From Grand Junction to Zion National Park: Our 2021 Tesla Road Trip Adventure (Part 2)

Welcome to the second part of our four-part blog series chronicling our road trip from Colorado Springs to Moab, Zion National Park, Horseshoe Canyon, Mesa Verde National Park, and Telluride! In this installment, we spent two days en route to Zion National Park while lodging in Brian Head, UT. Although it was not the most straightforward route for a Tesla Model 3, we managed to overcome some obstacles during our journey, and I will take you through the entire experience.

This trip took place in May 2021. If you're reading this in the future, keep in mind that there may be new charging station options available that we didn't have access to at the time of our trip. We recommend using the tools we mentioned in part one to ensure that your trip is as efficient as possible.

Recap Part 1

In the first part of our road trip, we traveled from Colorado Springs to Moab and Arches National Park. We had no issues finding fast charging stations, and with our 2,000 miles of free Supercharging, earned through the now-retired Tesla referral program, our charging was entirely free. We always arrived at each charging stop with ample range to spare. If you're interested in more details about each stop, feel free to check out the journal entry on this page.

Day 1: Grand Junction, CO to Brian Head, UT

Heading Out: Grand Junction — 20% → 87%

Despite some unexpected challenges, our road trip remained enjoyable thanks to our EV. We had planned to stay in Brian Head, UT, which turned out to be farther from Zion National Park than we expected. However, it was the only affordable and dog-friendly Airbnb option available within an hour's drive of the park. Our last-minute planning was the reason for this. Nonetheless, the experience was a testament to the fact that electric vehicles make road trips fun and manageable even with minimal planning.

We kicked off our day by taking our furbabies for a walk while charging up at the Grand Junction Supercharging station, located just a stone's throw away from our hotel. We took advantage of this break to head to a nearby Target to grab some breakfast and snacks to go. To our surprise, the charge level had already reached 87%, surpassing our expectations, as we only needed around 50% to reach the Green River Supercharger with ease.

As you drive towards Utah from Grand Junction, the scenery along the way is breathtaking. The rugged mountains of western Colorado gradually give way to the stunning red rock canyons and mesas of southern Utah. The ride in the Tesla Model 3 is smooth and quiet, providing a perfect opportunity to fully appreciate the picturesque views around you.

Charging Stop: Green River, UT — 45% → 72%

After driving for about an hour and forty-five minutes to Green River, we made another pit stop to charge our Tesla. Surprisingly, the charging process was pretty quick, and we were able to charge up to 72% in no time. The Supercharger station is conveniently located outside a fueling station with a small grassy area nearby, which was perfect for us to take a quick bathroom break and walk our doggos. While we were there, we struck up a conversation with a retired couple who were also charging up their Tesla Model S and heading to Colorado. With an expected 30% charge, we knew we had enough to make it to Richfield, UT.

Charging Stop: Richfield, UT — 21% → 56%

During our drive from Green River to Richfield, we encountered stronger winds than expected, which caused our arrival SOC (state of charge) to be lower than our original prediction. A helpful pro-tip is to use your energy graph to monitor your energy consumption during the trip. This can help you reach your final destination with plenty of charge if you find yourself running low. Driving below 65 mph and reducing climate control usage can also make a significant difference. Fortunately, we had charged up more than necessary in Green River, so we had ample energy to spare.

The Richfield Supercharger is located outside a Super 8 motel (or was at the time), and as someone who has driven over 30,000 miles on a Tesla Model 3 during long road trips, I've found that charging stations outside of hotels can be inconvenient. Despite having fueling stations and restaurants nearby, there are rarely any trash cans or windshield cleaning stations in the vicinity. Additionally, the Richfield Supercharger is notoriously slow. Since our trip, new V3 (250KW) Superchargers have been installed along the route, which are much faster and located in more accessible locations. We spent around 45 minutes at this charging station, but only gained a 35% charge. If possible, it's best to skip this charger, and we certainly plan to on future trips!

