Tesla Trip Cost Calculator: Road Trip Cost, Stops and Time
This Tesla trip cost calculator works out what a road trip costs in a Model 3, Model Y, Model S, Model X or Cybertruck, how many Supercharger stops it needs and how long it takes door to door. Enter your distance, pick your Tesla, set your highway speed and starting charge, and it simulates the drive leg by leg, pricing the energy from home and every Supercharger stop separately, then compares the total with a 28 MPG gas car.
A 300 mile trip in a Tesla Model Y Premium RWD costs about $21.72 and takes 4 hr 24 min with 1 Supercharger stop, starting at 90 percent. A 500 mile trip costs about $46.07 with 2 stops and takes 7 hr 46 min, against about $80 in gas for a 28 MPG car. Most of the cost is Supercharger energy at about $0.42 per kWh, so the first leg charged at home is your cheapest. Driving at 80 mph instead of 70 raises energy use by about 18 percent and can add a stop.
- 15 Tesla trims
- Home and Supercharger cost split
- Stop by stop plan
- Cost per person
What Decides Your Tesla Trip Cost and Time
Trip cost is the energy you buy at home plus the energy you buy on the road. Trip time is driving plus charging. Four things move both, and only one of them is the distance on the map.
The Supercharger price
Supercharger energy at about $0.42 per kWh costs roughly 2.3 times the US home average of $0.1844. On any trip longer than one charge, most of your bill is Supercharger energy, so the rate and the time of day matter more than the car.
Highway speed
Drag rises with the square of speed. At 80 mph a Tesla uses about 18 percent more energy per mile than at 70, so you pay for more kWh and often an extra stop. The faster drive is frequently the slower, dearer arrival.
The Supercharger taper
Power falls steeply as the battery fills, so the last 20 percent of a stop is slow. Arrive low and leave around 70 to 80 percent. Two short stops usually beat one long fill. The Tesla charging time calculator shows the curve for each model.
Weather
Cold raises consumption through cabin heat and a cold pack, and it slows Supercharging until the battery warms. Navigating to the Supercharger in the car preconditions the pack. More in cold weather EV range.
How the Tesla Road Trip Cost Is Calculated
A road trip is not one division. The car drives a leg, drops to your arrival buffer, charges back up along the Supercharger curve, then drives the next leg. The planner adds up driving, charging and the two kinds of energy separately.
Trip time = distance ÷ speed + the sum of every charging stop
Trip cost = home kWh ÷ 0.90 × home rate + Supercharger kWh ÷ 0.95 × Supercharger rate
Leg range = usable kWh window ÷ (Wh per mile ÷ 1,000)
Worked example: a Tesla Model Y Premium RWD covering 500 miles at 70 mph in mild weather, starting at 90 percent. At 70 mph it uses about 275 Wh per mile, so the drive needs about 138 kWh from the battery. The plan: drive 227 miles from 90% to 10% in 3 hr 14 min; then stop 1 charges from 10% to 80% in 30 min, adding 55 kWh for about $24.14; then drive 198 miles from 80% to 10% in 2 hr 50 min; then stop 2 charges from 10% to 37% in 7 min, adding 21 kWh for about $9.14; then drive 75 miles from 37% to 10% in 1 hr 04 min.
Driving takes 7 hr 09 min and charging 37 min, so the trip lands at 7 hr 46 min door to door. About 62 kWh came from home ($12.79 at $0.1844 per kWh) and 75 kWh from Superchargers ($33.28), a total of $46.07, or 9.2 cents a mile. The calculator above runs this same loop for your inputs.
Highway consumption is scaled from EPA ratings on fueleconomy.gov to a rate that rises with speed. The Supercharger stop uses a representative power curve scaled to each model. Tesla does not publish usable battery size, so capacities are independent estimates.
Why 70 Often Beats 80 on a Road Trip
For a Tesla Model Y Premium RWD on a 500 mile trip, 70 mph takes 7 hr 46 min with 2 stops and costs $46.07. At 80 mph it takes 7 hr 07 min with 2 stops and costs $56.78. Here 80 mph arrives 39 min sooner because it does not add a stop, but it costs $10.71 more in energy. On a longer trip, or in colder weather, the extra stop appears and 70 mph wins on both time and cost.
Highway range on a full battery against cruising speed, Tesla Model Y Premium RWD, mild weather.
