My 16th Lightning Road Trip of More Than 1500 Miles

[On the Road with Ralph]

Wife and I were talking during our last trip how nice it would be if the rest areas had DCFC's. I haven't seen any in FL, but that is nice if they are beginning to emerge.

Here is a quick list of just Tesla charging stations at Florida rest stops:

• Canoe Creek/Turnpike
• Port St. Lucie/Turnpike
• Turkey Lake/Turnpike
• Fort Drum/Turnpike
• Okahumpka/Turnpike
• Ochopee/Alligator Alley

Additionally, FP&L has DCFC chargers (mostly ChargePoint) at:

• West Palm Beach/Turnpike
• Fort Drum/Turnpike
• Pompano Beach/Turnpike
• Port St. Lucie/Turnpike

Duke Energy also has DCFC at Turkey Lake (Turnpike) and Canoe Creek (Turnpike).

And there is a ChargePoint DCFC station at the Snapper Creek Service Plaza on the Turnpike.

In other words, basically EVERY rest area/service plaza on the Florida Turnpike has EV charging.

Hell, I know this, and I live in California (I did grow up in Fort Lauderdale and regularly visit).

And, to be clear, this isn't new. They have been around for years.

Both Tesla and FPL (ChargePoint) DCFC chargers at the Fort Drum Service Plaza on the Florida Turnpike. EV chargers have been at this location since 2020.

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[FloridaMan655321]

Here is a quick list of just Tesla charging stations at Florida rest stops:

• Canoe Creek/Turnpike
• Port St. Lucie/Turnpike
• Turkey Lake/Turnpike
• Fort Drum/Turnpike
• Okahumpka/Turnpike
• Ochopee/Alligator Alley

Additionally, FP&L has DCFC chargers (mostly ChargePoint) at:

• West Palm Beach/Turnpike
• Fort Drum/Turnpike
• Pompano Beach/Turnpike
• Port St. Lucie/Turnpike

Duke Energy also has DCFC at Turkey Lake (Turnpike) and Canoe Creek (Turnpike).

And there is a ChargePoint DCFC station at the Snapper Creek Service Plaza on the Turnpike.

In other words, basically EVERY rest area/service plaza on the Florida Turnpike has EV charging.

Hell, I know this, and I live in California (I did grow up in Fort Lauderdale and regularly visit).

And, to be clear, this isn't new. They have been around for years.

Both Tesla and FPL (ChargePoint) DCFC chargers at the Fort Drum Service Plaza on the Florida Turnpike. EV chargers have been at this location since 2020.

You’re talking about the turnpike areas. Yes, I’m aware of those. I was talking about the Rest Areas that are on interstates that are ran by the State. I'd love to see those start getting chargers

 

[Rayden]

Worth noting that here in the panhandle of Florida, FPL chargers are .30 per kWh.

 

[CavRider]

I am very happy you enjoy long road trips in your F150 Lightning. I also commend you for doing such large (1k+) trips.

In my opinion though the data you present just tells me we are even further than I would've hoped for mass adoption.

No Bathrooms at the Ionna!!! Wow! That is supposed to be the state of the art stops by today's standards. We need bathrooms!

I know its true. But I can't believe fast chargers are >50c / kHW in some parts of country. That is vastly more expensive than gas in the southeast. That's 12 miles for $3 at highway efficiency!

Also a bit discouraged by that map representing % of country that is 50 miles away from a fast charger. Looks like most of the geographical country is 50 miles away from a DCFC. No wonder range anxiety exists. If you're thinking about refueling and it's a 50 miles to the nearest DCFC that's a bit unnerving. Would be interested to see if you bumped that up to 60 or 75 miles what it looks like. Hopefully better.


I love my standard range truck. 320 miles (1 stop and charge) is about the limit for me. Otherwise we are ICING.

I completely agree with you on this even with my extended range Lightning. More than an 80% charge distance and I'm definitely ICEing. The OP's generalization is certainly not true in all 50.

As an exercise I would challenge the OP to plan a trip from anywhere in Minneapolis to the Ash River Visitor Center, International Falls, MN at Voyageurs National Park. The ABRP route I just generated got me to the visitor center with 77% charge. But I had to cross the Canadian border to Fort Francis, Ontario to charge in order to be able to get back to the last DCFC on the iron range in Virginia, MN, 120 miles from the visitor center. This route is assuming the Lightining achieved an efficiency of 1.9 m/kWh which it certainly will not do in the next three months even without wind. And I sure wouldn't' care to be stranded in northern MN anytime in the next three months.

