From Zion National Park to Cortez, CO: Highlights of Our 2021 Tesla Road Trip (Part 3)

Welcome to part three of our four-part electric vehicle road trip through the Southwest in our Tesla Model 3! Our journey began in Colorado Springs and has taken us to Arches National Park and Zion National Park. Today, we're returning to Zion National Park with our furry companions to show you a great dog-friendly hike and the iconic Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel drive. Afterwards, we'll make our way to Marble Canyon to visit Horseshoe Bend near Page, AZ. Finally, we'll head to Cortez, CO where the next Supercharger is just out of range, and we'll share some tips on how to navigate areas without fast charging options.

Since our trip was in May 2021, you may have access to new charging station options that we didn't have. Be sure to use the tools we mentioned in part one to ensure your trip is as efficient as possible, especially if you're reading this from the future!

Part 1 & 2 Recap

In part one of our Southwestern US electric vehicle road trip, we documented our journey from Colorado Springs to Moab and our visit to Arches National Park. We highlighted the convenience of EVs when traveling with pets to National Parks and shared insights on our charging stops and trip planning tools.

In part two, we emphasized the importance of preparation for a successful EV road trip. We offered guidance on managing energy consumption in adverse weather conditions such as high winds and even recommended skipping certain charging stops if they are on the same route. If you missed either part, you can catch up on our adventures here.

Charging Stops to Zion

Heading Out: Brian Head, UT — 62%

My husband and I began this leg of our road trip by leaving Brian Head, UT with a 64% state of charge (SOC). Our first stop was at the Cedar City Superchargers to top up our battery for the remainder of the journey to Zion National Park, where we planned to take our furry companions on a quick dog-friendly hike to help them burn off some energy. Following that, we would drive through the scenic Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel on our way to Page, AZ. We knew we needed to charge more than usual to make it to Page, AZ, which was the next available Supercharger on our route.

Charging Stop: Cedar City, UT — 53% → 93%

Thanks to the addition of Tesla's V3 Superchargers in Cedar City, you shouldn’t need to use the 56KW chargers. During our road trip, we were unable to avoid them due to our accommodations and planned route. Despite this, we were still able to charge up to 93% in about 40 minutes and continue on our way to Zion National Park.

Luckily, we found an available EV charging spot at the Zion parking area, which was ideal as the dog-friendly hike was just outside of the parking lot. If you're fortunate enough to grab a spot, you'll need to get the code from the visitor center to access the charger.

Is Zion the best National Park to visit with pets?

Zion National Park offers some of the most breathtaking hikes in the country, and the best part is that many of them are dog-friendly! One of the most popular trails for dog owners is the Pa'rus Trail, which is a relatively flat and easy hike that follows the Virgin River. This trail is perfect for dogs who love to splash in the water and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. Another great option is the Canyon Overlook Trail, which offers stunning views of the park and the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel. This trail is a bit more challenging, but it's still manageable for most dogs. No matter which hike you choose, be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks for you and your furry friend, and always follow park rules and regulations to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.

We opted for a leisurely hike on the Pa'rus Trail with our floofers, Brandi and Stark. Despite the trail being quite crowded with cyclists and other dog owners, we were able to take our time and let our dogs sniff around and explore. While our car was charging in the parking lot, we enjoyed the picturesque scenery and appreciated the fact that Zion has not one but two fantastic dog-friendly hikes that don't pose a threat to the park's fragile ecosystems. As someone who has visited many national parks with my pups, I can confidently say that Zion's dog-friendly trails are among the best.

Continuing to Marble Canyon

Charging Stop: Zion National Park, UT — 75% → 91%

Thanks to the EV charging stations at Zion, we were able to regain nearly all of the charge we had used on the trip from Cedar City. It was definitely time well-spent.

Our journey continued through the stunning Zion-Mount Carmel tunnel, which offered breathtaking views along the way. From there, we headed to Page, AZ, our next charging stop and scenic destination: Marble Canyon.

The drive from Zion to Page is an awe-inspiring route that takes you through some of the most stunning natural landscapes of the American Southwest. The route begins with winding through the canyons and red rock formations of Zion, gradually transitioning to the high desert terrain of Arizona. As you approach Page, the landscape is dominated by the shimmering blue waters of Lake Powell. Along the way, there are ample opportunities to pull over and take in the incredible views, including overlooks, hiking trails, and historic sites. Overall, the drive from Zion to Page is a must-see for anyone visiting the area, offering a truly breathtaking journey through some of the most iconic landscapes of the American West.

