Destinations

Grand Canyon in a Tesla camper: 280 miles from Las Vegas with one charge, overnight charging at Maswik Lodge, and why Mather books out six months ahead.

Zion in a Tesla camper: the Angels Landing permit lottery, when the shuttle is mandatory, charging in Springdale, and Watchman sites with river views.

Bryce Canyon in a Tesla camper: the Navajo Loop, an International Dark Sky Park, and why 8,000 feet means packing a warm layer in August.

Yellowstone in a Tesla camper: nine free Level 2 chargers in the park, why you enter with a full battery, and where the wildlife actually is at dawn.

Grand Teton in a Tesla camper: Jenny Lake takes no reservations and fills by 8am, Jackson has the charging, and dawn is the whole point.

Rocky Mountain National Park in a Tesla: Trail Ridge Road at 12,183 feet, timed entry you must book, elk at Moraine Park, and why altitude suits an EV.

Big Sur in a Tesla: 90 miles of Highway 1, camping on the cliff at Kirk Creek, charging in Monterey, and which direction to drive it.

Joshua Tree in a Tesla camper: free legal BLM camping on the south side, Superchargers in Indio and Palm Springs, and why you go October to April.

Death Valley in a Tesla: the nearest fast charger is Beatty at 43 miles, in-park charging is Level 2 only, and the season is October to March.

Pick up a Tesla camping package in Las Vegas. Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce and Death Valley are all within a day. Handover is minutes from the airport.

Pick up a Tesla camping package in Los Angeles. North to Big Sur, east to Joshua Tree, or finish Route 66 where it ends. Handover near LAX, not at a counter.

Pick up or drop off in San Francisco. Highway 1 south to Big Sur, redwoods and wine country north, and Yosemite three and a half hours east.

Pick up in San Diego. La Jolla in the morning, Anza-Borrego stars at night, Julian and Palm Springs between. The easiest first American road trip.

The end of Route 66 and the start of the Pacific Coast Highway. Where the sign actually is, the first campground north, and why you cannot sleep in the car here.

The whole Mother Road, electric. 14 days, 8 states, charging that is genuinely covered, and the stretches where the road stops being continuous.