15 Amazing North American Locations To Visit With An EV

Electric avenues

With new charging stations popping up across North America, taking a weekend road trip in your EV vehicle has never been easier. From vast national parks to buzzy cities, the choices are endless.

Click through the gallery our favorite destinations for road trips guaranteed to recharge your (and your car’s) battery…

Big Sur, California, USA

Those looking to take an iconic American road trip in their EV would do well to consider California’s Big Sur. This iconic stretch of California’s Highway 1 is well-served with EV-charging points along this route, with 36 in Carmel-by-the-Sea alone, as well as plenty of stirring spots to stay and charge up.

One of the most EV-friendly options is Alila Ventura Big Sur, a gorgeous coastal resort near Monterey which is equipped with eight Tesla chargers and two regular chargers.

Ventura, California, USA

Sticking with California's Central Coast, EV road-trippers can't go wrong with a pitstop in Ventura. The pretty city is a gateway to the Channel Islands National Park – a rugged string of isles known for their sea caves and abundant marine life – and is packed with little boutiques and seafood spots.

You now can charge up right on the harbor: five SemaConnect charging stations have been installed here. 

Everglades National Park, Florida, USA

The Sunshine State is packed to the brim with incredible scenery, but nowhere more so than at the Everglades National Park, a biodiverse wetland that's home to manatees, crocodiles, alligators, and dolphins. Head to Long Pine Key Campsite, located within easy reach of the Southern Glades, where you’ll find a SemaConnect J-1772 Level 2 charger at the nearby Ernest Coe Visitor Center.

Or to explore the equally gorgeous Big Cypress National Preserve, set up camp at Monument Lake Campground and make the most of the charging facilities at Big Cypress Oasis Visitor Center. 

Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts, USA

Thanks to the National Park Service’s Green Parks Plan, EV charging stations are easy to come by while you’re enjoying the most impressive landscapes in America. Make a beeline for Cape Cod National Seashore, where you’ll find plenty of idyllic bays to stretch out in, sand dunes to frolic in, and salt marshes to clamber across.

There are four SemaConnect J-1772 Level 2 chargers at Wellfleet Town Hall, near Wellfleet Hollow State Campground, as well as 17 kW Tesla plugs at Brewster’s Captain Freeman Inn.

The Yukon, Canada

Do you hear the call of the wild? The Yukon is committed to boosting its EV charging infrastructure – the government, in conjunction with Natural Resources Canada, is hoping to install some 200 charging stations across the region.

Right now Marsh Lake Campground, located at the northern tip of its namesake lake in southern Yukon, is easily one of the most beautiful spots to discover. The scenic area is best known for its wildlife and if you visit in spring, you can enjoy the theatrical show put on by thousands of swans migrating here (there’s even a festival in their honor every April). Nearby, you’ll find a Level 3 FLO charging station that's open 24 hours a day.

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, USA

Skyline Drive, which beats a 105-mile path along the brow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is Shenandoah's crown jewel – and that's saying something in a park filled with wildflower-flooded meadows, waterfalls, and woodland.

Happily, it's easy to explore in an electric vehicle. There's a charging station at Skyland (mile 41.7 and 42.5), a rustic-modern lodge whose high elevation offers sweeping views of the mountains.

Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

At the blindingly beautiful Jasper National Park in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, you’ll find emerald lakes, steaming hot springs, enormous glaciers, and wandering bears. But you’ll also find plenty of places to charge your electric car, thanks to a partnership between Parks Canada and Tesla.

For a fabulous place to stay, check out Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, a five-minute walk from a Tesla charging station. Rooms here are spacious and comfortable, plus there’s a lakefront pool in which to unwind (needless to say, the views are jaw-dropping).

Washington DC, USA

If you're dreaming of a city break with your EV, set your sights on Washington DC. There are hundreds of charging points across town, in neighborhoods from quaint Georgetown to buzzing Dupont Circle. 

Luxurious and historic in equal measure, the Watergate Hotel also has its own charging points and makes a great base. It was the site of the Watergate Scandal 50 years ago and today its distinctive curved façade still stands out among the city's many Neoclassical buildings.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Montana/Idaho, USA

America's very first national park is keeping up with the EV trend too. There are nine charging points across Yellowstone, in locations close to some of the park's most breathtaking wonders, from Old Faithful to Yellowstone Fishing Bridge.

Once you're all set, strike into the park to discover spurting geysers, kaleidoscopic springs, and wildlife from bears to bison. You can charge up at the North and West entrance too.

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Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

There's been a push to install more electric vehicle charging stations across Vancouver Island, known for its wild, windswept beaches and its artsy cities. Make your base in Victoria, British Columbia's vibrant capital – there's a good choice of charging stations in the Downtown area, which has busy shopping streets and gorgeous harbor views.

Push north and you can also charge up in Tofino, a village on the Clayoquot Sound with legendary surf. 

Detroit, Michigan, USA

Unsurprisingly, Motor City is a leader when it comes to electric vehicles in the States. In 2023, Israeli company Electreon installed a stretch of road that wirelessly charges EVs as they pass.

Elsewhere, you can charge up at plenty of stationary locations across Detroit. There are a couple of points in hip Corktown – where favored foodie spots include Slows Bar BQ – and plenty in Downtown, close to Campus Martius Park and store-packed Woodward Avenue. 

Oahu, Hawaii, USA

The number of electric vehicle ownership quadrupled in Hawaii between 2017 and 2023 and the state government has put together a comprehensive infrastructure plan to meet their charging needs.

At present, many charging points are concentrated around Honolulu, Hawaii's beachy capital. Juice up and then strike out to experience more of Oahu's treasures, from the surfers' beaches of the North Shore to the poignant Pearl Harbor National Memorial.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Toronto is often praised for its green credentials, from its huge number of LEED-certified buildings to its excellent public transport system. And it's a great option for a vacation with your electric vehicle too, with charging locations within easy reach of landmarks including the CN Tower, Royal Ontario Museum, and High Park.

In 2022 alone, the city added more than 30 on-street public EV charging stations. 

Olympic National Park, Washington, USA

You hardly needed another reason to visit Washington’s Olympic National Park, a one-million-acre treasure trove of ancient forests, hulking mountains, and rugged coastlines. But it also has a great network of EV chargers.

The best place to refuel (both yourself and your vehicle) is at Kalaloch Lodge, perched on Kalaloch Creek, which is a couple of minutes’ walk from a SemaConnect charging station with four spaces.

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Now read on for Europe's best EV road trips...