EV Road Trip Planning: Routes, Charging & Apps

Road tripping in an EV is different from gas cars - but not harder. With proper planning and the right apps, you'll enjoy quiet, smooth rides with lower fuel costs. This guide will teach you everything you need to know about planning successful long-distance EV trips.

Why EV Road Trips Are Great

Before we dive into planning, here's why many EV owners prefer road tripping in their electric vehicles:

Lower fuel costs: Charging typically costs 50-70% less than gas
Quiet, smooth ride: No engine noise or vibration on long stretches
Forced breaks: 20-30 minute charging stops are healthier than driving 5+ hours straight
Supercharger perks: Many Tesla Supercharger locations have lounges, WiFi, and amenities
Autopilot/adaptive cruise: Modern EVs have excellent driver assistance for highway driving

The key difference: Instead of 5-minute gas stops, plan for 20-40 minute charging breaks every 2-3 hours.

Essential Apps for Trip Planning

A Better Route Planner (ABRP)

Best for: Comprehensive trip planning across all EV brands

What it does:

Calculates optimal charging stops based on your vehicle, battery level, and weather
Shows real-time charger availability
Adjusts route for elevation, wind, temperature
Sends route directly to your car's navigation (Tesla, Polestar, others)

How to use:

Select your exact vehicle model and year
Enter your starting battery % and desired arrival battery %
Input departure and destination
Review suggested charging stops and adjust as needed
Save route or send to car

Pro tip: Set your arrival battery to 20-30% for safety margin, not 0%.

PlugShare

Best for: Finding charging stations and reading reviews

What it does:

Crowdsourced charger locations and reviews
Filter by connector type (NACS, CCS1, Level 2)
See real-time availability for some networks
Check-in feature shows if chargers are working
Photos of charger locations (helpful for finding hidden chargers)

Pro tip: Always read recent reviews (last 30 days) to verify chargers are operational.

Tesla Supercharger App (Non-Tesla EVs)

Best for: NACS-equipped vehicles accessing Tesla Superchargers

What it does:

Shows Tesla Supercharger locations open to all EVs
Real-time stall availability
Pricing per kWh at each location
Navigation integration

Who can use it: 2024+ Ford, Rivian, GM vehicles with NACS, or any EV with NACS adapter.

ChargePoint / Electrify America / EVgo Apps

Best for: Finding and managing charging sessions on specific networks

What each offers:

ChargePoint: Largest network (mostly Level 2, some DC fast)
Electrify America: Fast DC charging along highways (free for some VW/Audi/Porsche owners)
EVgo: Urban and highway DC fast charging

Pro tip: Pre-load payment methods in each app before your trip. Don't fumble with apps at the charger.

Step-by-Step: Planning Your First Road Trip

Step 1: Know Your Vehicle's Real-World Range

Don't rely on EPA range. Real-world highway range is typically 70-85% of EPA:

| EPA Range | Highway Range (70 mph) | Highway Range (80 mph) | |-----------|-------------------------|-------------------------| | 300 mi | 210-255 mi | 195-225 mi | | 350 mi | 245-298 mi | 228-263 mi | | 400 mi | 280-340 mi | 260-300 mi |

Factors that reduce range:

High speeds (80 mph vs 65 mph = 15-20% less range)
Cold weather (below 32°F = 20-35% less range)
Headwinds and elevation gain
Roof racks and cargo
Running heat or A/C at max

Pro tip: Plan charging stops every 150-200 miles, not at your maximum range.

Step 2: Use ABRP to Plan Your Route

Example: Los Angeles to San Francisco (383 miles)

Open ABRP, select your vehicle (e.g., "2025 Tesla Model 3 Long Range")
Enter departure: Los Angeles, CA
Enter destination: San Francisco, CA
Set starting battery: 90%
Set arrival battery: 20% (safety margin)
Review suggested route:

ABRP suggests:

Depart LA with 90% battery (270 mi range)
Stop 1: Kettleman City Supercharger (191 mi, charge 20 min)
Arrive San Francisco with 22% battery

Total trip time: 6h 15min (5h 40min driving + 35min charging)

Step 3: Add Buffer Time and Backup Chargers

Never rely on a single charger. Always identify backup options:

Original plan:

Kettleman City Supercharger (primary)

Backup plan:

Coalinga Supercharger (15 mi before Kettleman - backup if Kettleman is full)
Lost Hills Supercharger (35 mi before Kettleman - backup if both are down)

Pro tip: Screenshot your charging stops and save offline maps in case you lose cell service.

