Electric Tech Adventures

[Electric Tech Adventures @ElectricTechAdv]

Leaving the Florida Keys behind, our family of 6 head north in the Tesla Model Y and stop at Caspersen Beach (South Venice) for a full afternoon of shell hunting. The kids fill bags with treasures while I test the Syncwire waterproof phone pouch and enjoy one of the best treasure-hunting beaches we’ve found on this trip. SYNCWIRE Waterproof Phone Pouch [2-Pack] https://t.co/LCmH7eX1qz Caspersen Beach https://t.co/3N0sqamJUs Use my Tesla referral code and get hundreds of dollars off a new Tesla! https://t.co/VbhKsMtde8

[Electric Tech Adventures @ElectricTechAdv]

I like when others post their road trip stats so I thought I’d share ours! Our big Model Y long range road trip this year turned out to be 10,361 miles over 34 days. We were in the car driving for 8 days and 6 hours according to the trip meter. We used 3,194 kWh at 308.2 Wh/Mi on average. We charged at superchargers 96 times adding up to 1 day 14 hours and 34 minutes of time supercharging. I generated 1,003 GB from 10,307 pictures/videos from all cameras combined that I’ll be editing into a YouTube video series when I finish our 2024 trip to the Florida Keys and our 2025 trip to the Canadian Rockies.

Between our three big road trips over the last 3 years we’ve driven in our 2023 Model Y long range 23,256 miles which has taken us to all lower 48 states plus all provinces of Canada that touch the United States plus Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. I’ll summarize those three combined road trips and put them in their own post. After all this plus normal driving we just ticked past the 50k mile mark on our odometer.

I’ve included some highlight pictures, mostly where our Model Y is in the shot. I think it’s safe to say that Electric vehicles are a viable means of road tripping! The hardest place to get to was the northernmost point of the lower 48 in northern Minnesota only accessible by land through Canada driving 3 hours round trip on gravel roads. I guess hardest is subjective though because getting to International Falls, MN out of the range of supercharging was risky. In our Model Y over the last 3 years we’ve driven to the northwestern most point of the lower 48, northernmost point of the lower 48, northeastern most point of the lower 48, southeastern most point of the United States and the geographic center of the United States (in South Dakota). We’ve been near the southwestern most point of the US (we went to LA) which is Friendship Park (inside of Border Field State Park) south of San Diego, CA. It has been opened and closed for varying reasons since 2020.

The hitch box made the trip far more doable since we were camping and had all the sleeping bags/pads and tent in there. We used a roof box during our Florida keys trip and it caused about 8% range reduction, but this hitch box causes zero range reduction or if anything it improves range. Keep in mind the weight limit of stuff in the hitch box is 110 lbs, BUT the Model Y dynamic weight limit is 160 lbs so that leaves 92.5 lbs of capacity for your stuff in this hitch box on the Model Y. I prioritized bulky but lighter items in the hitch box. This hitch box is the Thule Arcos Box L Aerodynamic 400L cargo box mounted with the Thule Arcos 2 inch non-tilting platform. After hundreds of charging stops there has only ever been one stop where we could NOT back up straight to the supercharger due to the hitch box hitting a bollard that is farther forward than everywhere else we’ve been. https://t.co/bekbX5q8Y1

We kept our food in the TesFridge that worked fantastically well. It is custom fit in the sub trunk and its energy consumption is not noticeable. https://t.co/fAwUeHVTbh

I had the tires rotated just prior and following the trip and prior to the trip all the tires were at 7/32nds and after the trip surprisingly the front tires were still at 7/32nds, but the rear tires had declined to 5/32nds. I also discovered that Discount Tire has a more informative screen on the computer screen in the store that shows the sides and middle of the tread which I like, but I wish they could measure tenths of a 32nd (what a ridiculous unit of measurement…but I digress).

Of the nights we had the following accommodation types:
Camping: 15 (all free campsites)
Hotel: 8
Friend: 9
Family: 1

On this years trip we drove through 34 different states/provinces as listed below in order visited:
Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Minnesota, Ontario, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado.

