We’re here. An uneventful day, leaving Tallahassee at 8 AM and arriving home at 1:20 PM with one charging stop in Gainesville, FL (charging cost: $18.20; new shoes at REI, $160).

Our kitchen remodel is coming along nicely. We still need to pick out backsplash tile and wall paint color, but you can get an idea from the photos. White and grey is a big change from traditional wood colors we’ve lived with since 1987!

Here’s a summary of our trip, statistically speaking.

• We traveled a total of 2,775 miles in the Model 3 from Sun City Center to Austin and return. Excluding “sightseeing days,” we were on the road covering 2,245 miles over 5.5 travel days, averaging 445 miles per day.
• We stopped a total of 18 times to charge. The average charging time was about 40 minutes, which often included time for food and you-know-what breaks. Sometimes we unplugged during dinner and finished our meals, thereby taking longer than 40 minutes.
• The total cost of Supercharging came to $237.12, or $12.87 per fill-up. Assuming a gas-powered car averages 25 mpg and regular gas goes for $3.10, the total would come to $344.84, a net savings of $107.72.
• One disappointment is that the range, which nominally shows as 300 miles or so is in reality closer to 250 miles less. I’m not sure why but three factors may come into play. First, I drove at 80 mph most of the time (10 over the limit). The temperature never exceeded a cool 55 degrees. Judy had her seat heater on most of the time, drawing additional power from the battery. There is a display in the Model 3 that shows average energy usage for the past 30 miles and the range that would result at that rate. That number is closer to reality.

As for the driving experience, I would note that:

• The Tesla is fun to drive and I found it quite comfortable and enjoyable car to ride in.
• We didn’t find the charging stops bothersome, but then again, we’re retirees with no particular time pressures. In fact, the 40-minute breaks gave me plenty of time to relax and hence drive further than I would otherwise. Judy only drove for about two hours going out and two hours coming back. I did all the rest. Normally, Judy and I would trade off driving duties, more like a 2/3 – 1/3 split. 
• Tesla has three autopilot modes: Speed and lane control; Autopilot on highways; Full Self Driving on city streets. I found speed and lane control works quite well, better than similar features we’ve had over the years in other cars. Lane following, in particular, is much advanced over other cars. It did a superb job even when the lane had been reduced by road construction and Jersey barriers. A neat feature in this mode is that by depressing the turn signal lever the Model 3 will check the blind spots and, if clear, initiate the lane change without driver involvement. I liked this mode a lot: two drivers checking blind spots is better than one. 
• Autopilot while driving on highways gives the Model 3 control over lane change decisions. The driver just sits there and keeps his/her hands on the wheel. The Model 3 in this mode is maybe 85% OK, moving to the passing lane and back as required. It is sensitive to faster cars coming up in the passing lane. It will sometimes make lane changes that make no sense, and it seems to love hanging out in the left-hand lane even when no cars are around. I found it amusing to watch its decision making and correcting dumb lane changes. Nothing it did was dangerous, just annoying. I used this mode only occasionally, especially on the return trip.
• I’ve only used Full Self Driving (beta version) around town here in Sun City Center and based on that did not use the feature during the trip. I’ll mess around with it just for fun; I need to learn how to behave when in this mode, when to trust FSD and when to intervene.  In my opinion it’s far from ready for everyday use.

Judy’s put together her report on the trip, charging experiences, etc. It’s included below.

Thanks for following along with us – it’s great to get your feedback and to know some at least are paying attention. For those who haven’t kept up, save it for a night when you can’t get to sleep; an instantaneous insomnia cure is guaranteed!

Judy’s January 2022 Road Trip Summary

Jon’s idea of a road trip in the Tesla, just to see what it would be like needing to charge the car, started with the idea of going from Florida to San Diego to visit Reagan at the University of California San Diego.  He mapped it all out and excitedly called me in to see his wonderful trip.  We had Melrose friends renting a place in Austin, TX in January so that set us up for a halfway point to stop for a couple of days.  Since part of the trip was to do sightseeing, and since I had never traveled across the south, he had us doing three days to Austin, two days there and three days to San Diego and a few days with Reagan.  Ten days. That was all well and good but then —-I looked at him and said, “and we need to turn around and drive all the way back!”  After further consideration and my explaining that a Tesla Road trip did not have to take us all the way across the country, Jon decided going to just Austin, TX could meet his desire.  After that it was determined that we had the opportunity to spend a week with Carter while Jeff was in Nepal in January, so the half trip worked better for that.

So, on January 10, 2022 we headed out for our first long distance road trip relying totally on electricity.  The Tesla maps out everything once you put your destination into the car.  We said Panama City Beach because several years ago Jon had given me a Christmas present of a trip to Panama City Beach.  We then realized the distance and were unable to find the time to drive up there.  We instead choice a closer destination.  So, the Tesla tells us to stop for a charge in Lake City, FL and directs us to the Tesla Supercharger.  This place had six chargers and 2 were in use when we got there.  People came and went while we were there.  Five of the six chargers were in use.  The cars were from Indiana, Colorado, Michigan and FL.  Everyone was staying in their cars.  This was mid-morning so not really mealtime. Chili’s, Red Lobster and Southwest Grill were all right there.  

