1977 I was 9 years old when my Grandpa Ben (Swedish name Bengt) bought a 1976 Coachman Leprechaun and first introduced me to camping. On that trip my family went to Mt. Rushmore, Salt Lake City, Reno and down the California Coast. 5 years later he passed from a brain tumor.
Having left the camper to my family, the last time my family used it I was 21 years old, and while I have used a Tent for camping many times since, with the purchase of my ’23 Model Y Long Range and after seeing the camping options it presents, I decided to go back to Rushmore by camping in my Tesla.
Before getting started I had to purchase some things (in addition to all the other goodies I’ve spoiled my tesla with) they were
My drive started from Hobart, Indiana where I hit my first traffic jam due to a boat accident. Seriously, a Semi hit a yacht being towed.
My plan was to make camp for a few days in Wisconsin Dells, stopping for lunch in Arlington Heights, Illinois (Mitsuwa Market – try it if you are in the area). Only had mild rain and made it to the Dells using 76% of my battery or 239 Wh/mi.
Pitched tent at Wisconsin Dells KOA Holiday. It had an 110 hookup but was too far for the mobile connector. Despite a slight drizzle the tent went up easily.
I had chosen the 8x8 tent since it was just me but the hatch could only raise about 5 feet above the ground. The 10x10 version (Amazon.com) would have made it easier to crawl in.
I added a 3/4 inch bedding foam sheet on the mattress and let out a little air and slept well.
The angle of the back seats actually matched what I have on my sleep number bed at home when the car is level, but at this site I could have used about 2-3 inches from an RV leveling pad.
Taking the tent down was easy enough and put it in the frunk while leaving the mattress in place for travel.
I drove into Minnesota and South Dakota after going to 99% at the Baraboo Supercharger while eating at the Denny’s ( Had charged to 79% on arriving and used 46% during my time there) – took 49 minutes. This was my last Version 3 supercharger until I returned the same way.
My next stop was at Mitchell, SD to not have a long driving day.
Spent 31 minutes at Albert Lea, MN to go from 15% to 74% - $17.28
Spent 21 minutes at Worthington, MN to go from 26% to 70% - This was my first charging mistake of the trip – Worthington has both Ver. 2 and Ver. 3 superchargers 2 blocks apart and Tesla navigation sent me to the old 150kW chargers. $12.96
Arrived at Mitchell, SD where I was staying and spent 45 minutes to go from 16% to 80% on the 120Kw supercharger. $18.36
After seeing the Corn Palace
I checked into the Mitchell KOA Journey – no electric at their tent sites (didn’t matter the mosquitoes were so bad I just put the cooler outside and didn’t even pitch the tent.
I chose the Mitchell stop so that I could get up early in the next morning and have plenty of time for the 3 stops I wanted to do the following day – The Dignity statue at Chamberlin, Wall Drug and Mount Rushmore
After seeing the Dignity Statue
I charged at Oacoma, SD for 45 minutes to go from 22% to 95%, ate at Al’s oasis and spent about 20 minutes writing.
With that I only needed a 7-minute charge to go from 48% to 62% at Murdo SD otherwise I would arrive at Wall Drug with only 1% remaining.
I paid $24.12 to go from 12% to 94% over 49 minutes during the 2 hours I was at Wall, SD seeing Wall Drug and the other stores.
This was my second charging “mistake” because I could have saved a few bucks had I known that the Mount Rushmore Parking garages had Tesla wall chargers where I arrived at 51% battery.
If you go there ask for Tent site 33 or 32 Here is why
Finally, was able plug into 110 service and the amount I got during my stay covered all my idle and camp mode electricity use for the entire trip.
Unfortunately on one of the times I disconnected the tent collar from the car I missed seeing the fabric get pinched in the trunk and repairs to the tent needed to be made.
