Enjoy the Journey

Best Supercharger stops: San Francisco to Los Angeles (coast route)

About 425 miles and 7 hours of driving on US-101 along the coast. A Tesla charges fastest when its battery is low, so the best stop is usually where you'd arrive with about 10 to 50 percent. For a car with about 300 miles of range that leaves full, that's between miles 150 and 270.

Plan this trip for your car

The planner fits your exact range and starting charge, compares one-stop and two-stop plans, and ranks stops by Google rating. It maps Google’s fastest route, which is usually I-5.

Best window for charging (miles 150–270)

  1. King Cityabout mile 151 · 16 stalls
  2. San Ardoabout mile 173 · 12 stalls · 1.7 mi off the highway
  3. Paso Robles, CA - Golden Hill Rdabout mile 201 · 43 stalls · 2.0 mi off the highway
  4. Paso Robles, CA - Riverside Aveabout mile 201 · 8 stalls
  5. Atascadero, CA - El Camino Realabout mile 208 · 12 stalls · 1.6 mi off the highway
  6. Atascadero, CA - 1905 El Camino Realabout mile 209 · 16 stalls · 1.3 mi off the highway
  7. Atascaderoabout mile 212 · 8 stalls
  8. San Luis Obispo, CA - Madonna Innabout mile 228 · 18 stalls · 1.0 mi off the highway
  9. San Luis Obispo, CA - Los Osos Valley Rdabout mile 229 · 16 stalls · 1.6 mi off the highway
  10. San Luis Obispo, CA - Higuera Stabout mile 229 · 20 stalls
  11. Pismo Beachabout mile 238 · 12 stalls
  12. Arroyo Grande, CA - W Branch Rdabout mile 240 · 48 stalls · 1.2 mi off the highway

Earlier stops, good for a break

You’ll still have plenty of charge here, so charging is slower. Good for a meal or a stretch.

  1. Gilroy, CA - Camino Arroyoabout mile 80 · 12 stalls
  2. Gilroy, CA - Renz Lnabout mile 80 · 20 stalls · 1.2 mi off the highway
  3. Salinasabout mile 102 · 14 stalls · 2.3 mi off the highway
  4. Salinas, CA - Northridge Drabout mile 102 · 20 stalls · 2.4 mi off the highway
  5. Salinas, CA - 1320 S Main Stabout mile 105 · 12 stalls · 2.0 mi off the highway
  6. Soledad, CA - Front Stabout mile 130 · 8 stalls
  7. Soledad, CA - H Dela Rosa Stabout mile 131 · 7 stalls
  8. Greenfieldabout mile 139 · 12 stalls

Later on the drive

Useful for a second stop on a long day, or if you started with less than a full charge.

  1. Los Alamosabout mile 274 · 8 stalls
  2. Buellton, CA - McMurray Rdabout mile 285 · 20 stalls
  3. Goletaabout mile 318 · 36 stalls
  4. Santa Barbaraabout mile 325 · 16 stalls · 1.2 mi off the highway
  5. Santa Barbara, CA - Anacapa Stabout mile 328 · 12 stalls
  6. Montecito, Santa Barbaraabout mile 332 · 8 stalls
  7. Ventura, CA - S Ann Stabout mile 356 · 8 stalls
  8. Venturaabout mile 359 · 12 stalls · 1.6 mi off the highway
  9. Oxnardabout mile 363 · 20 stalls · 2.1 mi off the highway
  10. Camarilloabout mile 372 · 20 stalls

Questions

Do I need to charge between San Francisco and Los Angeles?

Most likely, yes. The drive is about 425 miles on US-101 along the coast. A Tesla with about 300 miles of range that leaves full should plan one charging stop.

Where is the best place to charge?

Charging is fastest when the battery is low, so the best stops are about 150 to 270 miles in for a car that leaves full. On this drive that window includes King City, San Ardo, Paso Robles.

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