopping near the end of my return.
fratzba
2026-03-12 18:13
I’ve found that rolling up the windows, and having the AC on at a little higher temp is more efficient for me. The heat pump in the MY is a lot better than other vehicles with resistive heating
SHJ234
2026-03-12 19:10
It’s not that simple in my experience. During travle it wants you to stop at all kinda of charging stops to maximizes. But if I save 5 mins on 3 short top ups id rather just stay at the nice charging spot for 15 more minutes and loose 10 mins on the entire trip.
It does also not calculate inn the time you spend driving around to find a spot. Then back up and then leave the var to plug in. So it is acculy less lost time. Then you have to hope it negotiates with the car. And then you have to go out again and unplug and get in.
After learning this I started to like traveling again
xavier19691
2026-03-12 19:31
once i placed the order for the car, i watch plenty of road trip videos involving tesla. once i did my first road trip it confirmed my statement: "trust the navigation" simple as that.
SHJ234
2026-03-12 19:38
I agree it works 👌 it’s just to much stop maximizing for my taste . I would love for it to get a future like abp.to be able to choose what balance of less stops vs shortest arrival time with a slider on the interface. And for it to visualize the effect of trip time dragging the slider to lesser and lesser stops.
In the end I think you are right. Follow the navigation system. It will do you well. With time you find what suites you but that will just come naturally 👍
Beneficial_Bid2536
2026-03-12 20:02
Bro it'll be great! I did a similar trip from Nashville to Dallas and it was a dream! Just don't expect it to be faster than ICE. It'll for sure be longer but WAY more enjoyable.
jmwelch73
2026-03-12 20:27
I feel like the time exiting the freeway and meandering about city streets on unfamiliar roads to get to the Supercharger is enough incentive to cut back on suggested charging itinerary by 25-50%
PurpleIris3
2026-03-12 21:10
Yep! I got caught in construction detours that had me at -4% at arrival. I slowed to 45-50 mph and made it there with 2% remaining.
Also just going, for instance, 70 instead of 80 will save you even more over long distances.
MentalMonkey08
2026-03-12 22:29
Yeah im honestly not sure that I’ve ever been below 20% 😂 battery health is immaculate!
MassaSammyO
2026-03-13 11:16
The only thing I have to add besides trust the navigation is if you stop somewhere where your battery is well under 80%. Well under, and it says to you charge for 5 minutes and go, but you want to hit the bathroom and you want to grab some coffee or grab a snack, you're going to be stopped for about 20 minutes anyway. Use your app or the car to set your charge point to 80%.
Then go to the bathroom grab your coffee do whatever you need to do and then get back to your car and drive off. This is because even if 5 minutes of charging doesn't bring you to 80% because you're charged enough, it might start charging you idle time which means you have to stop what you're doing move your car from the charger and go back to finish what you were doing.
By setting the charge point to 80% you won't start to get idle fees until you hit that 80%. Even if you set the charge point to 100%, if it is a busy station, after 80% you will start getting idle fees anyway. No point in going over 80% unless you need to be over 80% to reach the next charge station, which is highly unlikely. The nav system will know if that is the case.
TL; DR → absolutely trust the Nav, and do what it says, unless you need the longer stop for bathroom break, coffee, snacks, Etc. In that case manually set your charge level to 80%, unless in the unlikely case the car had already set it to more than 80%.
SizeLegitimate9
2026-03-13 13:07
Yes. I only charge up to 80% even long trips because after 80% the charge time significantly slows down.
Scifihistory
2026-03-13 13:11
West Texas on I-10 can be very windy. Back in 2023, my Y’s arrival energy was 10% off.
BigPepper770
2026-03-13 17:09
Take a break or a nap while you charge any charging over 80% takes much longer than the charge up to 80%. Add a month of FSD for the road trip it makes it much easier and comfortable. It is supervised but more comfortable on a long trip.
BigPepper770
2026-03-13 17:10
You can set the charging to more frequent stops and it will add more charging stops but shorter charging whichever you prefer.
