Roadtrip! Pittsburgh to The Great Smokey Mountains, Tennessee

[rhieb]

I wanted to share my successful return from a 6 day backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail. I know this is a car forum, not a hiking forum. But there are parallels between the two - This trip showed me why I enjoy both lifestyles.

I drive a 2023 MME GT AWD, ER. I started from my garage with 270ish miles of range and headed to Kuwohi (Clingman's Dome) to meet my shuttle driver who would take me to the start of my hike. That drive from home to GSM is 550 miles one-way for me. The first time I had to recharge was earlier than I would have liked, but West Virginia stood between me and the rest of the USA - WV is a charging desert. So I stopped at a Tesla station at a Sheetz in northern WV. Drove to the southern border of WV - and there-still in WV - is a beatiful charger at a really fancy welcome center. So good job, WV! You're getting better. I continued to my next charge in Bristol, VA at a EA station outside of a Rural King. (A walkabout at Rural King is always great way to kill time while charging. They have a display of live cute little live chicks). Then i had my final charge, the highlight of my charging experiences, at a Buccees. This is before going into the craziness of Pigion Forge, Dollywood Traffic, and into the Great Smokey MOuntains.... Bucc-ees in Sevierefille, TN. They have a row of 12 Tesla chargers, but also a set of 8 mercedes benz chargers. I plugged in to the MB (alpitronics with the reticulating arms), had a briskett sandwich for lunch, unplugged at 90%, then headed up into the hills. Kuwohi is the highest elevation on the AT, and there is a parking lot that I felt my MME for the next week. Met the shuttle driver, got driven 80 miles south, then proceeded to hike back to my car.

When I came out of the woods 6 days later, I have to admit I was a little concerned that my 12v battery would have drained (I forgot to remove my OBD2 dongle...ooops). But when I walked up to the car, the lights flashed, the hatch opened with the FOB, and I popped the FRUNK and tossed my nasty, muddy, smelly hiking stuff in there. Such a great option I hadn't thought of. (I had a curious tourist lined-up ready and willing to help me with a 12v jump if needed.... He seemed disappointed I didn't need his help.) I ran carscanner just out of curiosity, and the 12v charge was at 62%,,, so it did, indeed, drop . But that was enough to open the door. And by the time I got back on the interstate, the 12v charge was back up to 90+%. I stopped at Buccees, got some fresh fruit, coffee, more briskett - then proceeded home. Got a charge at ta Tennessee Valley Authority charger installed at a sketchy truck stop. Then another at the fancy WV Northbound Travel Center before entering WV. THis time, heading north, I did a final charge at a Ford dealership in WV. They had a couple RedE chargers... They moved some customer cars for me to access (kinda had this tucked away in a gravel lot across from the dealer, but it worked well and had good speed, easy payment). Got enough charge to return home, and I rolled into the garage with about 15% charge. Plugged into my level2, took a shower, and fell asleep.

What struck me was the parallel between EV roadtrips and backpacking. I love them both! That planning, finding, and succeeding at getting a good roadtrip charge in an EV is the same feeling as finding a perfect tent spot. Or a clean water source. Or, getting to chat with a stranger at a charger - or a stream - and you become acquaintances, swap thoughts and experience on cars, charging, water filtration, etc... So for those feeling roadtrip anxiety - I suggest you embrace the adventure. It's probably what it was like for ICE drivers in the early 1900s, and we EV drivers are fortunate to get this rare opportunity in the 21st century. It won't last long.

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[2FlyMache]

Awesome trip and beautiful country

 

[Billyk24]

Going thru West Virginia on I79 and south is non stop vertical change. Same is true in Virginia. Summerville, WV SHEETZ needs EV charging which would be a perfect location.

 

[dan_meh]

The first time I had to recharge was earlier than I would have liked, but West Virginia stood between me and the rest of the USA - WV is a charging desert.

