We did Tesla road trip to Tucson, Arizona which is 500 miles from Orange County, California to Tucson, Arizona. In this post, I’ll go over all the places we stopped to charge as well as tourist destinations that we went to.
Driving Duration: 7 hours
Total Time: 8 hours (~1 hour of charging)
Distance: 500 miles
Charging Stops from Orange County, CA to Tucson, AZ
Stop 1: Cabazon, CA – Morongo Trail Tesla Supercharger
- 12 Tesla superchargers
- 250kW
- Bathrooms: Morongo Travel Center (very clean and new!)
- Dog Park available
- I love this supercharger because it’s clean, new, very dog friendly, and feels very safe (security guards present due to slot machines in the Morongo Travel center)
Alternative to Stop 1: Cabazon Supercharger
- 16 Tesla Superchargers
- 150kW
- Bathrooms: McDonald’s, Desert Hills Premium Outlets
Stop 2: Ehrenberg, AZ Tesla Supercharger
- 8 Tesla superchargers
- 250kW
- Bathrooms: Flying J Travel Center (clean)
- Food: Wendy’s, Cinnabon
Stop 3: Buckeye, AZ Tesla Supercharger
- 12 Tesla superchargers
- 250kW
- Bathrooms: Carls Jr
- Food: Carls Jr, Panda Express (short walk), McDonalds (across the street)
Alternative to Stop 3: Quartzsite, AZ Tesla Supercharger
- 36 Tesla superchargers
- 250kW
- Bathrooms: Carl’s Jr
- Food: Carls Jr
Stop 4: Tucson, AZ – West River Road Tesla Supercharger
- 16 Tesla superchargers
- 250kW
- Bathrooms: Firehouse Subs
- Food: Firehouse Subs, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburger, Pinkberry, Jimmy’s Pita & Poke, Popeyes Louisiana, Kitchen
Things to Do in Tucson, AZ
Mt Lemmon Scenic Byway
- Overlooks
- There are many overlooks to stop at along the way to Mt Lemmon, that have fantastic views! Babad Do’ag Scenic Overlook and Windy Point Vista (has bathrooms).
- Hiking at Sunset Trail
- 2.4 miles, out and back
- Parking: Free parking off Solder Camp Road in designated parking spots. (32.427599, -110.741735)
- Bathrooms: None
- This is a beautiful trail that is moderately challenging that leads to a water hole. The start of the trailhead is a little confusing. Head west, and you’ll see a sign indicating the trail is there. From there, the trail is easy to follow.
- Dog Friendly: Yes, on leash
- The trail is full of sharp rocks, so if your dog has sensitive paws, I recommend putting dog shoes on.
- Tips
- The weather is colder than Tucson, so plan accordingly!
- Due to the elevation, the 2.4 mile hike was much harder than a regular 2.4 mile hike. Bring plenty of water and snacks!
Colossal Cave Mountain Park
- These caves were so much fun! There is no self-guided cave tour, so you either have to choose the Classic Cave Tour or the Ladder Tour. We did the Ladder Tour, which I highly recommend. We climbed up and down a few ladders and scrambled over rocks. It wasn’t scary, nor difficult. I have claustrophobia and a fear of heights, but it was still easy to do. The tour guides are extremely helpful and accommodating. Of note, in the beginning of the cave, the air was a bit stuffy, so I felt a little nauseous. However, that sensation went away after a few minutes when we descended further, and the air actually felt better.
- What to Wear
- Shirt/Tank and Long pants
- Long pants are recommended because you have to scoot sometimes in the ladder tour)
- Temperature is always ~70 degrees inside the caves
- Shirt/Tank and Long pants
- Tips
- Book a reservation online in advanced
- Bring gloves (required). Helmet and headlamp were provided
- Bring cash for tips
- Try the prickly pear lemonade at the food stand, it was delicious!
Other Places to Visit
Where To Eat
- Handcrafted pasta located near University of Arizona
Noodleholics – Delicious Chinese noodles and noodle soup
Baja Cafe – Delicious Breakfast and Brunch Place
Postinos – Wine, Beer, Food
Borderlands -Brewery
Boxyard– Brewery
The Monica – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinnr
Accomodations
We stayed at an AirBnb in Tucson. I was able to charge my Tesla using a standard outlet in the garage, without issues.
It’s in a convenient location with food and grocery stores nearby. The neighborhood felt safe and the house is private. It’s very dog and kid friendly and has a heated pool. It even has a guesthouse (casita) that comes with the stay!
Final Thoughts
Overall, our Tesla Road trip to Tucson was a great trip! I didn’t have any issues with charging or range anxiety.
Don’t forget to check out my“Tesla Roadtrip Packing List!” It is also available on my Etsy shop.
DISCLAIMER
The opinions and views expressed on this blog are solely personal, Everyday Chris. Everyday Chris is not affiliated with or endorsed by Tesla. It is neither inferred nor implied that products recommended by Everyday Chris nor recommendations given by Everyday Chris are authorized by or in any way connected to Tesla. This post contains affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full Terms & Conditions for more information.