Tesla Camping in the Pacific Northwest: Tips for an Eco-Friendly Getaway

Do you love camping but are worried your camping options may be too limited if you switch to an electric vehicle? Or are you already an EV owner and unsure if you can take it camping? 

As an avid camper in the Pacific Northwest and a city kid with a Tesla, let me tell you that owning an electric vehicle doesn’t mean you can’t go camping. But, of course, there are some things you will need to take into consideration. 

I’m here to share my experience with taking a Tesla camping and provide you with some tips for EV camping and how to make the most of your Tesla camping setup. 

Can Tesla Owners Still Go Camping?

Absolutely! Owning an electric vehicle, like a Tesla, doesn’t have to limit your experience of the great outdoors. In fact, there are many benefits to taking a Tesla camping.

1. Tesla's have a camping mode! Tesla camping mode is made for those planning to sleep in the back of the Tesla while camping which can save you the time of setting up and taking down camp, which is especially ideal for short trips and long adventures where you’re moving from place to place. 

What does camping mode do? It’s a low-power mode that maintains airflow and temperature, allows interior lighting to be turned on and off, plays music, and powers devices. Of course, this does use some power so you will need to factor this in when it comes to charging. Tesla estimates that camp mode uses about 1% of battery per hour. 

2. Electric vehicles have so much extra storage, which is a huge perk for car camping. 

The extra space also makes it super easy to store your essentials and sleep in the car if you want to. You can easily store things in the front trunk and under the mattress when sleeping in the back, which means not having to play seat jenga to try to store all your things at night.

3. Panorama roof. Think about lying on a mattress in the back with the panoramic glass roof. It is incredible for stargazing, without all the bugs. 

Preparing for a Tesla Camping Trip

While taking a Tesla camping is great, there are a few things you will want to do to prepare. First, and probably most importantly, you will need to be intentional and thoughtful about charging. 

The first question to answer is, will there be charging at your destination? 

If there is charging at your destination and you need to rely on this power to get back to the first charging point, it’s critical to ensure you have the correct adapter to charge at your destination. Some places may have a traditional 110v wall outlet that you may use for charging at home; however, many campsites are set up for RVs which will require a different adapter. 

Tesla offers a Nema Adapter Bundle which will provide you with all the adapters you are likely to need so you are always prepared. 

If there isn’t charging at your destination, you must ensure you arrive with enough energy to return to the first convenient charging location on your way home. Make sure to take into account the energy you may consume having your car in camping mode while at your destination. If you have the time, you may want to fully charge at your last stop before your arrival. 

Thinking about the best charging locations and determining your route ahead of time is also helpful, especially when you’re driving a significant distance (more than a couple hours). A few things you might want to consider when planning your route are:

• The number of charging stations at the location (you want to avoid having to wait in line if possible)
• The ease of getting to the charging location (in the Pacific Northwest, many Tesla supercharger locations are near the highway)
• Other amenities near the charging location (we try to choose locations where there are places to pick up food and other essentials on the way, as we need to make these stops anyway)

Tesla will do a fairly good job of letting you know where the best charging locations are, but it’s always good to be familiar with the options along your route, especially when heading to a new destination. 

Tesla Gear Camping Gear Checklist

Along with your regular camping gear, there are a few things you may want to add to your camping gear checklist to make your Tesla camping experience the best it can possibly be. 

I already mentioned charging adapters. Having the Nema Adapter Bundle in your car can ensure that you have the adapter you need wherever you need to charge. We definitely learned this the hard way the first time we took our Tesla to a campsite with an RV plug in. Thankfully we were parked next to some friends staying in a cabin and were able to use their 100v outlet for the weekend. 

The next thing to think about is a camping mattress for the back. 

You don’t necessarily have to take advantage of sleeping in the back, we didn’t when we had the model 3. We just loaded it up with our gear and set up our tent. But now that we have the model S we have a mattress for the back and it is incredible. 

We have this mattress from Amazon, and I was absolutely blown away by how comfortable it was and the fact that I could easily sleep next to my partner who is over 6ft tall. 

