Why We Chose the Tesla Model Y for a Family Road Trip
Family road trips can be legendary—or legendary disasters. With two kids in tow and nearly 2,000 miles of highway ahead, choosing the right car was critical. Read on to learn why this Tesla Road Trip was such a huge success.
For our adventure from Portland, Oregon to Los Angeles, California and back, we opted for our Tesla Model Y. It wasn’t just the eco-friendly choice—it turned out to be the perfect family travel companion.
Here’s how Tesla made this long-haul road trip easier, greener, and surprisingly fun.
Planning the Route: Tesla’s Navigation (and ABRP) Takes the Stress Out
Driving from Portland to Los Angeles covers almost 1,000 miles one way. In a gas car, planning is simple: drive until the tank is low and refuel. With an EV, you might expect range anxiety, but the Tesla trip planner eliminates that worry.
The navigation system:
- Mapped out our entire route down including our intermediate stops
- Scheduled Supercharger stops automatically
- Calculated charging times for each leg of the journey
The problem I found with the Tesla system: not much of an ability to customize. The only thing you can customize is the amount of charge you have remaining at your final destination.
The Tesla system seems to works on the premise of having the fewest number of Supercharging stops along the way. This is certainly a fine strategy, but one that did not fit our situation.
That is where I added the use of A Better Route Planner. A word of warning, this app has its limitations too, but more on that later.
I had planned to make overnight stops along the route so that we only spent about 4 hours driving each day. So heading south we stopped in:
- Medford, OR
- Sacramento, CA
- Selma, CA
The end point of our southern leg was Los Angeles, CA.
On the trip back north we first stopped at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor in Valencia, CA and once we had some water park fun we made overnight stops in:
- Patterson, CA
- Redding, CA
Our next stop was at Sunriver Resort just outside Bend, OR where we spent three nights before finally returning to Portland, OR.
Using ABRP For Our Tesla Road Trip
Since the built-in Tesla route planner had the limitations I discussed above, I decided to augment my planning with the app called A Better Route Planner (ABRP).
Since I was going to be on a very long road trip, I decided to try out their premium version.
Like most apps, they offered a laundry list of features designed to make you believe paying extra is worth it. For example, the premium version offers things like live weather and traffic.
While these are nice features, they are things you can find in plenty of other apps, including the built-in Tesla navigation system. The main reason I chose to try out the premium version was their live driving feature that was supposed to offer quite a few benefits while you were actually driving.
What I found was that the information presented was not that valuable. For example, while using this feature, you could not see any information about the charging stops they recommended.
It seemed the only way you could see information was to stop your drive in the app, and then look at the information about the charging stops.
This was odd to me because during the planning stages, you could see all the information you could ever want about the charging stops they recommended.
What I did like about the app was that you could customize how many times you stopped on your route. The app offered a slider that let you switch between making quite a few short stops or fewer long stops or anywhere in between.
Since we wanted to make several stops with short charging times, planning this out with this app was quite easy. That said, once I started getting into the swing of our trip, I realized it was pretty easy to just look at the map and eyeball when the next stop should be based on how long I wanted to drive. 
Family Comfort: Space and Features in the Model Y
When you’re traveling with kids, comfort is everything. The Model Y’s roomy backseat kept the kids happy, with big windows for scenic views and enough legroom to avoid squabbles.
There were also times that my oldest son sat in the front passenger seat. That’s when having a good iPhone mount attached the Tesla screen was key. It allowed him to mount his phone and use his headphones to watch videos while we were driving.
Storage was another win:
- Rear trunk + frunk (front trunk) easily fit luggage, toys, snacks, and a cooler
- Essentials were kept within reach while bulky items stayed tucked away
- Efficient, quiet climate control kept everyone comfortable without idling an engine
It felt less like a cramped road trip and more like traveling in a lounge on wheels.
Entertainment: Keeping Kids Happy on the Road During a Tesla Road Trip
Long drives with kids are all about distraction—and Tesla excels here.
- Tesla Theater (Netflix, Disney+, YouTube) kept the kids entertained during charging stops
- Tesla Arcade games were a lifesaver for quick breaks
- Caraoke turned into family singalongs somewhere in Northern California
- Between Spotify, Bluetooth, Apple Music and Wi-Fi, we rotated playlists, podcasts, and shows with ease
We also added two non-Tesla items to keep the kids happy: Our PlayStation 5 and a Starlink Satellite Receiver.
How we set up the PlayStation
First we were going to have to power this beast. The built in charging ports of the Tesla were not going to do the trick. As such, we added a Jackery 1000 to our entertainment inventory to power the PS5.
To see what the PlayStation had to offer we opted for a simple (and cheap) laptop monitor and a simple monitor mount that clipped to the back of the passenger seat. (FYI, you don’t need anything bigger than this because the monitor is so close to the backseat.)