I spend a lot of time traveling about on a two wheeled vehicle with a similar range to the Lightning but it is of course ICE powered. I don't bother to plan anything with that no matter where I'm going. I just go. And I don't worry.

While my wife and I love all three of our EVs they are, at the end of the day, just a tool for transportation. Refueling our conveyance is NOT the adventure we're looking for. So we also maintain a Ford Expedition that sports a 700+ mile range when fully fueled. We can go to Ash River and back even at -20F without concern. Unfortunately I see that day for the EV's as a very long way off still.

 

[BSull]

Wife and I were talking during our last trip how nice it would be if the rest areas had DCFC's. I haven't seen any in FL, but that is nice if they are beginning to emerge.

I recently travelled in FL, the turnpike had chargers at the rest stops, usually Tesla and local power and light Co.

 

[On the Road with Ralph]

I completely agree with you on this even with my extended range Lightning. More than an 80% charge distance and I'm definitely ICEing. The OP's generalization is certainly not true in all 50.

I just love how you take a very specific instance of a few hundred mile journey and use it to justify your position on EV travel, and then claim I'm over-generalizing based on 16 road trips of more than 1500 miles each; I've DCFC charged in 18 different states from Florida to California in 2025 alone. I currently have 62K miles on my 2023 Lightning; roughly half of that is driving it distances MUCH farther than your described trip, and I've done most of that in the wide open West and through the rural backroads of the EV unfriendly rural South.

I stand by my opening comment: In 95% of America, you have to be a complete moron to get in trouble with an EV during long distance travel today.

 

[RickLightning]

You’re talking about the turnpike areas. Yes, I’m aware of those. I was talking about the Rest Areas that are on interstates that are ran by the State. I'd love to see those start getting chargers

Valid point. When we are in Florida visiting relatives, we avoid the toll roads. Few rest areas on non-toll roads have charging in rest areas in our experience.

Worth noting that here in the panhandle of Florida, FPL chargers are .30 per kWh.

Well, not quite.

FPL and EA, among others, add tax after. Their posted rate excludes tax, and fees. 30 cents at Daytona becomes 38.3 cents, nearly 28% higher.

Tesla's rate includes taxes. Nearby to the above charger, they are cheaper in the morning and evening.

 

[21st Century Truck]

I completely agree with you on this even with my extended range Lightning. More than an 80% charge distance and I'm definitely ICEing. The OP's generalization is certainly not true in all 50.

As an exercise I would challenge the OP to plan a trip from anywhere in Minneapolis to the Ash River Visitor Center, International Falls, MN at Voyageurs National Park. The ABRP route I just generated got me to the visitor center with 77% charge. But I had to cross the Canadian border to Fort Francis, Ontario to charge in order to be able to get back to the last DCFC on the iron range in Virginia, MN, 120 miles from the visitor center. This route is assuming the Lightining achieved an efficiency of 1.9 m/kWh which it certainly will not do in the next three months even without wind. And I sure wouldn't' care to be stranded in northern MN anytime in the next three months.

I spend a lot of time traveling about on a two wheeled vehicle with a similar range to the Lightning but it is of course ICE powered. I don't bother to plan anything with that no matter where I'm going. I just go. And I don't worry.

While my wife and I love all three of our EVs they are, at the end of the day, just a tool for transportation. Refueling our conveyance is NOT the adventure we're looking for. So we also maintain a Ford Expedition that sports a 700+ mile range when fully fueled. We can go to Ash River and back even at -20F without concern. Unfortunately I see that day for the EV's as a very long way off still.

I see things differently.

Since May 2022 when I sold the Ford Fusion and bought the now-gone Mach E, we've traveled, by myself, with the dog, with preteens and with teenagers for 154,000 miles to / thru Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah (a great state btw.), Nevada, Colorado, Arizona and California - some of these multiple times.

Electricity is everywhere, and we all do need to sleep right? ...and to eat right? ...and somewhat obviously although one can neglect this during road trips at their peril, to "move our bodies" right? Like for examples play pickup baseball toss for 45 minutes or for 90 minutes, or take a walk with the dog, or... whatever activities we normally claim we just don't have time for. All great chances, with just a little planning, to charge our cars / trucks because their wheels are not turning then, and because we leave the car / truck and continue with our lives every single day and night whether at home or on a long trip.

