San Diego to Monterey 8/7-9

[4thPcar]

It's time, I'm ready (I think) to make the trip north on the coast highway, through Big Sur, to Monterey. Overnights planned in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Monterey. Not sure it is do-able yet, but would drive back from Monterey in one day.

I have the RWD and PB+. Did a quick consult of ABRP which suggests I can get to Monterey with only 2 charging stops.

My current concerns are:

1. Reliability of the charging stations. All I need is for them to not perform and then my wife, a Tesla owner, will be all over me for buying this car and she'll try to take over the process, making me feel impotent.

2. The ability to get back from Monterey in one day

I'll gladly post progress and findings here if there is interest.

MORE IMPORTANTLY….if you have any advice for me (including charging stations around Santa Barbara, SLO, or Monterey worth seeking out), please let me know.

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[Marshall]

You should not have any problems. I live in the San Fernando Valley and I just travelled to Santa Ynez (stayed in Santa Barbara). There are EA charges in Camarillo by the Outlet mall-I use them all the time-no problem. In Santa Barbara (Goleta) there are approximately 10 chargers next to the Costco. Your next stop would be Santa Ynez (4 chargers)-I had no problem charging there. I think there is another EA charging location at the outlet mall in Pismo Beach which is just before San Luis Obispo. I don't think you will have any issues.

 

[submatrix]

You absolutely can get between SD and Monterey in 1 day. I've done LA-Monterey in one day easily with my RWD/PB+. ABRP says it's a 7hr trip for SD, including charging stops.

Main advice I would have for you is to check PlugShare the day before or day of your trip to make sure your planned charging stops are operating normally.

The last leg up to Monterey can feel a bit iffy since there are no charging stations along the 1, so just make sure you have enough per ABRP. Otherwise, it's a beautiful drive along the coast.

 

[4thPcar]

You should not have any problems. I live in the San Fernando Valley and I just travelled to Santa Ynez (stayed in Santa Barbara). There are EA charges in Camarillo by the Outlet mall-I use them all the time-no problem. In Santa Barbara (Goleta) there are approximately 10 chargers next to the Costco. Your next stop would be Santa Ynez (4 chargers)-I had no problem charging there. I think there is another EA charging location at the outlet mall in Pismo Beach which is just before San Luis Obispo. I don't think you will have any issues.

Thank you! I am having range anxiety for the passage from Cambria to Monterey along the coast. All I see are Tesla chargers. Since driving along the coast is the priority, I am trying to verify I'll have enough range and I cannot get ABRP to show that route - it wants to show the fastest route only. Thoughts about that?

 

[4thPcar]

You absolutely can get between SD and Monterey in 1 day. I've done LA-Monterey in one day easily with my RWD/PB+. ABRP says it's a 7hr trip for SD, including charging stops.

Main advice I would have for you is to check PlugShare the day before or day of your trip to make sure your planned charging stops are operating normally.

The last leg up to Monterey can feel a bit iffy since there are no charging stations along the 1, so just make sure you have enough per ABRP. Otherwise, it's a beautiful drive along the coast.

Yes that "iffy" route is what I am most concerned about! "Iffy" won't fly with my wife. Can you tell me how to coax ABRP to show the Route 1 option? It defaults to fastest route and I don't know how to change it.

 

[submatrix]

Yes that "iffy" route is what I am most concerned about! "Iffy" won't fly with my wife. Can you tell me how to coax ABRP to show the Route 1 option? It defaults to fastest route and I don't know how to change it.

You can right click along the desired route and add it as a waypoint.

 

[B61]

Good luck & i;m looking forward to read/see your report/photos
(22 years ago, i went from SF to Monterey, then next day to LA…it was great trip, even without mobile phones, without navigation….only compass and paper based map )

 

[submatrix]

I'll also add that if you are interested and/or need a few % charge, you can stop at Hearst Castle in San Simeon which is along the 1 up to Monterey. They have 10 or so L2 chargers in their parking lot for free use.

 

[4thPcar]

You can right click along the desired route and add it as a waypoint.

Yes I've tried that but its not convincing the app to change the route. I'll keep wrestling with it. Comforting to hear from others I am probably just over-paranoid about this.

 

[submatrix]

Yes I've tried that but its not convincing the app to change the route. I'll keep wrestling with it. Comforting to hear from others I am probably just over-paranoid about this.

Not sure about the app, I was referring to the website. Regardless though, you can just input San Simeon as a waypoint and that should do it.

 

[4thPcar]

AARGH!

 

[4thPcar]

Not sure about the app, I was referring to the website. Regardless though, you can just input San Simeon as a waypoint and that should do it.

pls see screenshot i just posted using your advice….

 

[submatrix]

pls see screenshot i just posted using your advice….

Check your settings in the hamburger menu. That is a much longer route to take, not sure why it's suggesting that:

Alternatively you can add Big Sur as a waypoint...

 

[4thPcar]

Check your settings in the hamburger menu. That is a much longer route to take, not sure why it's suggesting that:

Alternatively you can add Big Sur as a waypoint...

Thanks for running that for me. Its comforting. I will try to figure why it won't give me the same view. I did try the hamburger options. They should have an option "avoid highways" but I did not see one.

 

[4thPcar]

Finally! Thanks for your help @submatrix. Looks like I can make it with plenty of charge.

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