Charging Stop: Beaver, UT — 34% → 90%

After a short drive to Beaver, UT, we arrived with a 34% SOC. Looking back, we realized that we could have skipped charging for as long in Richfield and headed straight to Beaver with a lower SOC. The reason being, Beaver had brand new V3 Superchargers, which were not available in Richfield at the time. We needed more charge in Beaver to get us through the night in Brian Head, UT and all the way to St. George the following day, without having to rely on the slower Cedar City 56KW max Superchargers (which have since been upgraded to 250KW).

The Beaver Supercharger station is located outside a fueling station and has multiple 250KW chargers available. These chargers not only charge incredibly fast but also do not require you to share your charge with your neighbor, as you do with 150KW chargers. In just 30 minutes, we charged up to 90%, providing us with enough energy to continue our journey.

Rest Stop: Brian Head, UT — 62%

Brian Head, UT is an exquisite mountain town situated in the southwest region of Utah. This charming town is renowned for its world-class skiing and snowboarding terrain, attracting a plethora of winter sports enthusiasts every year. However, the summer months offer equally delightful experiences for visitors, including activities like mountain biking, hiking, and ATV riding.

Brian Head's location at the top of a winding mountain road means that EV drivers need to consider two factors - using more energy to climb up the mountain and gaining energy while driving down. Fortunately, the Tesla is equipped to account for these elevation changes when planning your route. This means you won't need to do any complicated calculations in your head to ensure that you have enough charge to get to your destination.

The peaceful ambiance of Brian Head was a welcome change of pace, and despite its calmness, we enjoyed our short stay there. We found a charming Airbnb for our lodging, which provided a comfortable spot for our dogs to rest while we visited Zion National Park the following day. To ensure our furry companions were safe and sound while we were away, I brought along my Furbo. Despite the excitement of the road trip, our dogs seemed to have been worn out, as they spent most of the day snoozing.

Day 2: Brian Head, UT to Zion National Park

Charging Stop: St. George, UT — 29% → 97%

We were delighted to arrive in St. George without needing to recharge at a stop along the route, thanks to the efficient charging we had received at the V3 Superchargers in Beaver the previous day. Located outside a Starbucks, this charging station was a perfect pit stop, providing not only the necessary charge but also some great lunch options within walking distance. As we had some time to spare before our bus reservation to Zion, we took advantage of the situation and charged up as much as possible, hoping to avoid another charging stop on the way back to Brian Head.

The scenic drive from St. George to Zion National Park offers an unforgettable journey through some of the most stunning natural landscapes in the American Southwest. As you embark on State Route 9, you'll pass through charming small towns and winding canyons that gradually lead to the park's entrance. The journey becomes increasingly awe-inspiring as towering cliffs and mesas surround you on either side of the road. Once inside the park, you'll be treated to even more spectacular views, including narrow slot canyons, cascading waterfalls, and soaring sandstone cliffs.

Despite arriving at the park with 79% SOC and finding parking outside of the park due to full parking lots, accessing the shuttle buses was easy, and we were able to explore The Narrows. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, shuttle bus reservations were required for all hikes beyond a certain point, as private cars were not permitted.

Charging Stop: Cedar City, UT — 55% → 93%

You may be wondering why we stopped at the Cedar City Superchargers, especially after we mentioned how slow they were. Well, my husband and I were starving and couldn't resist grabbing some Thai food nearby. We decided to take advantage of the charging station while we ate, watched some Law & Order: SVU, and topped up the Tesla. We knew we'd have to pass through Cedar City again on our way back through Zion the next day, so we thought it would be more efficient to get our charging done when we had time to spare. After an hour, we had charged up to 93% and had enough battery to get back to Brian Head with 65% remaining.

Conclusion

This leg of our trip was an adventure to remember! Our goal was to demonstrate that road-tripping in EVs can be enjoyable and stress-free with just a bit of planning. We learned that even in suboptimal conditions like strong winds or slow chargers, a cross-country road trip in an electric vehicle can still be successful!

Check out the next part of our 1,500+ mile road trip as we continue our journey through the southwestern US. Next up, we visit Zion National Park (this time with our pups) and Marble Canyon. See you there.