We visited the following 15 national/provincial/historic parks:
Wind Cave National Park
Mount Rushmore
Badlands National Park
Theodore Roosevelt International Park
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site
Voyageurs National Park
Prince Edward Island National Park
Acadia National Park
Minute Man National Historical Park
Shenandoah National Park
New River Gorge National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Indiana Dunes National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park
Port-Royal National Historic Site

Boat ferries used: 4

Other points of interest:
Assiniboine Park Zoo Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Geographic Center of the United States
Longitudinal Centre of Canada
Angle Inlet - The farthest north point in the lower 48
Mackinac Island, MI
Sleeping Bear Dunes, MI
Niagara Falls (both Canadian and American sides) wind cave tour and Maid of the Mist boat
Quebec City
Anne of Green Gables Visitor Center and author’s house and museum
West Quoddy Head Lighthouse (Eastern most point in the lower 48)
Lots of museums/monuments/sites in Washington DC

If there was a string of superchargers up to Alaska (they’re getting close!) then that would be our next pursuit, but alas there are no superchargers connecting Prince George, BC Canada to the string of superchargers in Alaska. Obviously people have driven EVs up to the arctic circle using non-supercharger charging sources, but we have free supercharging so at this point we’ll just wait to see what @Tesla does. If they take too long we’ll potentially drive to Alaska in our gas truck which also would allow us to take a truck camper with us instead of tent camping.

Thanks @elonmusk for the awesome vehicle!

[Electric Tech Adventures @ElectricTechAdv]

Join our family of 6 as we explore Biscayne and Everglades National Parks during our epic 7,168 mile Tesla Model Y road trip! From the mostly-water Biscayne visitor center and short coastal hike with Miami skyline views, to Everglades boardwalks, alligator searches, and a peaceful lookout tower. We finish the day at John Pennekamp State Park with aquarium fun, beach swimming, and eating gator nuggets. Biscayne National Park - Dante Fascell Visitor Center https://t.co/PMiB5CPNLM Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center https://t.co/bPBukTjEj5 Royal Palm Visitor Center for Everglades National Park https://t.co/vPvheDjVYY Pa-Hay-Okee Lookout Tower https://t.co/f7kaMj0VVa Guy Bradley Visitor Center (at Flamingo) https://t.co/PkG5sqrqO7 Flamingo Campground https://t.co/8YV2Hc69eK Everglades Gator Grill https://t.co/jr1JtoCLQn John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Visitor Center https://t.co/muZEBuJ55g Mrs. Mac's Kitchen (Big) https://t.co/RsscNGrSx8

[SightBringer @_The_Prophet__]

⚡️Children remember the moments when the family becomes fully alive.

That is the core. Vacation is just the common vessel.

A child does not encode childhood as a spreadsheet of responsible parenting.

They encode atmosphere.

They remember the motel pool, the gas station stop, the smell of sunscreen, the weird restaurant, the long drive, the sunset, the parents laughing differently, the feeling that normal life cracked open and something larger appeared.

That is why ages 5 to 10 hit so hard. The child is old enough to form durable narrative memory and young enough for the world to remain enchanted. Parents still feel mythic. A beach, cabin, lake, theme park, road trip, or even a cheap rented house can become sacred geography.

The real mechanism is interruption of routine plus emotional safety.

Ordinary life teaches stability. Trips create myth. The family leaves the repeating loop of school, work, chores, screens, exhaustion, and time pressure. For a few days, the child experiences parents outside their normal roles. Mom and dad are no longer just managers of homework, food, discipline, bedtime, and logistics. They become companions inside an adventure.

That imprints.

The money matters far less than parents think. Luxury is mostly adult vanity. Children remember intensity, freedom, attention, surprise, and togetherness. A $200 trip can beat a $10,000 trip if the child feels wonder and the parents are emotionally present.

Many adults are starved because their childhood had no sacred interruptions. Everything was duty, stress, survival, noise, pressure, or emotional absence. No mythic family scenes. No private homeland in memory. No recurring proof that life could be warm and strange and alive.

That matters for the adult psyche. People draw from childhood memories during loneliness, fear, ambition, loss, and love. Those memories become inner architecture.

Deepest compression: a good childhood is not built only by protection. It is built by unforgettable shared worlds.

Take the kid somewhere. Break the loop.

Make the ordinary world disappear for a few days.

That becomes part of them forever.