Our second stop was in Tallahassee and we were there for 35 minutes. Cars again came and went, and a lady went off to shop while she waited. This place had Home Goods, Publix’s, pizza place and other food places. In this shopping center there were also Electrify America charging stations.  I think this is the only site that had something other than Tesla.  

So far one thing that was missing at the charging spots were the restrooms.  They do not have restrooms, trash cans anything that would require people to take care of it.  So, the next morning in Panama City Beach when we charged, we were pleased to have these charging units at a Busy Bee Convenience/Gas Store.  Restroom and shopping which I did while I was killing time.  We were charging in the morning because the hotel and charging were not close to each other, and we were too tired when we got there the previous night.  

By now we are starting to catch on.  The need to find restrooms was a major one.  Crestview, FL had a Starbucks and Panera.  I went to the Starbucks to use their restroom and purchased a drink. Jon went to Panera and just used their restroom.  On our return trip we stopped at this same place and because it was lunch time, we picked up Chick-fil and ate it in the car.  There was also Burger King, MacDonald’s along the same road.  By now we have figured out that picking up food, using their restroom and then charging works in many places.  

Our next stop Tesla took us was north of Biloxi.  We stopped here both ways.  There was lots of eating opportunities, but we were not in need either way.  Sonic is a fast-food place at several Superchargers.  Here there was a Walmart across the street that Jon went to use the restroom.  By now we have used Bed, Bath and Beyond and Walmart or Target shopping placed to use the restrooms. We are catching on!

On our third day we had stayed in Lafayette, LA and again needed to charge in the morning.  This time we also needed breakfast, so it worked out alright.  The Chick-fil had only drive thru and we did not have the car, so we settled for the MacDonalds.  Next stop was in Channelview, TX outside Houston.  This was located behind the Holiday Inn.  It had a restaurant and restroom.  We used the restroom but ate the crackers and cheese we had with us along with an orange.  On our return trip we were pleased when Tesla sent us to the same place and we were able to eat at their restaurant.  The lunch and charging took the same amount of time.  That brings up a point.  Most of the charging times are around 30 mins.  The ones that say 20 we frequently put a little more since we are usually doing something.  Some took as much as 50 minutes, and we ate at Panera with plenty of time. 

We are now getting to Austin, TX and we waited to charge on our way to the airport to go see Carter.  We had ridden with our friends so had not used the car.   We fully charged the car and left it for 9.5 days.  It does use charge just sitting there, about 13 miles this time.  We went to San Antonio and did not use the car much there.  

Off we went on our way home.  We have learned somethings on our way out.  We did not tell ourselves that we should do things differently, but we did start doing it.  The first night we had left San Antonio in the mid-afternoon and did not have a destination in mind so just looked at where Tesla wanted us to charge and then we went on Hotels.com and found a Best Western at the same exit. We checked in and went to the Subway across the street, took our subs and went to the charging station. 

Boy that worked great!  So, the rest of the trip we did the charger location with the hotel at the same exit.  I had also discovered that I can sometimes see the eating places that are near the charging station on the screen.  Usually we would drive to the charging station and discover eating places on the way or near it.  Another thing that helps is to choose a restaurant right near the charging so Jon can move the car if the charging is done  before we’ve finished eating.  You cannot leave the car at the charging station when it is done charging because Tesla will charge you for every idle minute.  The handy Tesla app on our phones does tell us how much time is left on the charging and when it is all done.  

One time we had a Tesla Supercharger cable that was not working.  Jon figured it out right away and moved the car to another charger cable that did work.  Someone else came, plugged in, and went to a store before he looked and realized the car was not charging so came back and moved his car.  He was glad he could access the information from his phone.  

The last day we charged in Gainesville, FL.  Here there were eight chargers and when we arrived, we took the last open charger.  While we sat in the car for 10 minutes, the car next to us left and a car had been waiting and backed right in.  The cars continually pulled out and another car came in.   I do not think a charger was not in use for more than a couple of minutes.  Because all the chargers were in use it took us an hour to charge.  They say the more cars on the chargers the slower it will be.  While here we went to REI and Jon purchased a pair of shoes.  Good use of our time I would say!  He was going to need new shoes sometime. This stop was in a mall area with Whole Foods, Bone Fish Grill, and REI. Many of the people were doing their shopping at Whole Foods.  There was also a strip mall right there, but I could not see the stores.

On the return trip we had two days where we did minimal sightseeing and were on the road for 9 – 10 hours and we charged twice and then again at our destination.  

So, in summary I would say the charging has been a good experience.  The really side-benefit to this charging is that Jon could do all the driving.  Usually we both drive 2 – 3 hours so Jon has a break.  The charging is needed every 2 – 3 hours and you have a forced break and Jon always felt ready to continue driving at that time.   As we continued the trip, we learned how to maximize our stops by eating at the same time.  We were then not losing too much time.  Also charging while we ate dinner and being ready to leave in the morning again made it, so we were not losing time.  

Yes, you can gas up quickly but then you still need to go eat!  I am not sure how much time difference there is.  I guess that could be for another trip when we can keep track of time we are not driving with the Tesla and with the Kia gas car.

It was a fun trip and just the right length.  I am glad we did not go to California!  We are planning to still pay Reagan a visit, but we will Fly.