Step 4: Check Real-Time Availability Before Each Stop

15-20 miles before your planned charging stop:

Check PlugShare for recent check-ins (last 24 hours)
Check ABRP for real-time stall availability
Read recent reviews for any issues
If chargers look busy or broken, reroute to backup

Red flags:

Multiple "broken" reports in last 7 days
"All stalls occupied" during your arrival time
Recent reviews mentioning slow charging speeds

Charging Strategy for Long Trips

The 20-80% Rule

Fastest road trip charging:

Arrive at charger with 10-20% battery
Charge to 70-80%, then leave
Charging from 80-100% is 3-4x slower

Why this works:

| Battery Level | Charge Speed | Time to Add | |---------------|--------------|-------------| | 10-50% | 150-250 kW | 15-20 min (+40%) | | 50-80% | 100-150 kW | 10-15 min (+30%) | | 80-100% | 30-75 kW | 30-45 min (+20%) |

Example: Adding 70% battery (10% → 80%) takes ~30 minutes. Adding the last 20% (80% → 100%) takes another 30+ minutes.

Pro tip: It's faster to charge to 80%, drive 2 hours, and charge again to 80% than to charge to 100% once.

Maximize Charging Speed

Before you plug in:

Precondition your battery (if available): Start 20-30 min before arrival
- Tesla: Navigate to Supercharger (auto-preconditions)
- Ford: "Prepare for DC Fast Charge" in settings
- Hyundai/Kia: Navigate to charger in built-in nav
- Rivian: Navigate to charger in Rivian nav
Choose the right stall:
- Tesla: Use isolated stalls (e.g., 1A, not 1A/1B pairs) for full power
- Electrify America: 350 kW chargers are faster than 150 kW chargers
- EVgo: Avoid chargers showing "In Use" on paired stalls
Park correctly: Back in if charge port is rear, pull in if front/side

While charging:

Don't run climate at max (reduces charge speed)
Stay in the car or nearby (some networks pause if car is locked/sleeping)
Monitor charge speed in your app

When to leave:

As soon as you hit your target % (usually 70-80%)
If charge speed drops below 50 kW and you're above 70%

Common Road Trip Scenarios

Scenario 1: City-to-City Highway Trip (300-500 miles)

Example: Seattle to Portland (173 mi)

Strategy:

Depart with 80-90% battery
No charging needed (well within range)
Arrive with 40-50% battery
Charge overnight at destination

Pro tip: For trips under 250 miles, you often don't need to charge en route.

Scenario 2: Long Highway Trip (500-1000 miles)

Example: San Diego to Portland (1,087 mi)

Strategy:

Plan 3-4 charging stops every 150-200 miles
Target 20-30 minute charging sessions
Use rest stops to eat, stretch, use restroom
Break trip into day 1 (550 mi) and day 2 (537 mi)

Pro tip: Align charging stops with meal breaks to maximize efficiency.

Scenario 3: Rural/Remote Driving

Example: Denver to Yellowstone (563 mi through rural Wyoming)

Strategy:

Identify DC fast chargers along route (fewer options)
Have multiple backup chargers planned
Consider Level 2 overnight charging at hotels
Depart with 100% battery for rural segments
Drive conservatively (65 mph instead of 80 mph)

Pro tip: Download offline maps and screenshot charger locations. Cell service is spotty in rural areas.

Scenario 4: Mountain Driving

Example: Los Angeles to Mammoth Lakes (315 mi with 7,000 ft elevation gain)

Strategy:

Expect 30-40% range loss going uphill
Plan charging stop before major elevation climbs
Enjoy regenerative braking on downhills (you'll recover 10-20% battery)
Consider charging at destination instead of en route

Pro tip: ABRP accounts for elevation. Always use it for mountain trips.

What to Do When Things Go Wrong

Charger Is Broken/Full

Immediate actions:

Check other stalls at the same location (often only 1-2 are broken)
Wait 5-10 minutes if chargers are full (EVs charge fast, turnover is quick)
Reroute to backup charger (this is why you identified backups!)