500 Mile Trip Cost, Stops and Time for Every Tesla
Every Tesla on the same 500 mile trip at 70 mph in mild weather, starting at 90 percent, arriving at stops with 10 percent and leaving at up to 80. Home power at $0.1844 and Superchargers at $0.42 per kWh.
| Tesla | Usable kWh | Wh/mi at 70 | Range at 70 | Stops | Total time | Trip cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model 3 RWD2025, 170 kW peak | 57.5 | 275 | 209 mi | 3 | 8 hr 01 min | $49.96 |
| Model 3 Standard RWD2026, 170 kW peak | 69.5 | 265 | 263 mi | 2 | 7 hr 48 min | $45.29 |
| Model 3 Long Range RWD2026, 250 kW peak | 78.0 | 265 | 295 mi | 2 | 7 hr 41 min | $43.68 |
| Model 3 Long Range AWD2026, 250 kW peak | 75.0 | 286 | 262 mi | 2 | 7 hr 46 min | $49.02 |
| Model 3 Performance2026, 250 kW peak | 75.0 | 324 | 232 mi | 2 | 7 hr 59 min | $57.38 |
| Model Y Standard RWD2026, 175 kW peak | 69.0 | 265 | 261 mi | 2 | 7 hr 59 min | $45.39 |
| Model Y Premium RWD2026, 250 kW peak | 78.0 | 275 | 283 mi | 2 | 7 hr 46 min | $46.07 |
| Model Y Premium AWD2026, 250 kW peak | 78.0 | 298 | 262 mi | 2 | 7 hr 51 min | $51.08 |
| Model Y Performance2026, 250 kW peak | 78.0 | 320 | 244 mi | 2 | 7 hr 58 min | $55.85 |
| Model S Long Range2026, 250 kW peak | 95.0 | 286 | 332 mi | 2 | 7 hr 41 min | $45.23 |
| Model S Plaid2026, 250 kW peak | 95.0 | 324 | 293 mi | 2 | 7 hr 45 min | $53.58 |
| Model X Long Range2026, 250 kW peak | 95.0 | 330 | 288 mi | 2 | 7 hr 47 min | $55.01 |
| Model X Plaid2026, 250 kW peak | 95.0 | 370 | 256 mi | 2 | 7 hr 55 min | $63.85 |
| Cybertruck AWD2026, 325 kW peak | 123.0 | 529 | 232 mi | 2 | 8 hr 15 min | $93.62 |
| Cybertruck Cyberbeast2026, 325 kW peak | 123.0 | 565 | 218 mi | 3 | 8 hr 22 min | $101.50 |
What a Tesla Road Trip Actually Costs
A road trip has two very different prices for the same energy. The first leg runs on electricity from home, the cheapest miles of the trip. Everything after that is Supercharger energy at road prices.
| 500 mile trip, Model Y Premium RWD | Energy | Price | Cost | Per mile of trip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Energy from home | 69 kWh | 18.4¢/kWh | $12.79 | 2.6¢ |
| Supercharging on the road | 79 kWh | 42.0¢/kWh | $33.28 | 6.7¢ |
| Whole trip | 149 kWh | mixed | $46.07 | 9.2¢ |
| Gas car, 28 MPG | 17.9 gal | $4.48/gal | $80.00 | 16.0¢ |
Three things move the Supercharger total. The rate varies by site and hour, so check the price shown in the car before you plug in. Speed is next, because 80 mph buys fewer miles per kWh. Cold weather raises both consumption and the number of stops. The easiest saving is leaving home at 100 percent on your own power, and an off-peak home rate makes it bigger. For daily driving costs use the Tesla home charging cost calculator, and to compare networks use the EV fast charging cost calculator.
Example Tesla Road Trips, Cost and Stops
Popular US routes in a Tesla Model Y Premium RWD at 70 mph in mild weather, starting at 90 percent. Most single day corridors need zero or one Supercharger stop.
| Route | Distance | Stops | Charging | Total time | Trip cost | Gas car |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle to Portland | 175 mi | 0 | none | 2 hr 30 min | $9.87 | $28.00 |
| Boston to New York | 215 mi | 0 | none | 3 hr 04 min | $12.13 | $34.40 |
| New York to Washington DC | 225 mi | 0 | none | 3 hr 13 min | $12.69 | $36.00 |
| Dallas to Houston | 240 mi | 1 | 1 min | 3 hr 27 min | $14.41 | $38.40 |
| Los Angeles to Las Vegas | 270 mi | 1 | 3 min | 3 hr 55 min | $18.07 | $43.20 |
| Chicago to Detroit | 280 mi | 1 | 4 min | 4 hr 04 min | $19.28 | $44.80 |
| Phoenix to Los Angeles | 370 mi | 1 | 17 min | 5 hr 34 min | $30.24 | $59.20 |
| Los Angeles to San Francisco | 380 mi | 1 | 19 min | 5 hr 45 min | $31.46 | $60.80 |
| Atlanta to Orlando | 440 mi | 2 | 32 min | 6 hr 49 min | $38.76 | $70.40 |
| Denver to Salt Lake City | 520 mi | 2 | 40 min | 8 hr 05 min | $48.50 | $83.20 |
What Raises Your Trip Cost That the Map Hides
The map distance is the best case. These raise consumption on a trip, shorten your legs and can add a paid stop.
Towing
A trailer roughly halves range for most Teslas, more with a tall box. A Cybertruck or Model X towing near its limit can need a Supercharger every 100 to 130 miles, so the trip cost climbs with every stop.
Roof box and bikes
Anything on the roof spoils the airflow, and the penalty grows with speed. A hitch rack costs less than a roof rack. Take the box off when you are not using it.