How I mounted the Starlink
I decided early on that I was not going to mount the Starlink on the outside of the car. For starters, it was going to decrease the efficiency of the vehicle by creating drag. I had no idea how much, but since it was easy to mount on the inside I figured what was the point.
I also concluded that the chance of the satellite receiver being stolen was far smaller if I mounted it on the inside of the car.
With that mind, I found a simple suction cup mount that allowed me to mount the receiver to the glass roof. I strategically placed it in the area between the front seats and back seats, so just in case it fell (which it did at one point!), it would not hit anybody on the head.
The mount I chose was very simple, quite strong, and I liked the fact that it clipped into the receiver at the triangular part near where both the power cable insert and the network cable insert into the receiver.
Where I put the Jackery and the PlayStation For Our Tesla Road Trip
I decided to put both the Jackery and the PlayStation in the sub trunk of the Tesla. I had two reasons for placing both of these pieces of tech in the sub trunk:
- Kept both of these expensive pieces of equipment away from prying eyes that might be passing by the car.
- Protected both of these items from luggage that might be sliding around the trunk area.
The one thing I did not take into account was how much heat each of these devices put off. After the first leg of our drive, the jack battery was overheated.
My first simple solution was to just leave the sub trunk open a crack by sliding the cover forward. This was a good temporary solution, but it was obvious a more permanent solution would be much more convenient.
After my trip, I decided to install a pair of exhaust fans into the sub trunk cover. One pointed down into the sub trunk, the other pointed up out of the sub trunk.
I used the included metal covers to protect the fans from luggage above them. So far, this has been a perfect solution to keep the items protected and well ventilated.
Charging Stops: From Chore to Opportunity
Parents usually dread road trip stops, but in a Tesla, they became a feature, not a bug.
Tesla’s Supercharger network along I-5 is reliable and abundant. Each stop lasted 5-15 minutes (our choice of stop time) which gave us:
- Time for the kids to run around
- Bathroom breaks without rushing
- Meals that weren’t just gas station snacks
Instead of resenting stops, we appreciated the structured breaks. They reset everyone’s mood and made the journey smoother.
One thing that this road trip hammered home was the battery charging curve of a Tesla. Before taking this trip, I got very nervous letting the battery get anywhere close to 20% or lower.
On this trip, I realized it was great to reach a supercharger somewhere between 10 and 20%. Once there, I generally did not charge the battery beyond 50% or 60% at the most.
The reason I did this is because of how quickly the battery charges when you start the charging process somewhere between 10 and 20%. You also begin to learn that the charging rate slows considerably as you approach 50% capacity and beyond. This was especially true on days when the outdoor temperature was exceeding 100°.
So this charging experience coupled with our desire to drive in roughly 1 hour increments made keeping the battery between 15 and 50% the entire trip perfect.
Driving Experience: Stress-Free and Smooth
For the driver, the Tesla Model Y was more than comfortable—it was confidence-inspiring.
- Full Self Driving (FSD) handled all of the driving chores from departure to arrival, reducing fatigue
- The quiet electric ride lulled the kids to sleep on long stretches
- Instant acceleration made freeway merging safe and easy
By the time we reached the Grapevine heading into Los Angeles, I couldn’t imagine driving anything else.
Savings and Sustainability During a Tesla Road Trip: EV Wins Over Gas
The numbers sealed the deal:
- Charging cost about half as much as gas would have for the same trip
- Regenerative braking extended our range on downhill stretches
- Driving nearly 2,000 miles with zero emissions felt like a win for both our family and the planet
We saved money, reduced stress, and traveled sustainably—all without compromise.
Challenges (and How We Solved Them)
Not everything was perfect, but solutions were simple:
- Kids getting “tired” of driving? Keep the segments between stops and overall daily mileage shorter.
- Packing overload? We learned to use the frunk as our “laundry hamper” and kept clean stuff in the trunk.
- A great way to keep the drive entertaining? Plan cool places to make short to moderate stops along the route. If you have the time, be creative with your routing to find cool places to visit even if that means a longer total trip time. 
Highlights Along the Way
Some of our favorite memories weren’t in Los Angeles but on the road itself:
- Santa Monica Beach, CA: Fun but small waves, warm water and plenty of lifeguards.
- Lake Shasta, CA: One of the most beautiful lakes you will ever see. 
- Six Flags Magic Mountain, Hurricane Harbor: a thrilling detour for the kids
- Bend, OR: One of our favorite summer vacation spots that offers a wealth of amazing outdoor activities for the entire family. 
The Tesla Model Y wasn’t just a car—it became part of the adventure.
Would We Do A Tesla Road Trip Again? Absolutely.
After nearly 2,000 miles, the verdict is clear: the Tesla Model Y is the ultimate family road trip car. It gave us comfort, built-in entertainment, stress-free driving, significant savings, and the joy of knowing we traveled more sustainably.
Would I swap it for a gas-powered SUV? Not a chance.
If you’re planning a family road trip and wondering if an EV can handle it, the Tesla Model Y doesn’t just manage—it shines.