Please notice I didn't say "charge to top traction battery capacity every time", just "charge". Meaning, "plug in if we can plug in". Even 30 added miles makes a difference. Thinking like this on a cross-continent trip (several done here) makes a HUGE difference.

This, for me, is actually a selling point for EVs: electricity is everywhere, literally, and an EV can drink some juice while it's sitting and we go on with our lives. Can't say that about a gas car, which I've owned a few of.

Happy Turkey sandwiches everyone!

 

[RickLightning]

I see things differently.

Since May 2022 when I sold the Ford Fusion and bought the now-gone Mach E, we've traveled, by myself, with the dog, with preteens and with teenagers for 154,000 miles to / thru Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah (a great state btw.), Nevada, Colorado, Arizona and California - some of these multiple times.

Electricity is everywhere, and we all do need to sleep right? ...and to eat right? ...and somewhat obviously although one can neglect this during road trips at their peril, to "move our bodies" right? Like for examples play pickup baseball toss for 45 minutes or for 90 minutes, or take a walk with the dog, or... whatever activities we normally claim we just don't have time for. All great chances, with just a little planning, to charge our cars / trucks because their wheels are not turning then, and because we leave the car / truck and continue with our lives every single day and night whether at home or on a long trip.

Please notice I didn't say "charge to top traction battery capacity every time", just "charge". Meaning, "plug in if we can plug in". Even 30 added miles makes a difference. Thinking like this on a cross-continent trip (several done here) makes a HUGE difference.

This, for me, is actually a selling point for EVs: electricity is everywhere, literally, and an EV can drink some juice while it's sitting and we go on with our lives. Can't say that about a gas car, which I've owned a few of.

Happy Turkey sandwiches everyone!

Don't know how you are using ABRP, but

I completely agree with you on this even with my extended range Lightning. More than an 80% charge distance and I'm definitely ICEing. The OP's generalization is certainly not true in all 50.

As an exercise I would challenge the OP to plan a trip from anywhere in Minneapolis to the Ash River Visitor Center, International Falls, MN at Voyageurs National Park. The ABRP route I just generated got me to the visitor center with 77% charge. But I had to cross the Canadian border to Fort Francis, Ontario to charge in order to be able to get back to the last DCFC on the iron range in Virginia, MN, 120 miles from the visitor center. This route is assuming the Lightining achieved an efficiency of 1.9 m/kWh which it certainly will not do in the next three months even without wind. And I sure wouldn't' care to be stranded in northern MN anytime in the next three months.

I spend a lot of time traveling about on a two wheeled vehicle with a similar range to the Lightning but it is of course ICE powered. I don't bother to plan anything with that no matter where I'm going. I just go. And I don't worry.

While my wife and I love all three of our EVs they are, at the end of the day, just a tool for transportation. Refueling our conveyance is NOT the adventure we're looking for. So we also maintain a Ford Expedition that sports a 700+ mile range when fully fueled. We can go to Ash River and back even at -20F without concern. Unfortunately I see that day for the EV's as a very long way off still.

I planned that route. Stops in Carlton, MN and Virgina, MN. No Canada necessary...

 

[CavRider]

Don't know how you are using ABRP, but


I planned that route. Stops in Carlton, MN and Virgina, MN. No Canada necessary...

How much charge do you have left when you get to the visitor center (where there are 0 DCFC)?

 

[CavRider]

I just love how you take a very specific instance of a few hundred mile journey and use it to justify your position on EV travel, and then claim I'm over-generalizing based on 16 road trips of more than 1500 miles each; I've DCFC charged in 18 different states from Florida to California in 2025 alone. I currently have 62K miles on my 2023 Lightning; roughly half of that is driving it distances MUCH farther than your described trip, and I've done most of that in the wide open West and through the rural backroads of the EV unfriendly rural South.

I stand by my opening comment: In 95% of America, you have to be a complete moron to get in trouble with an EV during long distance travel today.

I chose a specific trip that, here’s the important part, I actually want to do. And I was being generous. Voyageurs National Park is completely waterborne. Internal access is by boat, float plane or snowmobile if the water is hard. So you won’t find very many pickups around that visitor center that do not have a boat trailer tethered to the back. So now let’s go real world and connect my boat to the back of the Lightning so I can actually go fishing and camping. Efficiency just dropped to 1.1. On a good day. Driving 55 mph. Now that trip got REALLY hard. And you gotta get back.