I would recommend going for one of the mattresses that are specifically made for your Tesla as they fit perfectly and are super easy to use. But there are others you can make work for sure if you’re on a tighter budget. 

Other things you might want to consider purchasing for your Tesla camping trip:

• Windshield covers for privacy 
• Sheet for the mattress to keep it good condition
• Blanket (we leave a wool blanket in the Tesla at all times, as Canadians the Husdon’s Bay wool blankets are our go-to)
• Tablet Stand Holder with Suction Cup to watch shows on your iPad (yes, you can stream on the front screen but you will be facing behind so watching on your iPad is easier and you may and also not have service)

Overcoming Challenges with Tesla Camping

If it’s your first longer trip in a Tesla or your first time camping in a Tesla, you’re probably going to have range anxiety. The best thing you can do is prepare by knowing where all the best charging locations are and make sure you have a sufficient charge before you arrive. 

The longest trip my partner and I took in the Tesla was from Vancouver to a campsite about an hour North of Kamloops (about a 6 hour drive). The biggest Tesla supercharging destination on our way was in Hope BC. It’s a super convenient location just off the highway, has 24 superchargers and has a corner store type location as well as a restaurant. Of course we stopped there to charge, but it was our first time taking the model S on the Coquihalla highway north to Kamloops and there is a significant elevation gain. 

We planned to stop in Merritt to charge, but only ended up stopping for 5 minutes because the Tesla was charging super slow and the Tesla told us we were good to go on to our last charging destination in Kamloops before heading to the campground. 

As we were climbing the mountain the Tesla was telling us we’d arrive in Kamloops with 6% charge, but the battery was telling us it has less kilometers of charge left than kilometers to travel, so we were a little stressed. We turned off the AC, and did everything we could to conserve power.

But, as we coasted back down the mountain into Kamloops we gained back so much power we were blown away and we got to our destination with exactly as much charge as Tesla told us it would have. 

Top Tesla Camping Destinations in the Pacific Northwest

While taking a Tesla camping is great, there are some limitations since Teslas aren’t really made for off-road, and there are some range limitations. 

So, what makes a good Tesla camping destination? Generally, you want to seek out a well-maintained campsite. Sure, gravel roads are probably fine, but you’ll want to avoid off-road camping. Access to charging is definitely a plus, so locations that have cabins or RV spots are ideal. 

Some of my favourite places to take the Tesla camping in the Pacific Northwest are:

Porteau Cove 

Porteau Cove Provincial Park is a short 45-minute drive from Vancouver, so it’s perfect for those shorter getaways. Overlooking Howe Sound, Porteau Cove is also popular for those who love the water. While it’s close to the city, it’s still far enough away to escape the feel of the city and experience the glorious views and starry night sky. 

Alice Lake

If you continue up the sea-to-sky highway past Porteau Cove and Squamish, you will come to another great camping spot, Alice Lake Provincial Park. The park has a network of trails and four beautiful lakes, making it one of the best places for tent camping near Vancouver. 

Alice lake has 96 campsites, and 55 of them have electrical services. All the sites are nicely shaded in the summer, which is a great perk. They’re a stone’s throw from Alice Lake, an excellent spot for swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding and other water activities. 

Golden Ear Provincial Park

As one of British Columbia’s largest parks, Golden Ears is an incredible destination for outdoor enthusiasts. While it’s an excellent destination for a day trip as it’s only about an hour from Vancouver, there are also three large campgrounds - Gold Creek, Alouette, and North Beach. So, why stay the night in the back of the Tesla? (or the weekend, but note that you can only book 14 days per calendar year). 

If you’ve read some of my other content, you’ll know that I specifically love camping off-season. So, if you’re looking for some of the best winter camping destinations check out this article. Also, if you’re new to camping, you might want to check out my Guide to Provincial Park Booking in BC as provincial parks are often easily accessible with an electric vehicle. 

Have you taken an electric vehicle? I want to hear if you have any other tips to add. Or share your fun camping in an electric vehicle stories with me.