?- And what I have learned is that you can successfully visit WV in an EV. You don’t get to charge exactly where you want to, but it’s probably an additional 20 minutes more than usual.

Great pictures! And as a newish owner, I’m discovering the value of a frunk for the nasty outdoors stuff. I threw all my Potomac-soaked gear in there the first time and was like…. Oh, I get it.

 

[steveg95]

I wanted to share my successful return from a 6 day backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail. I know this is a car forum, not a hiking forum. But there are parallels between the two - This trip showed me why I enjoy both lifestyles.

I drive a 2023 MME GT AWD, ER. I started from my garage with 270ish miles of range and headed to Kuwohi (Clingman's Dome) to meet my shuttle driver who would take me to the start of my hike. That drive from home to GSM is 550 miles one-way for me. The first time I had to recharge was earlier than I would have liked, but West Virginia stood between me and the rest of the USA - WV is a charging desert. So I stopped at a Tesla station at a Sheetz in northern WV. Drove to the southern border of WV - and there-still in WV - is a beatiful charger at a really fancy welcome center. So good job, WV! You're getting better. I continued to my next charge in Bristol, VA at a EA station outside of a Rural King. (A walkabout at Rural King is always great way to kill time while charging. They have a display of live cute little live chicks). Then i had my final charge, the highlight of my charging experiences, at a Buccees. This is before going into the craziness of Pigion Forge, Dollywood Traffic, and into the Great Smokey MOuntains.... Bucc-ees in Sevierefille, TN. They have a row of 12 Tesla chargers, but also a set of 8 mercedes benz chargers. I plugged in to the MB (alpitronics with the reticulating arms), had a briskett sandwich for lunch, unplugged at 90%, then headed up into the hills. Kuwohi is the highest elevation on the AT, and there is a parking lot that I felt my MME for the next week. Met the shuttle driver, got driven 80 miles south, then proceeded to hike back to my car.

When I came out of the woods 6 days later, I have to admit I was a little concerned that my 12v battery would have drained (I forgot to remove my OBD2 dongle...ooops). But when I walked up to the car, the lights flashed, the hatch opened with the FOB, and I popped the FRUNK and tossed my nasty, muddy, smelly hiking stuff in there. Such a great option I hadn't thought of. (I had a curious tourist lined-up ready and willing to help me with a 12v jump if needed.... He seemed disappointed I didn't need his help.) I ran carscanner just out of curiosity, and the 12v charge was at 62%,,, so it did, indeed, drop . But that was enough to open the door. And by the time I got back on the interstate, the 12v charge was back up to 90+%. I stopped at Buccees, got some fresh fruit, coffee, more briskett - then proceeded home. Got a charge at ta Tennessee Valley Authority charger installed at a sketchy truck stop. Then another at the fancy WV Northbound Travel Center before entering WV. THis time, heading north, I did a final charge at a Ford dealership in WV. They had a couple RedE chargers... They moved some customer cars for me to access (kinda had this tucked away in a gravel lot across from the dealer, but it worked well and had good speed, easy payment). Got enough charge to return home, and I rolled into the garage with about 15% charge. Plugged into my level2, took a shower, and fell asleep.

What struck me was the parallel between EV roadtrips and backpacking. I love them both! That planning, finding, and succeeding at getting a good roadtrip charge in an EV is the same feeling as finding a perfect tent spot. Or a clean water source. Or, getting to chat with a stranger at a charger - or a stream - and you become acquaintances, swap thoughts and experience on cars, charging, water filtration, etc... So for those feeling roadtrip anxiety - I suggest you embrace the adventure. It's probably what it was like for ICE drivers in the early 1900s, and we EV drivers are fortunate to get this rare opportunity in the 21st century. It won't last long.

I really enjoyed your post. I think you're exactly right that the current state of EV driving is what the early ICE users would have faced. Makes me look at it in a new light.

 

[Tampamike]

I really enjoyed your post. I think you're exactly right that the current state of EV driving is what the early ICE users would have faced. Makes me look at it in a new light.