If you're low on battery:

Slow down to 60-65 mph (extends range by 10-15%)
Turn off climate (extends range by 5-10%)
Use cruise control (smoother = more efficient)
Look for Level 2 chargers as emergency option (hotels, malls, RV parks)

Charging Slower Than Expected

Possible causes:

Battery too cold: Let car warm up for 5-10 min before charging
Battery too hot: Charge speed limited by battery thermal management
Charger issue: Try different stall or network
Battery above 80%: This is normal - charging slows significantly above 80%
Shared power: On some chargers, two cars on same pair split power

Solutions:

If below 50% and charging less than 50 kW, switch stalls
If above 80%, just accept slower speeds or leave
Precondition battery next time

Lost/No Cell Service

Preparation is key:

Download offline maps in Google Maps before trip
Screenshot charging stop locations and addresses
Save ChargePoint, EA, EVgo cards in Apple/Google Wallet for offline access
Print out route and charging stops (old school but works!)

Money-Saving Tips

Compare Charging Costs by Network

Average cost per kWh (as of Nov 2025):

| Network | Cost per kWh | 50 kWh Charge | Notes | |---------|--------------|---------------|-------| | Tesla Supercharger | $0.25-$0.50 | $12.50-$25 | Varies by location/time | | Electrify America | $0.43-$0.56 | $21.50-$28 | Pass+ members save 25% | | EVgo | $0.36-$0.64 | $18-$32 | Membership reduces cost | | ChargePoint | Varies | Varies | Set by property owner |

Pro tip: Tesla Supercharging is often cheapest for NACS-equipped vehicles.

Get Charging Memberships

Worth it if you road trip 2+ times per year:

Electrify America Pass+ ($7/month): Save 25% on charging
EVgo Plus ($7/month): Lower per-kWh rates
ChargePoint membership (Free): Access to member-only pricing

Charge Overnight at Hotels

Many hotels offer free Level 2 charging:

Hampton Inn
Marriott
Hilton
Holiday Inn Express

Strategy: Book hotels with free charging, start with low battery, wake up with 100%.

Before You Leave: Pre-Trip Checklist

1 week before:

Plan route in ABRP and identify all charging stops
Screenshot charger locations and save offline maps
Check PlugShare reviews for your planned chargers
Verify charging network apps have payment methods loaded
Book hotels with EV charging if possible

1 day before:

Fully charge vehicle at home
Update vehicle software (charging improvements)
Check weather forecast along route
Verify chargers are still operational (recent PlugShare check-ins)

Morning of trip:

Depart with 90-100% battery
Pack charging adapters (if needed)
Pre-load ABRP route in vehicle nav (if supported)
Check real-time traffic and adjust route if needed

Pro Tips from Experienced EV Road Trippers

Align charging with meals: Stop for lunch at a charging location. By the time you finish eating, your car is charged.
Drive during off-peak times: Fewer people at chargers (avoid Friday afternoons/Sunday evenings).
Plan bathroom breaks at charging stops: You need to stop anyway - combine activities.
Bring entertainment for kids: 20-30 minute charging breaks = perfect time for snacks, games, stretching.
Join EV forums for route-specific advice: Tesla Motors Club, Rivian Forums, MachE Forum have trip reports for every route.
Don't stress about exact percentages: ABRP builds in buffer. If it says arrive with 15%, you'll probably have 20%.
Embrace the journey: Forced breaks make for healthier, more relaxed road trips.

Recommended Road Trip Routes for First-Timers

Easy routes with excellent charging infrastructure:

California Coast (LA to SF): Tesla Superchargers every 80-100 miles
I-95 Corridor (Boston to Miami): Dense Electrify America and Supercharger coverage
Seattle to Portland: Short trip, great charger availability
Texas Triangle (Austin-Houston-Dallas): Excellent charging network
Colorado Front Range (Denver to Colorado Springs): Scenic with frequent chargers

Avoid for your first trip:

Rural Midwest (sparse chargers)
Montana/Wyoming (long distances between chargers)
Deep South rural areas (limited DC fast charging)

Final Thoughts

Road tripping in an EV requires different planning than gas cars, but it's not harder - just different.

The keys to success: ✓ Use ABRP for route planning ✓ Follow the 20-80% charging rule ✓ Always have backup chargers identified ✓ Check real-time charger status before each stop ✓ Embrace the forced breaks

Most first-time EV road trippers are surprised by how easy it is. With proper planning and the right mindset, you'll enjoy quieter, cheaper, and more relaxed road trips.

Additional Resources

A Better Route Planner - Route planning tool
PlugShare - Charger locations and reviews
Tesla Supercharger Map - Tesla's charging network
Electrify America Map - EA charging locations
Reddit: r/electricvehicles, r/TeslaLounge - Community trip reports

Ready to plan your first EV road trip? Start with a shorter route (200-300 miles) to build confidence, then tackle longer adventures!