Coast to Coast by EV: Two Weeks Across America

What it is

Pacific Ocean to Atlantic Ocean. Two weeks behind the wheel of a comfortable electric car, with desert highways, Route 66 landmarks and a few of America’s great automotive collections along the way.

This Los Angeles–New York road trip follows the history of motoring while travelling in its latest chapter. See the cars that shaped American culture, then plug in, pick the next destination and keep heading east.

Allow roughly 2,900–3,100 miles / 4,670–4,990 km, depending on your exact stops. Spreading the crossing over 14 days brings most travel days to roughly three to five hours at the wheel, with shorter hops and two days without an intercity transfer. The longest legs still need about five to six-and-a-half hours of driving. Allow approximately 45–50 driving hours overall, plus charging, meals and sightseeing. The distances and times below are rounded planning estimates, not a turn-by-turn route.

Why a Route Nerd would care

The route follows the I-40 corridor through the Southwest, with short diversions onto historic Route 66, before turning northeast through St Louis and Indianapolis. It finishes via Pennsylvania and New York.

The main automotive stops are the Petersen in Los Angeles, Kingman’s historic EV collection, the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and Hershey’s AACA Museum. The extra days give these places time to breathe while keeping the same coast-to-coast corridor.

How to experience it

Hiring a nice EV

My first enquiry would be a Tesla Model Y Long Range: a practical choice for luggage, comfortable travel days and integrated charging navigation. Hertz advertises Model Y rentals, but confirm the actual battery variant and availability for a Los Angeles–New York one-way booking. A fleet listing does not guarantee that particular journey. Hertz Model Y rentals

For something more special, investigate a Porsche Taycan. Enterprise lists it in its Exotic Car Collection. Ask specifically about one-way availability, included mileage and the model year; an older rental should not be planned using the latest Taycan’s charging or range figures. Enterprise Taycan rentals

Get a quote for the full 14-day rental covering the drop-off fee, at least 3,100 miles or unlimited mileage, both drivers, taxes and your chosen protection. Confirm the supplied charging adapters, roadside assistance and required return charge. The longer itinerary adds rental and accommodation nights while keeping overall mileage similar. There are no dated rental quotes behind this article, so compare complete trip totals rather than headline daily rates.

Charging across the country

Plan around highway DC fast charging, with overnight hotel charging where it is confirmed. Before each day’s drive, select the exact car in the route planner and identify a main charging stop plus a reachable alternative. Recent PlugShare check-ins help reveal access problems and broken equipment; cross-check the operator’s live status. PlugShare planning guidance

A Tesla makes Supercharger planning straightforward, but establish billing at collection. Hertz says Tesla-network charging is added to the rental bill. Ask about any additional rental-company fees and verify charging works before leaving Los Angeles. Hertz charging guide

For another EV, confirm its NACS or CCS1 connector, approved adapters and access to the specific Tesla or other-network stations on your route. Tesla access varies by vehicle and site; an adapter alone does not establish compatibility. Electrify America is another network to check, with app and credit/debit-card payment options. Tesla compatibility, Electrify America FAQ

As an initial scheduling allowance, leave 30–60 minutes for a charging break on a typical travel day, and more flexibility on the longest legs. A long leg may need multiple stops; allow 60–90 minutes or more in total where the vehicle-specific plan calls for them. Overnight hotel charging can reduce daytime stops, and meal breaks can overlap charging. It can take longer with queues, slow equipment or a less suitable car. Charge enough for the next leg and a reserve rather than automatically waiting for 100%; charging slows towards a full battery. Tesla charging guidance

For this schedule, I would plan to arrive with around 15–20% remaining, increasing the margin on remote sections. That is a planning preference: the car’s live forecast, weather and backup options decide how much you actually need.