It’s a lot better now. Four years ago when the MME came out, there was nowhere near the number of chargers that there are now - no Tesla SC’s, a developing EA network a few others here and there and a lot of old, sketchy, slow units. Life is way better on the road now than the “early days.”

 

[Eagertrader]

Thank you for sharing you experience so explicitly. I enjoyed it like I was there!

 

[dalola]

What kind of prices did you experience at your different charge locations?

 

[rhieb]

What kind of prices did you experience at your different charge locations?

The Tesla cost in Fairmont WV was $0.56/kWh. The Beckley travel center and EA in VA was about $0.60 I think. The MB chargers at Buccees were $0.40, which was great because that’s where I took the most charge. The RedE chargers at the WV Ford dealership was also around $ 0.60.

 

[music_cities]

I wanted to share my successful return from a 6 day backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail. I know this is a car forum, not a hiking forum. But there are parallels between the two - This trip showed me why I enjoy both lifestyles.

I drive a 2023 MME GT AWD, ER. I started from my garage with 270ish miles of range and headed to Kuwohi (Clingman's Dome) to meet my shuttle driver who would take me to the start of my hike. That drive from home to GSM is 550 miles one-way for me. The first time I had to recharge was earlier than I would have liked, but West Virginia stood between me and the rest of the USA - WV is a charging desert. So I stopped at a Tesla station at a Sheetz in northern WV. Drove to the southern border of WV - and there-still in WV - is a beatiful charger at a really fancy welcome center. So good job, WV! You're getting better. I continued to my next charge in Bristol, VA at a EA station outside of a Rural King. (A walkabout at Rural King is always great way to kill time while charging. They have a display of live cute little live chicks). Then i had my final charge, the highlight of my charging experiences, at a Buccees. This is before going into the craziness of Pigion Forge, Dollywood Traffic, and into the Great Smokey MOuntains.... Bucc-ees in Sevierefille, TN. They have a row of 12 Tesla chargers, but also a set of 8 mercedes benz chargers. I plugged in to the MB (alpitronics with the reticulating arms), had a briskett sandwich for lunch, unplugged at 90%, then headed up into the hills. Kuwohi is the highest elevation on the AT, and there is a parking lot that I felt my MME for the next week. Met the shuttle driver, got driven 80 miles south, then proceeded to hike back to my car.

When I came out of the woods 6 days later, I have to admit I was a little concerned that my 12v battery would have drained (I forgot to remove my OBD2 dongle...ooops). But when I walked up to the car, the lights flashed, the hatch opened with the FOB, and I popped the FRUNK and tossed my nasty, muddy, smelly hiking stuff in there. Such a great option I hadn't thought of. (I had a curious tourist lined-up ready and willing to help me with a 12v jump if needed.... He seemed disappointed I didn't need his help.) I ran carscanner just out of curiosity, and the 12v charge was at 62%,,, so it did, indeed, drop . But that was enough to open the door. And by the time I got back on the interstate, the 12v charge was back up to 90+%. I stopped at Buccees, got some fresh fruit, coffee, more briskett - then proceeded home. Got a charge at ta Tennessee Valley Authority charger installed at a sketchy truck stop. Then another at the fancy WV Northbound Travel Center before entering WV. THis time, heading north, I did a final charge at a Ford dealership in WV. They had a couple RedE chargers... They moved some customer cars for me to access (kinda had this tucked away in a gravel lot across from the dealer, but it worked well and had good speed, easy payment). Got enough charge to return home, and I rolled into the garage with about 15% charge. Plugged into my level2, took a shower, and fell asleep.

