Southwest EV Road Trip: Palm Springs to Denver with an Empty Nest Puppy
Zeke and Terri in Needles, CA for lunch and to charge the car
What does it take to cross four states in three days with an electric vehicle and a dog? Our Thanksgiving journey from Palm Springs to Denver proved to be an adventure filled with quirky landmarks, remarkable landscapes, and some surprisingly delightful dog parks.
Our 1,200-mile route took us through the heart of the American Southwest, starting in the eerily beautiful California desert. Day one began with a sunrise departure from Palm Springs, leading us past the haunting Amboy Crater and the iconic Route 66 landmark, Roy's Motel Cafe. By nightfall, we'd reached the mountain town of Flagstaff, where the Americana Motor Hotel provided a retro-modern resting spot.
Managing an EV road trip with a dog requires strategic planning, and Good Boy George became our unofficial dog park critic along the route. Kingman, Arizona surprised us with an exceptional park, while Holbrook's facilities left much to be desired. The real gem? Albuquerque's dog park, which gave George a chance to stretch his legs after we recharged the Tesla
Day two took us through New Mexico's striking landscape, from Gallup's dramatic rock formations to Santa Fe's historic charm. Las Palomas Hotel in Santa Fe offered a peaceful overnight stop before our final push to Denver. The journey's last leg treated us to Colorado's diverse terrain, including Trinidad's unexpectedly vibrant downtown and Pueblo's lovely riverwalk – perfect for our final charging stop.
Between charging sessions (twelve in total), we kept ourselves entertained with audiobooks – switching between Timothy Snyder's thought-provoking "On Tyranny" and Sherry Thomas's engaging "A Study in Scarlet Women." And yes, we may have gone through three packs of bubble gum along the way!
Key Takeaways from Our Journey:
EV charging stops can lead to discovering hidden gems
Dog-friendly travel requires flexibility and patience
The Southwest's landscape diversity is breathtaking
Audiobooks make perfect road trip companions
After 30.75 hours of driving spread across three days, we finally reached Denver for a joyful reunion with our son. While the journey had its challenges – from questionable hotel WiFi to careful range management in remote areas – it proved that long-distance EV travel can be both adventurous and achievable, even with a four-legged companion in tow.
What lengths do you go for to see your adult kids at the holidays?