All things must end so here is the return trip
Left Rushmore at 56%
Wall $21.24, 25% to 100%, 49 minutes – had good breakfast and doughnuts for the road
Oacoma $11.16, 26% to 67%, 17 minutes
Mitchell $13.68, 31% to 80% 33 minutes
Worthington $21.24 15% to 92% 41 minutes (plus 3 minutes to drive to the faster charger this time)
Albert Lea $11.52, 45% to 86% 23 minutes
Baraboo $15.58 4% to 56% 15 minutes
Rockford $18.49 9% to 63% 18 minutes
Home again at 20%, cost $8.25 to get back over to 80% as I slept
Overall it was a 2256 mile trip from NW Indiana (elevation 524 ft.) to Mount Rushmore (elevation 4954 ft.). Charging cost $257 which included 800 miles at 80 MPH (winds 8-15 MPH degrading efficiency) and 500 miles less than 45 MPH.
Compare this to a 2023 Ford Escape would cost $237 for the same miles only if ran at 65 MPH for the entire trip at 32 MPG with no elevation change. So realistically the ICE would have had higher fuel costs under the same conditions
So what worked and didn’t
Camp mode worked wonderfully.
I slept well in the car using the mattress, no issues with sliding down despite the slight incline, and the extra foam improved the comfort. That said, there were some nights I wanted the trunk shut and the mattress blocks the latch. Also it was harder to get into the undertrunk while in place.
Storage – despite having so much, I really mismanaged where things were, a frunk and trunk organizer might have helped
What would I have done different?
I did not get a refrigerator to go under the back because of the expense and need for ventilation, but in retrospect would have been better off with a smaller cooler than the one I had.
Although the bottom corners of the hatch didn’t cause the tear, I should have put something there to reduces the chance.
I should have bought stronger (neodymium) magnets to close the gap between the tent and car – the wones I had slipped with strong wind.
Would have tried to make it in two days instead of three spending more time at Rushmore than stopping at the Dells.
Leveling pads would be nice.
All other issues I might have had could have been found in any camping situation.
I hope you have found my experience eduational.
Having left the camper to my family, the last time my family used it I was 21 years old, and while I have used a Tent for camping many times since, with the purchase of my ’23 Model Y Long Range and after seeing the camping options it presents, I decided to go back to Rushmore by camping in my Tesla.
Before getting started I had to purchase some things (in addition to all the other goodies I’ve spoiled my tesla with) they were
- Napier Sportz Hatchback and Small CUV Tent 8'x8' Waterproof Camping Tent - Amazon.com
- Lost Horizon Mattress
- Privacy screens Amazon.com (already had windshield and sunroof screens)
My drive started from Hobart, Indiana where I hit my first traffic jam due to a boat accident. Seriously, a Semi hit a yacht being towed.
My plan was to make camp for a few days in Wisconsin Dells, stopping for lunch in Arlington Heights, Illinois (Mitsuwa Market – try it if you are in the area). Only had mild rain and made it to the Dells using 76% of my battery or 239 Wh/mi.
Pitched tent at Wisconsin Dells KOA Holiday. It had an 110 hookup but was too far for the mobile connector. Despite a slight drizzle the tent went up easily.
I had chosen the 8x8 tent since it was just me but the hatch could only raise about 5 feet above the ground. The 10x10 version (Amazon.com) would have made it easier to crawl in.
I added a 3/4 inch bedding foam sheet on the mattress and let out a little air and slept well.
The angle of the back seats actually matched what I have on my sleep number bed at home when the car is level, but at this site I could have used about 2-3 inches from an RV leveling pad.
Taking the tent down was easy enough and put it in the frunk while leaving the mattress in place for travel.
I drove into Minnesota and South Dakota after going to 99% at the Baraboo Supercharger while eating at the Denny’s ( Had charged to 79% on arriving and used 46% during my time there) – took 49 minutes. This was my last Version 3 supercharger until I returned the same way.
My next stop was at Mitchell, SD to not have a long driving day.