What struck me was the parallel between EV roadtrips and backpacking. I love them both! That planning, finding, and succeeding at getting a good roadtrip charge in an EV is the same feeling as finding a perfect tent spot. Or a clean water source. Or, getting to chat with a stranger at a charger - or a stream - and you become acquaintances, swap thoughts and experience on cars, charging, water filtration, etc... So for those feeling roadtrip anxiety - I suggest you embrace the adventure. It's probably what it was like for ICE drivers in the early 1900s, and we EV drivers are fortunate to get this rare opportunity in the 21st century. It won't last long.

Love the trip. I haven't done any backpacking trips with my MachE yet, but I will this summer, in Banff National Park. After backpacking my first real meal is important, was that the brisket? What time did you start driving after coming out from the hike? ABRP shows from the Kuwohi visitors centre at 60% charge to Pittsburgh is going to take at least 10 hours, probably more with traffic, 3 hours of which will be charging (is that right?), so you'll need another meal on the way home, if not a hotel.

I've been meaning to try out the brand new Amenity Search feature just released in ABRP 6.0, so I decided to to try to find a good restaurant for you an appropriate number of hours after your brisket. I couldn't find any "good" restaurants that you could charge at while enjoying a leisurely 45 minute meal while still getting a good charge, that weren't going to add a lot of time to your trip. But, it said there's a Popeye's at the Beckley Travel Plaza, which if entered into ABRP suggests you should stay to charge to 95+% there while enjoying your Popeye's chicken, so that you can make it to Chenoweth Ford in Clarksburg for your next charging stop.

I was a bit disappointed in ABRPs newly revamped amenities search for this route, so I decded to check a dining search on PlugShare. Interestingly PlugShare showed a Wendy's (rather than a Popeye's) at the Beckley Travel Plaza! It shows there's a Buffalo Wild Wings near your Sheetz charger. Or, you could have pushed through and dined in Fairmont or Morgantown. It seems the problem may be with West Virginia and your route, rather the newly revamped ABRP amenity search feature.

Like you, I adore the planning, finding, and succeeding. But, I don't really like freeway-side charging stops, they feel too much like gas stations. It makes sense to put a smelly gas station near the noisy freeway, to keep the smells and the noise together, but I think EV chargers are better placed near pretty sites or good restaurants, or in the parking garages of nice hotels. Unfortunately the dining/charging combo options seem slim in West Virginia on your route. I'm glad you found the brisket.

Where would you have stayed the night to break the trip into two days? Looks like the Hampton Inn in Princeton has reliable L2s. The Stonewall Resort in Roanoke WV looks good too, but maybe that would be too close to your home to stop overnight.

 

[rhieb]

Wow… you hit the details spot-on that I left out. I left work early on my way down. so split the trip there into 2 days. I stopped in Wytheville VA… an hotel advertised chargers at the Holiday Inn Express. But alas, they were Tesla only. (And because PlugShare can be off on this, I tested. No dice). I did, indeed have Wendy’s at the Beckley travel center going south. There is a Popeyes there too). After my hike, I went to Texas Roadhouse in Seveirville, TN. Steak, ribs, potato, big Sam Adam’s. I had some leftovers that I ate at the Beckley travel center on the way home.

 

[music_cities]

Wow… you hit the details spot-on that I left out. I left work early on my way down. so split the trip there into 2 days. I stopped in Wytheville VA… an hotel advertised chargers at the Holiday Inn Express. But alas, they were Tesla only. (And because PlugShare can be off on this, I tested. No dice). I did, indeed have Wendy’s at the Beckley travel center going south. There is a Popeyes there too). After my hike, I went to Texas Roadhouse in Seveirville, TN. Steak, ribs, potato, big Sam Adam’s. I had some leftovers that I ate at the Beckley travel center on the way home.

Thanks for the details! I like planning charging stops with restaurants and hotels almost as much as I like charging stops with restaurants and hotels. My wife mocks me for how many fantasy trips I've planned. I should make it down to your area, an entire branch of my genealogy hobby is near Pittsburgh. (Online genealogy is almost as fun as online trip planning.)

 

[Vernal]

I get this completely, I have a car on order and planning trips has been tiding me over while I wait! ?