[Electric Tech Adventures @ElectricTechAdv]

Join our family as we drive our Model Y to the end of the road in Key West — crossing the iconic Seven Mile Bridge, playing on beautiful beaches, and soaking up ocean views at the Southernmost Point! This sunny Florida Keys day is packed with bridges, wildlife, and pure family adventure during the second half of our epic road trip.

Mud Flaps Splash Guards No Drilling for Model Y: Discount code eta20 https://t.co/k6MDvF9bYV

Drive Protected Tesla Full Vehicle Clear PPF https://t.co/yHm2c4DfDr

9H Ceramic Coating DIY Detailing Kits - High Gloss & 3+ Years Durability https://t.co/YW1KAbnNmp

Applying Paint Protection Film to our Tesla Model Y https://t.co/xKbwYNiPKS

[Electric Tech Adventures @ElectricTechAdv]

Join our family for an epic day at the Kennedy Space Center — from the behind-the-gates bus tour and the towering Saturn V rocket to walking beneath the real Space Shuttle Atlantis and experiencing immersive IMAX and simulators! Watch the kids’ excitement as we explore rockets, touch a moon rock, and learn about spaceflight history on this unforgettable stop during our road trip to Florida. From Highways to Byways: My Real-Life Test of Tesla's Full Self-Driving Over 4,622 Miles & 30 Days! https://t.co/EZ8hW9bCya Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex https://t.co/2xDKlJ5ikZ Apollo/Saturn V Center https://t.co/5NMqeIJCJ7 Use my Tesla referral code and get hundreds of dollars off a new Tesla! https://t.co/VbhKsMtde8

[Electric Tech Adventures @ElectricTechAdv]

Join our family as we explore Congaree National Park and discover its flooded boardwalk trail — turning a simple walk into an unforgettable water adventure through the floodplain! From splashing along the submerged trails to enjoying the peaceful swamp forest, this scenic stop on our long drive to Florida is packed with family fun and unexpected surprises. Use my Tesla referral code and get hundreds of dollars off a new Tesla! https://t.co/VbhKsMtde8

[Electric Tech Adventures @ElectricTechAdv]

In year 7 of owning our 2015 Model S 85D (now 11 years old with 151,303 miles), we spent just $5,601 total across 87,507 miles we’ve put on the car — that’s roughly $0.05 per mile including tires and maintenance. This year we replaced the cabin filter, patched a slow leak, installed a full new set of Michelin CrossClimate 2 tires ($968 after warranty credit), and had an alignment done at Tesla. Battery degradation sits at only 9.64% with an estimated 244 miles of range remaining. An in-depth look at the real long-term costs of owning a high-mileage Tesla Model S. Our Yearly Reviews Of Tesla Model S Ownership and Maintenance Costs https://t.co/tdD7YVNpe3 Our Tesla Model S 12 Volt Lead Acid Battery is Dying Again | Changing to the OHMMU Lithium Battery https://t.co/c9FicYNSz1 Tesla MCU 2 Infotainment Upgrade and Firmware 11 First Impressions | 2015 Model S 85D Autopilot 1.0 https://t.co/NuBBD1W3oq How Long Did It Take Us To Break Even On Our DIY Solar Installation? https://t.co/46c55rxjOe We Drove 3,468 Miles on FREE Solar Power from Our RV Trailer! https://t.co/WWfjCZVG71 Use my Tesla referral code and get hundreds of dollars off a new Tesla! https://t.co/VbhKsMtde8

[Electric Tech Adventures @ElectricTechAdv]

@LargeFamDad You are correct, well said! We love to go on adventures together and many of my children's first are also my first. But if we didn't have the means to travel I'd still be happy at home with my family.

[Electric Tech Adventures @ElectricTechAdv]

@elonmusk I would give it a try but you still don't provide the Android version of the app!

[Electric Tech Adventures @ElectricTechAdv]

Join our family as we drive into Great Smoky Mountains National Park — America’s most visited national park — and explore its stunning mountain scenery! From the Newfound Gap overlook and Appalachian Trail marker to the historic Mountain Farm Museum, elk sightings, and a late-night dispersed campsite setup, this scenic day in the Smokies is packed with adventure.