I don’t have to go that far either. My grandkids live in Park Rapids , MN. No acceptable DCFC around there. So I get there and I can’t take the kiddos up to the headwaters of the Mississippi at Lake Itaska because I’ll never get back to a charger. (Of course I CAN drive up to Bemidji to charge. A 60 mile round trip in the wrong direction)

I have a friend who road tripped his Lightning through SD, WY, MT,ND earlier this year to see Yellowstone, Glacier and Banff. You know what his road trip report was about? Not sightseeing. Not food. Charging. That’s inverted IMHO.

With three EV in my garage I think it’s safe to say I’m what you would call “on board” eh? But apparently I live in the very unfortunate 5%.

 

[RickLightning]

How much charge do you have left when you get to the visitor center (where there are 0 DCFC)?

21%. But charging at the prior stop was up to 74%. So, go to 90% there, and arrive with 37%.

Leave with 100%. Charge to 80% at Tesla in Carlton for 32 min. Then charge to 90% at Lundgren Ford for 33 min. Arrives with 34%.

Anybody can pick rural areas where charging is challenging. Or expensive. Or both. We have been to 31 states and a province, including driving through West Yellowstone in the dead of winter with one charging option at 2 different towns that wasn't great. Then leaving through Idaho in the middle of nowhere, the only vehicle for miles. Still charged fine.

 

[CavRider]

21%. But charging at the prior stop was up to 74%. So, go to 90% there, and arrive with 37%.

Leave with 100%. Charge to 80% at Tesla in Carlton for 32 min. Then charge to 90% at Lundgren Ford for 33 min. Arrives with 34%.

Anybody can pick rural areas where charging is challenging. Or expensive. Or both. We have been to 31 states and a province, including driving through West Yellowstone in the dead of winter with one charging option at 2 different towns that wasn't great. Then leaving through Idaho in the middle of nowhere, the only vehicle for miles. Still charged fine.

Now you see why you need to bring your passport and cross to Ontario. So you can get back.

Can it be done? Sure it can if you open up to L2 charging or,as I point out, you are willing to use your passport to visit Ontario (you should).

More drama than I’m interested in though. I want the getting there (and the getting back) to be a footnote at most.

YMMV.

 

[21st Century Truck]

Now you see why you need to bring your passport and cross to Ontario. So you can get back.

Can it be done? Sure it can if you open up to L2 charging or,as I point out, you are willing to use your passport to visit Ontario (you should).

More drama than I’m interested in though. I want the getting there (and the getting back) to be a footnote at most.

YMMV.

...and You cannot plug in and charge anywhere there, at 240V or at 120V even? Surely the truck will sit while You and family enjoy Voyageurs... electricity is just electricity.

The truck will sit... surely it can sit plugged in.

I've charged at 240V off a welder's receptacle twice now, off an HVAC 240V receptacle at least three times, and on rare occasions off 120V receptacles. For a 2 - 3 day trip, that 120V will make a significant difference assuming that You'll be inside the park (I'm familiar with Voyageurs). I've even charged off a farmer's field spare 240V trailer used for his seasonal help, and sitting empty at the moment.

Many times, the electricity is there - all one has to do is ask. People have (yet) never refused me, in multiple states. I always offer compensation... 3/4 of the time or more, they laugh and wave me off once they understand the minuscule AC "cost".

 

[21st Century Truck]

...and You cannot plug in and charge anywhere there, at 240V or at 120V even? Surely the truck will sit while You and family enjoy Voyageurs... electricity is just electricity.

The truck will sit... surely it can sit plugged in.

I've charged at 240V off a welder's receptacle twice now, off an HVAC 240V receptacle at least three times, and on rare occasions off 120V receptacles. For a 2 - 3 day trip, that 120V will make a significant difference assuming that You'll be inside the park (I'm familiar with Voyageurs). I've even charged off a farmer's field spare 240V trailer used for his seasonal help, and sitting empty at the moment.

Many times, the electricity is there - all one has to do is ask. People have (yet) never refused me, in multiple states. I always offer compensation... 3/4 of the time or more, they laugh and wave me off once they understand the minuscule AC "cost".

Although the DC Fast stations can be the most convenient charging points on a long road trip, insisting on using only DC Fast stations for charging seems (to me) akin to insisting that one will only ever drink beer from a beer stein, and never from a beer glass or even a paper cup.

Beer is beer though... no matter the container.

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