CyberHero32
2026-03-13 17:23
PHX represent!!!
zholly4142
2026-03-13 17:24
Initially we were nervous when, at our first stop, the car told us we only needed to charge for 7 minutes. I thought, that can't possibly be true! But then we realized that at each charging point we have enough energy to get us to the next charging point. My husband has driven other electric vehicles and since he personally was not comfortable having the battery below 20% for any given stop, when we charged we would always make sure that we were at the point where at our next stop we would have at least 20%.
Fun_Database3852
2026-03-14 01:16
I don't know if anyone mentioned it, but I'd recommend including in your navigation parameters what time you want to arrive so you'll know what time you must leave.
Ok-Following4811
2026-03-14 03:30
On my road trip to Florida from Houston tx, I’ve always arrived at v3s with 8-12% and charged for about 15 mins and it was quick enough for a snack and bathroom break before driving another 130ish miles at 80mph before the next charge. Very convenient.
Broad_Pin1778
2026-03-14 03:51
Drove to Vegas recently. Did the math/physics. 79 mph was best with % used and time. If I went slow like other people claim, I would spend more time on my overall trip even though I would charge less.. if I went faster than that; then I’m spending more time charging than anything.
tyler451
2026-03-14 04:00
I’ve been in some nasty weather and arriving at a Tesla charger with 10% or less is taking a risk. What I’ve learned is to adjust the destination battery level to around 50 or 60%. This way it will add a bit more each charging stop and the car handles the rest. It also ensures I can drive around a bit at the destination instead of charging immediately. I also keep charges to 80% and under except the night before travel which should be 100%.
BayAreaDad-22
2026-03-14 06:55
Just finished my first road trip of about 1700 miles in my model y. I used abetterrouteplanner.com to plan ahead and find the best superchargers along my route to make the best of our trip. 100% was worth it. Some of them have lounges which makes the experience way better.
I also used FSD for the entire trip. I found the Standard mode tries to keep up with the flow of traffic and generally ends up losing more battery faster than the predicted rate. I found if I put it in chill mode it would only slightly go over the speed limit (around 2mph more) and the estimate would generally stay steady and even increase in some cases. We tried to plan our stops with meals so we averaged 30-60 minute stops. I paid $15-$30 for each charge session and generally had the battery charged up to 80%-95%. This wasn’t the fastest but was way better traveling experience for us as we got to break up the drive with a meal and get some fresh air. Highly recommend this travel style. It’s not optimized for speed but the experience is much better imo.
I used the nav suggestions for chargers on the trip home and we stopped more than the way out and amenities were ok but not the best (even with best amenities selected). I’d recommend using abetterrouteplanner.com personally as you have more flexibility over the trip.
Also, quality of life tip: Download some podcasts to your phone for the sections of the route with poor internet connection.
Good luck!
laceyboy8054
2026-03-14 08:17
Just get into the car and put in your final destination, tesla nav will give you the most accurate charging stops, time to charge at each stop and time on arrival.
At this time, nothing will beat tesla own nav, period. The most inportant thing is it knows your car power consumption and adjust in real time to select the right charging stops. You have 3 nav options. Fastest means more stops but short, least stops means longer charging time. The 3rd I don't remember what it is.
I just had a similar road trip today from Olympia WA to San Jose CA in my 2022 MXP, 4 charging stops total of 2h15m. Whole trip was 15h, mostly on AP. I didn't sub FSD. Left Olympia around 4a and arrived at the hotel 7p.
You can get shorter charging time because model y has smaller battery. I charged to 100% before leaving. Then charged to the tesla nav recommend. You can add 5 or 10% if you want.
ragemachine717
2026-03-15 05:52
I did about 1700 miles round trip recently, followed the navigation exactly on the way there. It was my first road trip and anxiety was high. I wasn’t comfortable with how low it would run me down. I did it. But was really worried on an ocassion where I was stuck in traffic due to a accident for awhile in single digits.
On the way home. Every stop I just charged to 80%. It didn’t seem like this added any extra time to the trip honestly. I was more comfortable with my percentage’s. I think I even had the same amount of stops. I just shopped. Walked, stretched, got snacks. It was pleasant. EV road tripping doesn’t seem like it’s for those in a hurry. But it is pleasant. Also I never worried about my speed. Just let fsd go on hurry and just say back.