[Electric Tech Adventures @ElectricTechAdv]

Join our family on the spectacular Domes and Dripstones Tour deep inside Mammoth Cave National Park — the longest cave system on Earth! Watch the kids explore massive underground domes, sparkling dripstone formations, tight passages, and breathtaking cave chambers during this unforgettable guided adventure in Kentucky.

Cinoton Light: https://t.co/muHAERDEEC Discount code 15% 0ff anything in the store: adventure

[Electric Tech Adventures @ElectricTechAdv]

Join us on an unforgettable historic tour deep inside Mammoth Cave National Park — the longest cave system on Earth! From narrow passages and the Bottomless Pit to bats, a surprise flushing toilet, and a scenic ferry ride to our campsite, this Tesla road trip day is packed with family adventure and real EV charging logistics.

Mammoth Cave National Park Tours https://t.co/KiYf95eaYX

Mammoth Cave National Park Historic Tour Photo Gallery https://t.co/60MbrhwHyp

[Electric Tech Adventures @ElectricTechAdv]

Join us as we take the kids on an unforgettable tram ride to the top of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis! This Tesla road trip episode follows our full driving day from Missouri to Tennessee — complete with solar charging updates, multiple Supercharger stops, St. Louis traffic drama, and a late-night arrival with dryer-outlet charging at our friends’ house.

How Long Does An Old Tesla Take To Charge? Our 4,452 Mile 16 Day Road Trip Through 7 States https://t.co/VYaC9bL45W

[Electric Tech Adventures @ElectricTechAdv]

We charge our Tesla Model Y directly from Grandpa’s massive off-grid solar array in Missouri — then explore the Remington Nature Center with the kids, shoot a vintage rifle, and enjoy a surprise tooth-loss moment!
Checkout our playlist of episodes from our Model Y road trip from Utah to Key West Florida!
https://t.co/fOkfZhtkeT

[Electric Tech Adventures @ElectricTechAdv]

In this video we begin our 7,168 mile road trip from Utah to Key West Florida and back. Today we drove our longest day ever driving 955 miles over 16.5 hours in a single day.
Link to the trip overall stats video
The S3XY Buttons Commander https://t.co/LmPZtD6SOx
Driving Our Tesla Model S To The Fremont Lake Wyoming Campground https://t.co/9TwErbhp0l
Does An Old Tesla Have Enough Range To Drive To Remote Places Like Mount Rushmore And Devils Tower? https://t.co/X1exMwXR1F
The LONGEST Day 😫 The 838 Mile Day of Our 5,883 Mile Tesla Model S Road Trip https://t.co/cQ4fPHDxx4
Kids Sunglasses https://t.co/A65bf8IJHW

[Electric Tech Adventures @ElectricTechAdv]

We went on an epic adventure to Key West Florida and back to Utah. In this video I share all the details of our trip, before we delve into the trip video series!

Applying Paint Protection Film to our Tesla Model Y https://t.co/f2IKmim4g3

If you own a Tesla and you'd like to try out TeslaFi for yourself use this link to get a one month trial (instead of the regular 2 week trial): https://t.co/0TIKj7pibT

Our Tesla Model Y Ownership and Maintenance Costs https://t.co/IEdIWZYupY

16:58 From Highways to Byways: My Real-Life Test of Tesla's Full Self-Driving Over 4,622 Miles & 30 Days! https://t.co/EZ8hW9bCya

[Electric Tech Adventures @ElectricTechAdv]

In this video I use the new to me QuikrStuff Mach2 Trailer hitch receiver bike rack to transport my Talaria MX4 to 5 Mile Pass for some fun dirt bike riding.

Fun In The Desert Exploring 5 Mile Pass Utah On My Talaria Sting R MX4 https://t.co/eqOi3hC3hD

Quikr Stuff Mach2 Bike Rack https://t.co/Pe6lK2iEtk

[Electric Tech Adventures @ElectricTechAdv]

In this video I join a group ride of fellow Talaria eDirt Bike owners organized by the Talaria Boys YouTube channel and we ride for 18.69 miles up the South Skyline Trail in Utah.

The Talaria Boys YouTube channel https://t.co/8hgcsDHedT

[Electric Tech Adventures @ElectricTechAdv]

@elonmusk @Keller @farzyness Please offer a 6 seat Cybertruck option!