Every great adventure begins with the desire to experience something new, and a smooth adventure springs from proper planning. Before leaving the kitchen table, we mapped out our first 250-mile EV road trip route and identified all potential charging stops. On the highway, we followed our plan, stuck to the speed limit and made sure to leave charging stations tidy for others.

With just a bit of preparation and a few simple habits, our weekend was easy, fun, and free from charger worries!

Follow our electric vehicle road trip planning process for a smooth and stress-free journey. Enjoy unforgettable memories along The Great American Electric Highway!!

**At a Glance**: Successful Electric Vehicle Road Trip Planning

**Planning Your EV Road Trip**
**Pre-Trip Preparations**
**While on the Road**
**Charging Courtesy**
**Have Fun Doing Something New (to you)**
**OVERALL RATING**: 5/5 stars

Planning Your Electric Vehicle Road Trip

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Southern Oregon, USA

Plan Your EV Road Trip Route

I am a visual person; I like to hold an atlas and get a bird’s-eye view of where I am and where I plan to drive. To make electric car road trip planning more visual, we use a Rand McNally North American Atlas, Avery 1/4” adhesive labels, and the PlugShare App to map out the national electric car charging network. Read on for an easy, straightforward way to plot electric vehicle chargers and plan your EV road trip.

For our first electric vehicle road trip, we decided to drive from Central Missouri to Bentonville, Arkansas—a 258-mile journey. To prepare, I opened my Rand McNally North American Atlas to southwest Missouri, logged into the PlugShare App, and set my charger network filter to Electrify America and ChargePoint—in January 2023, these were the most prolific electric vehicle chargers in Missouri and northern Arkansas.

As seen in the image above, I used green Avery dots to mark Electrify America chargers and red Avery dots for ChargePoint chargers. I found the yellow dots hard to see on the atlas, so I used blue Avery dots to mark all other electric vehicle charger networks.

After marking the charger locations on our atlas, I wanted to check the distances between charging stops. Our 2022 Kia EV6 is 100% charge rated (on Mars) for 274 miles of range, but as a nervous newbie, I wanted to keep my charging stops within 125 miles. Google makes this easy—asking, “How far is it from Lebanon, Missouri, to Mount Vernon, Missouri?” quickly told me the drive was 85 miles, confirming I wasn’t exceeding my self-imposed limit.

At that point, we had owned the Kia EV6 for eight months, and our longest trip had been 112 miles one-way to St. Louis—which has a great Electrify America charger in St. Charles. I made a beeline for it upon arrival and again before heading home. Fortunately, I’ve since become more confident in my Kia EV6’s range and have overcome my “I’m going to run out of battery” paranoia. Now, I aim to keep my highway driving under 165 miles before charging to 80%, giving me a comfortable buffer in case of delays or charger issues. Most importantly, I’m not on a mad dash to Spring Break—we want to enjoy our trip, and stretching every few hours keeps us in a good mood.

So, there you have it—a simple and straightforward way to map out and plan an electric car road trip. The best part? Every time we plan a new trip, I simply apply the dots for electric charging stations, and I never have to do this again. I’ve now mapped out most of the Western United States, giving me a handy reference for future adventures.

Select your road trip destination
Use the PlugShare App to find public electric chargers and apply Avery 1/4” Adhesive Labels to your Rand McNally North American Atlas
Select the desired route based upon electric vehicle charger locations
Check the miles between chargers to stay within your range comfort level
Use this information to enjoy your excursion

Our First Electric Vehicle Road Trip

Our first road trip started in Central Missouri and ended in Bentonville, Arkansas. After leaving home, we Electrify America charged in Lebanon, Missouri (83 miles). From there, we continued down I-44 to the Electrify America Charger in Mount Vernon, Missouri (85 miles). Next, we drove west on I-44 to Joplin, Missouri, then turned south on I-49 to Bentonville, Arkansas (total 110 miles), followed by a short 10-mile drive to the Electrify America charger in Rogers, Arkansas. All of these distances stayed within my self-imposed 125-mile range limit.

This electric car road trip planning process proved effective. We arrived at each charger with plenty of remaining battery charge, charged the car to 80%, and were able to use the on-site facilities during the average 25-minute charge time (which was especially important, as my next milestone is Social Security, and I can’t afford to wait much longer!).

A short trip broken into three charging stops provided valuable EV road trip experience, teaching us that speed and temperature play a big role in battery efficiency. I learned that driving 70 MPH on the interstate drains the battery faster than cruising state highways at 55 to 65 MPH. I also discovered that near-freezing temperatures extend charging times and that climbing steep Arkansas hills depletes the battery more than descending those same hills regenerates battery charge.

I also learned that 80% battery state of charge provides around 200 miles of range, plenty to meet my 125-mile goal and keep my charge times relatively quick.

After charging in Rogers, Arkansas, we spent two days exploring the area, enjoying museums and great food. This first out-of-town experience gave us a lot of confidence in our planning process, driving strategy, and overall ability to enjoy road-tripping in a new way.