Spent 31 minutes at Albert Lea, MN to go from 15% to 74% - $17.28
Spent 21 minutes at Worthington, MN to go from 26% to 70% - This was my first charging mistake of the trip – Worthington has both Ver. 2 and Ver. 3 superchargers 2 blocks apart and Tesla navigation sent me to the old 150kW chargers. $12.96
Arrived at Mitchell, SD where I was staying and spent 45 minutes to go from 16% to 80% on the 120Kw supercharger. $18.36
After seeing the Corn Palace
I checked into the Mitchell KOA Journey – no electric at their tent sites (didn’t matter the mosquitoes were so bad I just put the cooler outside and didn’t even pitch the tent.
I chose the Mitchell stop so that I could get up early in the next morning and have plenty of time for the 3 stops I wanted to do the following day – The Dignity statue at Chamberlin, Wall Drug and Mount Rushmore
After seeing the Dignity Statue
I charged at Oacoma, SD for 45 minutes to go from 22% to 95%, ate at Al’s oasis and spent about 20 minutes writing.
With that I only needed a 7-minute charge to go from 48% to 62% at Murdo SD otherwise I would arrive at Wall Drug with only 1% remaining.
I paid $24.12 to go from 12% to 94% over 49 minutes during the 2 hours I was at Wall, SD seeing Wall Drug and the other stores.
This was my second charging “mistake” because I could have saved a few bucks had I known that the Mount Rushmore Parking garages had Tesla wall chargers where I arrived at 51% battery.
Arrived at Mount Rushmore KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch and in my opinion is the best campground I have ever stayed in – with one exception – only 1 bar on my cell phone and often went to non where my phone was in satellite SOS mode and very spotty WiFi coverage.
If you go there ask for Tent site 33 or 32 Here is why
Finally, was able plug into 110 service and the amount I got during my stay covered all my idle and camp mode electricity use for the entire trip.
Unfortunately on one of the times I disconnected the tent collar from the car I missed seeing the fabric get pinched in the trunk and repairs to the tent needed to be made.
All things must end so here is the return trip
Left Rushmore at 56%
Wall $21.24, 25% to 100%, 49 minutes – had good breakfast and doughnuts for the road
Oacoma $11.16, 26% to 67%, 17 minutes
Mitchell $13.68, 31% to 80% 33 minutes
Worthington $21.24 15% to 92% 41 minutes (plus 3 minutes to drive to the faster charger this time)
Albert Lea $11.52, 45% to 86% 23 minutes
Baraboo $15.58 4% to 56% 15 minutes
Rockford $18.49 9% to 63% 18 minutes
Home again at 20%, cost $8.25 to get back over to 80% as I slept
Overall it was a 2256 mile trip from NW Indiana (elevation 524 ft.) to Mount Rushmore (elevation 4954 ft.). Charging cost $257 which included 800 miles at 80 MPH (winds 8-15 MPH degrading efficiency) and 500 miles less than 45 MPH.
Compare this to a 2023 Ford Escape would cost $237 for the same miles only if ran at 65 MPH for the entire trip at 32 MPG with no elevation change. So realistically the ICE would have had higher fuel costs under the same conditions
So what worked and didn’t
Camp mode worked wonderfully.
I slept well in the car using the mattress, no issues with sliding down despite the slight incline, and the extra foam improved the comfort. That said, there were some nights I wanted the trunk shut and the mattress blocks the latch. Also it was harder to get into the undertrunk while in place.
Storage – despite having so much, I really mismanaged where things were, a frunk and trunk organizer might have helped
What would I have done different?
I did not get a refrigerator to go under the back because of the expense and need for ventilation, but in retrospect would have been better off with a smaller cooler than the one I had.
Although the bottom corners of the hatch didn’t cause the tear, I should have put something there to reduces the chance.
I should have bought stronger (neodymium) magnets to close the gap between the tent and car – the wones I had slipped with strong wind.
Would have tried to make it in two days instead of three spending more time at Rushmore than stopping at the Dells.
Leveling pads would be nice.
All other issues I might have had could have been found in any camping situation.
I hope you have found my experience eduational.
