My Cybertruck Road Trip: 900 Miles of Pure Electric Joy

I'd like to start by saying this vehicle is one of the three best vehicles I've ever owned (spoiler alert: the other two are still in my possession—a Tesla Model 3 and a Ford Mustang Mach 1). I've had some great vehicles over the years, including Ford F150 and F250HD trucks, plus BMWs like the 130i, 325i, 328i, 550i, and X5, to name a few.

I don't care for the politicization or targeting of this vehicle. For every negative response I get, I receive 24 positive ones.

The Setup

I needed to travel to Atlanta, Georgia for a medical procedure. The longest government shutdown in history was affecting air traffic, and by all accounts, it was about to get worse. So I decided to skip the 1.5-hour flight from RDU to ATL and instead make the 6-hour drive from my home in Garner, NC to Atlanta, GA.

My schedule was straightforward:

  • Thursday: Drive down to Atlanta, GA, check into hotel
  • Friday: Arrive at facility by 7:30 AM for procedure
  • Saturday: Quick morning checkup, then drive home to Garner, NC

I'm so pleased I drove my Cybertruck—I fell in love with it even more than I already had.

Planning the Route

Remember the old days of paper maps, when you'd guess the fastest route and hope you timed the traffic right? Then came GPS and smartphone apps that calculated everything for you.

The Cybertruck takes this a step further. You enter your start and end addresses, and it not only calculates your route but also:

  • Selects Tesla Supercharger stops along the way
  • Calculates exact charging times needed
  • Optimizes for the fastest total journey time

The Journey: 7 Hours of Bliss

With over 10,000 miles on my Cybertruck, including numerous 1.5-hour trips to Danville, VA, I knew it was comfortable. But how would it handle 5 times that distance?

It exceeded every expectation.

Full Self-Driving (FSD) Experience

I used FSD for nearly the entire trip—it was only off for about 10 minutes total:

  • Once while navigating an unmapped parking lot
  • Once when I got an FSD strike and had to pull over to reset

What's an FSD strike? The system monitors your attention with an interior camera. If you're not paying attention (looking at scenery, checking journey details, or browsing Teslamate data), it warns you. After multiple warnings, it gives you a "strike" and disables FSD for the rest of that drive. You get 5 strikes in a rolling week before it's completely disabled.

Important note: FSD is supervised driving. People who cover the camera and weight the steering wheel to read,sleep, play with phone etc. while driving are being both illegal and incredibly stupid. Don't do it.

Update: FSD updated to 14.x. This has brought a few new features: Start auto drive from parked, park the car at the destination, if you navigated to a supercharger, it will auto back in to an empty space, if you navigate to another destination it will find a parking and park, all without intervention

Comfort Beyond Compare

The Cybertruck makes for an incredibly relaxing drive. After 6+ hours, I felt like I'd only driven 30 minutes. Here's why:

  • The FSD takes a lot of the strain out of driving, reduces fatigue and increases enjoyment
  • The seats and cabin layout prevent fatigue
  • Air suspension absorbs road imperfections beautifully
  • Apple Music, Spotify, Audible and Podcasts are integrated into the in car entertainment, just sign in to your subscriptions. I used Apple Music all the way.
  • Ample storage for cups, bottles, snacks, and sunglasses
  • Built-in dual wireless phone chargers keep devices powered
  • You end up talking and enjoying the scenery the entire way

Pro tip: If your passenger reclines the seat flat, bring a small pillow—the seat shape can be slightly uncomfortable when fully reclined.

The Charging Experience: Faster Than You Think

Forget the myth about sitting for 30-45 minutes at every charge stop. Here's my actual experience:

To Atlanta, GA:

  1. First stop (just past Charlotte, NC): 10 minutes scheduled(Just enough time to grab snacks, dispose of trash, and stretch)
  2. Second stop (Just off i85 near Greenville, SC): 20 minutes scheduled, but we charged longer as we had dinner at the same time

Return Trip to Garner, NC:

  1. First stop A gas station / Tesla Super charger (Just off i85 near Fairplay, SC): 15 minutes scheduled, but we charged longer as we had lunch at the same time
  2. Second stop Tesla Supercharger (Just off i40 near Mebane, NC): 10 minutes scheduled to get home

How Tesla SuperCharging Works:

  1. With FSD, roll up to the charger below 8 MPH
  2. Select your spot
  3. Enable auto-park
  4. Plug in when stopped
  5. The screen shows "X minutes until you can continue your journey"
  6. Payment is automatic via the Tesla app
  7. Unplug and go — no forms, no card tapping, nothing

Tip: Look for Tesla Super Chargers or high-power chargers (250kW+) from networks like Ionna or Mercedes (Ionna has NACS plugs, others may need adapters). Anything less than 250kW will charge slower.

Debunking the Myths

"Range Anxiety and Time Wasting"

People who've never driven an EV love to talk about these issues. Here's the reality:

  • The built-in navigation finds the fastest route with minimal charging time
  • I never once felt anxious about finding a charger
  • Charging stops aligned naturally with meal and bathroom breaks
  • The system just works

If you're repeating stories about EV problems without having tried one, please stop and actually test drive one. There are excellent EVs from many manufacturers at various price points. Chargers are everywhere—use the car's navigation or apps like PlugShare to find them.

Tech Notes

I mentioned Teslamate earlier—it's an open-source data collection and dashboard tool that provides detailed insights about your car. I run it in a Docker container on AWS, making it accessible from anywhere after logging in.

Final Thoughts

This 900-mile round trip transformed my already positive opinion of the Cybertruck into genuine awe and admiration. The combination of comfort, technology, and efficiency made what could have been a tiring journey into a genuinely enjoyable experience.

If you're considering a Tesla and want a referral code for a discount, message me through the contact page—I'd be happy to share one (and yes, I get a referral bonus for accessories).

Have questions about EV road trips or the Cybertruck? Feel free to reach out!