 

[music_cities]

I get this completely, I have a car on order and planning trips has been tiding me over while I wait! ?

My problem is that executing these planned fantasy trips takes quite a bit of time, in terms of total elapsed days, but also in terms of total driving.

The best and worst thing about my Oregon Coast / Washington /NorthernCalifornia/Idaho trip was all the driving. Man those roads on the Oregon coast are fun, and tiring, sucking back days of precious life into joyous driving.

 

[cswebster]

I wanted to share my successful return from a 6 day backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail. I know this is a car forum, not a hiking forum. But there are parallels between the two - This trip showed me why I enjoy both lifestyles.

I drive a 2023 MME GT AWD, ER. I started from my garage with 270ish miles of range and headed to Kuwohi (Clingman's Dome) to meet my shuttle driver who would take me to the start of my hike. That drive from home to GSM is 550 miles one-way for me. The first time I had to recharge was earlier than I would have liked, but West Virginia stood between me and the rest of the USA - WV is a charging desert. So I stopped at a Tesla station at a Sheetz in northern WV. Drove to the southern border of WV - and there-still in WV - is a beatiful charger at a really fancy welcome center. So good job, WV! You're getting better. I continued to my next charge in Bristol, VA at a EA station outside of a Rural King. (A walkabout at Rural King is always great way to kill time while charging. They have a display of live cute little live chicks). Then i had my final charge, the highlight of my charging experiences, at a Buccees. This is before going into the craziness of Pigion Forge, Dollywood Traffic, and into the Great Smokey MOuntains.... Bucc-ees in Sevierefille, TN. They have a row of 12 Tesla chargers, but also a set of 8 mercedes benz chargers. I plugged in to the MB (alpitronics with the reticulating arms), had a briskett sandwich for lunch, unplugged at 90%, then headed up into the hills. Kuwohi is the highest elevation on the AT, and there is a parking lot that I felt my MME for the next week. Met the shuttle driver, got driven 80 miles south, then proceeded to hike back to my car.

When I came out of the woods 6 days later, I have to admit I was a little concerned that my 12v battery would have drained (I forgot to remove my OBD2 dongle...ooops). But when I walked up to the car, the lights flashed, the hatch opened with the FOB, and I popped the FRUNK and tossed my nasty, muddy, smelly hiking stuff in there. Such a great option I hadn't thought of. (I had a curious tourist lined-up ready and willing to help me with a 12v jump if needed.... He seemed disappointed I didn't need his help.) I ran carscanner just out of curiosity, and the 12v charge was at 62%,,, so it did, indeed, drop . But that was enough to open the door. And by the time I got back on the interstate, the 12v charge was back up to 90+%. I stopped at Buccees, got some fresh fruit, coffee, more briskett - then proceeded home. Got a charge at ta Tennessee Valley Authority charger installed at a sketchy truck stop. Then another at the fancy WV Northbound Travel Center before entering WV. THis time, heading north, I did a final charge at a Ford dealership in WV. They had a couple RedE chargers... They moved some customer cars for me to access (kinda had this tucked away in a gravel lot across from the dealer, but it worked well and had good speed, easy payment). Got enough charge to return home, and I rolled into the garage with about 15% charge. Plugged into my level2, took a shower, and fell asleep.

What struck me was the parallel between EV roadtrips and backpacking. I love them both! That planning, finding, and succeeding at getting a good roadtrip charge in an EV is the same feeling as finding a perfect tent spot. Or a clean water source. Or, getting to chat with a stranger at a charger - or a stream - and you become acquaintances, swap thoughts and experience on cars, charging, water filtration, etc... So for those feeling roadtrip anxiety - I suggest you embrace the adventure. It's probably what it was like for ICE drivers in the early 1900s, and we EV drivers are fortunate to get this rare opportunity in the 21st century. It won't last long.

Sounds like a wonderful trip! Thanks for sharing!

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