Mountains
A long climb uses a lot of energy, but regenerative braking recovers much of it on the way down. The catch is a one way climb to a high destination, where you arrive low.
Headwind and payload
A steady headwind acts like driving faster. A full car adds only a few percent, but it stacks with everything else. The car’s energy graph shows what is really happening.
Tesla Trip Planner vs A Better Route Planner
Use this Tesla road trip cost calculator to price the trip and pick a speed before you leave. On the day, let one of these route you between real Superchargers.
| Tool | Where it lives | Strength | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Trip Planner | In the car and the Tesla app | Preconditions the battery, live Supercharger availability and pricing, no setup | Conservative buffers, little control over stops |
| A Better Route Planner (ABRP) | App and web | Control over arrival and departure charge, weather, payload and non Tesla chargers | Preconditioning only with a live car link |
| This calculator | evratio.com | Quick what if on cost, speed, car and weather before you commit | Does not map specific Supercharger sites |
Every Tesla uses the NACS port (SAE J3400). A CCS1 adapter also opens Electrify America and EVgo when a Supercharger is out of the way. Set the Supercharger as your destination on the Tesla screen, not on a phone map, so the pack is warm and charges at full speed on arrival.
Seven Ways to Cut Your Tesla Trip Cost and Time
Know the trip cost? Price the charge at home.
The first leg of every trip runs on home power. See what that charge costs on your own electricity rate.
Tesla Trip Cost Questions, Answered
About $21.72 for 300 miles and $46.07 for 500 miles in a Tesla Model Y Premium RWD, starting at 90 percent with home power at $0.1844 and Superchargers at $0.42 per kWh. That is roughly 9.2 cents a mile on a 500 mile trip, against 16.0 cents in a 28 MPG gas car at $4.48 a gallon.
Based on EIA rates, Tesla Supercharger pricing, AAA gas pricesA 300 mile trip in a Tesla Model Y Premium RWD at 70 mph takes about 4 hr 24 min including 1 stop. A 500 mile trip takes about 7 hr 46 min with 2 stops. Effective speed once stops are counted usually lands between 55 and 65 mph.
Based on EPA highway data, Tesla charging documentationUsually one or two. Starting at 90 percent, a Tesla Model Y Premium RWD needs 2, a Tesla Model 3 Long Range RWD needs 2 and a Cybertruck AWD needs 2 at 70 mph. Higher speed, cold weather or a roof box can add a stop.
Based on EPA highway data, Tesla charging documentationAt a typical $0.42 per kWh, a 10 to 80 percent stop in a Tesla Model Y Premium RWD adds about 55 kWh and costs about $24.14. Prices vary by site and time of day, and idle fees apply if you stay plugged in at a busy site after charging ends.
Based on Tesla Supercharger pricingNot always. At 80 mph a Tesla uses about 18 percent more energy than at 70. If that adds a Supercharger stop, the stop usually costs more time than the faster driving saved, and you pay for the extra energy too.
Based on aerodynamic drag principles, owner testingAround 5 to 10 percent, traffic and weather permitting. The lower you arrive, the more of the stop sits in the fast part of the curve. Keep enough buffer to reach another site if one is busy.
Based on Tesla charging documentationAt home before you leave, yes, because it is your cheapest energy. On the road, charging past 80 percent is slow, so two short stops usually beat one long fill. The exception is a last leg where charging higher skips a stop.
Based on Tesla owner guidanceCold raises consumption, often by 15 to 30 percent, so every leg is shorter and you buy more Supercharger energy. It also slows charging until the pack warms. Preconditioning through the car’s navigation recovers most of the charging speed.
Based on Tesla guidance, cold weather testingUsually. The 500 mile trip above costs about $46.07 in a Tesla Model Y Premium RWD against $80.00 in a 28 MPG gas car. The gap narrows if you pay peak Supercharger prices, drive very fast, or compare with an efficient hybrid.
Based on AAA gas prices, Tesla Supercharger pricingYes. With a CCS1 adapter a Tesla can use CCS networks such as Electrify America and EVgo. Prices and reliability vary more than on the Supercharger network, so most owners carry the adapter as a backup.
Based on Tesla charging documentation, SAE J3400It works but stops more. Despite its 123 kWh pack it covers about 232 miles at 70 mph, and a 500 mile trip costs about $93.62 with 2 stops. Its 325 kW peak on V4 Superchargers keeps each stop short.
Based on Tesla specifications, EPA dataTowing roughly halves range for most Teslas, so you buy close to twice the Supercharger energy and make many more stops. Plan short legs and expect the trip cost to rise with every stop.
Based on owner towing testsLast reviewed: September 23, 2026
Data sources: Peak DC power, connector and Supercharger details from Tesla. Highway consumption scaled from EPA ratings on fueleconomy.gov. Usable battery sizes are independent estimates because Tesla does not publish them. Home electricity from EIA, May 2026. Gasoline from AAA, September 22, 2026. Supercharger price reflects typical 2026 Tesla owner rates.