The return trip followed the same route in reverse. In a way, this was like two short road trips in one, giving us even more hands-on experience.

Yes, I was glued to the battery level the entire time, and honestly, I think that’s natural at that stage of the EV learning curve. Most importantly, we learned that an electric vehicle road trip is easy with proper planning.

Now, over two years and four major road trips later, we still use the same process to extend our trips and enjoy even more of this country’s bounty and beauty.

Quick Interruption: There is another app called A Better Route Planner that will use your electric vehicle’s make and model information to automatically map out a cross-country trip including recommended charging stops. I have programmed a few electric car road trips into the app, but I have not used this to take an EV road trip. My wife likes an atlas, I like my wife happy, and I need the control an app does not provide. Thus, we stay with the method described in the post.

Preparing for your EV Road Trip

Charging Network Apps

For complete charging information please click HERE to read our charging suggestions.

Charging Network Apps are an unfortunate reality with electric vehicles. Unless you are able to always charge at home or work or you drive a Tesla, you will need a charging provider account and the associated app. Until the charging providers come up with a standard payment system you will need to setup an account with each charging company you will use.

Our first electric vehicle road trip used the Electrify America charging network and I setup the ChargePoint network as a backup. Over time I have signed up with other charging networks to increase my refill options.

Charging Adaptors

Charging Adaptors are beneficial if you drive a non-Tesla electric vehicle and your manufacturer now offers access to the Tesla charging network, try to get a manufacturer supplied adapter before your trip. The ability to access the Tesla Network will give you a lot more options on the road.

NOTE: Most EV Car Companies & Charging Companies are requiring you to purchase a CCS1 (Kia uses) to NACS (Tesla uses) adaptor from the manufacturer. They want the adaptor to meet quality requirements to prevent damage to your vehicle and to the EV Charging Station.

Additional Items to Carry

To be self-sufficient and (hopefully) keep rolling I carry a tire inflator, 12-volt battery jumper, LED flares and extra blankets / clothing in case things go south. The intent of this website is to help you not be stuck on the side of the road, but one of thousands of things may happen - so Be Prepared.

Please read our What We Pack for a Road Trip article for in-depth information.

Start at 100% State of Charge

A 100% battery charge gets your electric vehicle road trip started on the right foot. Home charging is always going to be less expensive than public charging so fill up the cheaper electrons before you start.

Kia EV6 Driving on a Highway — 2022 Kia EV6

While on the Road

Monitor Your Speed

Electric Cars tend to bring out the NASCAR in all of us. Quick excelleration is exciting way to earn the wrong kind of tickets, but aggressive driving will limit your driving distance. Driving the speed limit may not sound fun when wrapped in a crotch rocket, but the goal is to reach the next charging stop without calling a tow truck.

Monitor your battery level at higher speeds and find the balance that keeps your license points and gets you to your next destination.

Give Yourself a Battery Buffer Between Charging Stops

I have rolled into a charging station with 4% remaining juice, not a good feeling. My goal is to never go below 20% battery charge before reaching the next stop. Keeping my anxiety in check and preventing the embarrassment of being towed is paramount. I suggest knowing your primary charging station destination and keep track of alternatives if need to continue to an alternative charging site.

Organize Charging Stops

Nature calling, or occasionally demanding, a stop is a great pairing with recharging the car battery. Organize your stop to create efficiency and minimize additional stops. Time your charging stops with eating lunch, finding a snack, walking your dog or anything else you can do when you have 15 to 30 minutes. This prevents extra stops and keeps you rolling on your EV road trip.

Safety Considerations for Your EV Journey

Be aware of your surroundings when charging. You may want to sit in your car and take a short nap or you may be able to converse with other drivers to pass the time. Please be aware of what / who is around you to stay safe while taking a driving break.

Electric Road Trip Charging Courtesy

Please be considerate of others when using public chargers. A little politeness helps ensure a smooth and efficient experience for everyone. Taking turns, not unplugging others prematurely, and keeping the area tidy can make a big difference. Avoid leaving your vehicle plugged in longer than necessary so others can get a turn.

If a charger isn’t working properly, report the issue instead of leaving it for the next user to discover.

Remember to park properly and only use designated EV charging spots when actively charging. Keeping cables neatly organized helps prevent hazards and makes the area safer for everyone. Following a few simple guidelines can keep the space clean and stress-free. Being mindful of others helps create a positive environment for all users.

Check out our charging etiquette tips to make public charging a better experience for everyone.

You’ve Got This

If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, don’t worry — you’re not alone. It’s completely normal for first-time EV road trippers to feel a bit nervous.

I am sure that I stared at the battery gauge more than the highway on my first road trip.

But after my second road trip - well now I do not want to travel any other way.

The first time might feel intimidating, but it’s also full of excitement — get out there and embrace The Great American Electric Highway!!

SightSeeEV.com contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase using one of these Amazon links, we may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. See our Disclosure Policy for more information.

How to Plan a Successful Electric Vehicle Road Trip