Charging Stop: Page, AZ — 45% → 96%

The 150KW Superchargers at Page are conveniently located in the parking lot of a nice hotel, complete with easily accessible restrooms and a lovely grass area for walking the pups. Though we only needed about 20 minutes to charge up enough to reach our next Supercharging stop in Blanding, UT, we decided to wait a little longer to ensure we had enough cushion in case of high winds on our route. After an additional 10 minutes, we were charged up to 96%, which was plenty to take us to the Horseshoe Canyon overlook point in Marble Canyon, and on to Blanding.

Exploring Marble Canyon and the Horseshoe Canyon overlook is an unforgettable experience, offering majestic views of one of the most iconic natural wonders of the American Southwest. The deep, narrow gorge of Marble Canyon was shaped over millions of years by the Colorado River, creating an incredible landscape of towering cliffs and rock formations. Meanwhile, the Horseshoe Canyon overlook boasts a panoramic view of the famous Horseshoe Bend, where the river makes a unique horseshoe-shaped bend and is surrounded by towering red sandstone cliffs. This dog-friendly destination is easily accessible and provides an incredible vista of the canyon and the Colorado River below, making it a highlight of any trip to the American Southwest.

Charging Stop: Blanding, UT — 22% → 98%

Upon reaching the Blanding Superchargers, we were startled to see that our battery had depleted to just 22%, which was significantly lower than the estimated range we had initially anticipated. Thankfully, our slight delay in Page gave us the extra juice we needed to avoid a close call. With only 74% battery, we managed to cover a distance of 200 miles, putting our maximum range at 270 miles. This is quite far from the car's ideal rating of 350 miles, so it's evident that the strong winds hindered our range significantly on this leg of the journey. Unfortunately, no new Superchargers have been added to bridge this gap since our 2021 trip. Thus, if you're planning to drive from Page, AZ, to Southwest Colorado, ensure you charge a little extra to avoid any mishaps!

Our next stop was Cortez, CO, a crucial point in our journey as it would enable us to explore Mesa Verde National Park before continuing northwards to Telluride and eventually back home to Colorado Springs. However, we faced a challenge as there were no Superchargers within a 70-mile radius of Cortez, meaning we had to charge up sufficiently in Blanding to ensure we had enough battery power to travel around Mesa Verde and reach our next charging point in Telluride, CO.

Given the poor efficiency we had experienced on the previous leg of our journey from Page to Blanding, we weren't confident that a full charge would be sufficient to get us to our destination. Consequently, we had to think outside the box and employ other strategies to ensure that we reached our goal.

Rest Stop: Cortez, CO — 65%

We arrived in Cortez with 65% battery remaining, and we were fortunate that our dog-friendly hotel had some 120V outlets on their lamps in the parking lot. This allowed us to charge up a bit overnight in Cortez.

While I would like to share the location of the hotel, I cannot recommend it. The only reason we chose it was because it was pet-friendly, but during our stay, there were often groups of local people gathered outside our hotel room door, drinking, smoking, and making a lot of noise. If I hadn't had my dogs or husband with me, I would have felt rather unsafe. Since this was not the hotel's fault, I do not wish to name them. However, I cannot recommend this location as a place to stay.

Conclusion

In conclusion, part three of the four-part electric vehicle road trip through the Southwest in a Tesla Model 3 took us to Zion National Park, where we enjoyed a great dog-friendly hike and the iconic Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel drive. The journey continued to Marble Canyon to visit Horseshoe Bend near Page, AZ, with tips on navigating areas without fast charging options. The blog highlights the importance of preparation for a successful EV road trip, managing energy consumption, and using efficient charging options. With Zion offering fantastic dog-friendly hikes, the drive from Zion to Page being a must-see, and the convenience of charging stations, this trip offers a truly breathtaking journey through some of the most iconic landscapes of the American West.

In the next part of this series, we'll provide you with more insights on our expedition to Mesa Verde National Park and our excursion to Telluride. Additionally, you'll discover the tool we employed to locate a complimentary Level 2 Tesla wall charger, which we utilized to power up our vehicle and ensure we had enough energy to carry on with our journey.