I’m planning a little Telsa summer travel trip to the Texas Hill Country.  I hope the ideas I share will be helpful to you when you plan your trip. So relax, imagine where you might drive to, grab an ice-cold Southern Sweet Tea, and enjoy!

^{On the road again in a Tesla [credit: K. Paquette]}

Maximum Comfort

I love tinted windows and window sunshades.  Tesla Fixed Glass Roof Sunshades work great in the summer to keep the car cool and block bright light when you want to rest or watch a movie during Supercharging. 

When Supercharging, it is also great to get out of the car and check out the area, eat, and use the restrooms.  Most Supercharging locations in rural Texas and elsewhere are near conveniences such as restaurants and bathrooms.  At the Superchargers in Three Rivers, Texas, the Love’s Travel Stop welcomes Tesla owners by placing windshield cleaning buckets and squeegees by the Superchargers and providing clean bathrooms for free. 

In some rare cases, you may need to be prepared to kindly ask to use the bathroom or buy something first.  In one rural town, for example, I was happy to buy a fresh cookie to get the bathroom key.

Tesla Car Camping

If you plan to car camp in your Tesla, many RV parks offer nice bathrooms, showers, a dog park, a swimming pool, and washers & dryers.  Bason RV Resorts in Belton, Texas warmly welcomes Tesla owners, and that wasn’t always the case because most patrons arrive with an RV.  Be sure to have a discussion with the RV Resort you want to stay at first, you may be the first Tesla owner to stay there without an RV.  A little kindness can go a long way, creating a great experience for you and future travelers. 

With advance planning, you can also make a reservation for a spot with an electric hookup at a State Park. (They are often booked a year in advance). 

Tesla explains the “Camp mode” setting,

Camp allows you to power electronics through the USB ports and low voltage outlet in addition to maintaining the cabin temperature.

The touchscreen remains on so you can play music, browse the internet, play games in the arcade, or watch shows in Tesla Theater.

You can also control media and climate settings from a paired phone.

Camp is ideal for remaining inside your vehicle, such as camping or staying with a child.

While active, Sentry Mode and the vehicle alarm system are disabled. 

You can also control Camp from the mobile app, by swiping up from the gray bar on the Climate screen.

Staying Charged

Tesla provides an automatic navigation route that works very well. Tesla Superchargers are plentiful, and you can travel anywhere in the USA. 

“PlugShare” App helps find hotels with destination charging. This app allows people to leave helpful comments, like the condition of the chargers and if they work.

Tesla NEMA 14-50 adapter can allow you to wander far away from the supercharger network without much range anxiety because the adapter turns most RV park spaces into a charger. At about 28 miles of charge an hour, you can sleep and wake up to a full charge. 

Tesla’s Official Website Has Important Summer Driving Tips

Climate Control Features, Accessories, and Tires are all critical factors when traveling in your Tesla in hot weather. Be sure to check out Tesla’s Support page titled “Summer Driving Tips.“

My thoughts

I recommend traveling in your Tesla.  I think that travel is one of the best investments a person can make in their lifetime. I think it enriches the soul. You cannot take material things with you when you pass away, but it may be possible to take an enriched soul with you. I love this quote from Mark Twain,

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” – Mark Twain

You can read about Model Y adventure package ideas here on my blog.

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^{Gail Alfar, with special thanks to Jordan Greene, Benjamin Greene, and Kim Paquette for their valuable insight on travel in Teslas.  [Edited by Sarah Alfar] Exclusive to What’s Up Tesla – This blogpost was created utilizing STARLINK satellite services. All Rights Reserved. June 11, 2022}