Tesla Road Trip Traveler Interview

Bryan Hauer shows you the ropes to camp Tesla style, and you can follow his adventures on his YouTube channel to the top vacation spots in America.

Did the pandemic make you want to give up, quit your job, and crawl in a hole? Instead, did it motivate you to follow your passions, explore beyond your nearest cities, and throw your office in your backpack for an adventure you won’t regret?

My brother, Bryan Hauer, packed up his car with his ideas and dreams in the passenger seat and a new mobile lifestyle on autopilot. Suppose you can’t hit the open road yourself these days. In that case, you will undoubtedly want to follow his adventures navigating a new Tesla Model Y and seeing gorgeous landscapes and camping locations around our nation.

NICOLE: When did you start traveling, and what made you want to do this adventure and share it with the world?

BRYAN: I started traveling in May of 2021. Like many, after spending months and months inside, unable to travel due to the pandemic, I decided that once travel restrictions around the US opened back up and I could get vaccinated, I would purchase a 2021 Tesla Model Y and travel around the US camping. As for the YouTube channel, I had always wanted an outlet for my creativity and had previously started documenting specific parts of my life, but this was the first time I committed to making a living doing it.

NICOLE: What was your goal and purpose for your travels? What keeps you motivated?

BRYAN: The purpose was mainly three things.

1. Get out and see the beauty of the country.

2. Use my creativity to make videos that educate and entertain.

3. Try to make a living while doing the first two.

NICOLE: What has your experience been like traveling and camping in your Tesla?

BRYAN: Probably one of the most fun things I’ve ever done. Definitely a learning experience that has allowed me to share tips with others through my videos. It’s not perfect, but its advantages vs. gas vehicles are evident every time I set out on a trip.

NICOLE: What are the advantages and disadvantages of camping in your Tesla?

BRYAN: Advantages: No need for gas which is also great for the environment. ‘Camp Mode’ allows the car to always remain “on/awake” so you can set the climate control to whatever temp you want and stay there. The car has a huge battery, so unlike a gas car, you don’t have to run an engine with fumes and noise (the vehicle is silent). The back of the car turns into a twin bed. I can also run a fridge/freezer full time as it barely pulls any power from the huge 75kWh battery. Tesla autopilot self-driving is a definite plus as well.

Disadvantages: I wish it were a bit larger. I prefer a Sprinter van size that’s aerodynamic for full-time camping. Then you can have a little room for cooking inside, maybe a small bathroom/shower. Range is also an issue. While the rating for my car is 326 miles per charge, it’s more like 300, and with the addition of a cargo box on top, it reduces my range by another 25%. This decrease in mileage leads to range anxiety where I have to plan my trips around charging. While the Tesla Supercharger network is vast and covers almost the entire US, it’s still early on and not as convenient as a gas car for trips. It’s actually more convenient for the everyday person who isn’t traveling much as they would charge at home each night like they charge their phones. Then you wake up each day with a fully charged vehicle which is much better than a gas car as you never have to go to a charger or gas station like you would in a gas car. For trips, you still have to plan a bit ahead. Tesla’s software does 90% of this for you, but you still have to do a little homework on your own when traveling in remote areas while camping. I’ve run into range issues a couple of times, like when I was in Grand Teton National Park and had to drive back an hour to Jackson Hole, WY, to charge at a Tesla Supercharger to continue exploring throughout the day. This will get better over time as the adding of more chargers and compatibility with other charging networks is opened up. This is happening now and relatively fast and should get quite a bit better this fall/winter.

NICOLE: Did you create a top 10 or 20 list of destinations when you began this journey?

BRYAN: I created a top 6 or 7 and visited 4 of those this summer. Yellowstone, Lake Tahoe, Grand Teton, and Zion National Park. I didn’t get to Yosemite, Grand Canyon, or Glacier. I also visited a dozen or so lesser-known places.

NICOLE: What were a couple of your favorite landmarks you’ve visited so far, and why? What criteria did you look for when choosing your destinations?

BRYAN: Zion National Park is a favorite for its great wide-open camping, excellent hiking, and incredible views.

Lake Tahoe is another favorite for its beautiful blue water, fun resort town vibe, and casino nightlife, all while near some great camping.

I first look for where I have always wanted to go. I research what type of fun activities I could do there and then look at the camping/charging situation to see if there are Tesla Superchargers in the area or another charging network like ChargePoint. I then look at if I need to get a campground with electrical hookups or how far it would be to drive to the nearest Supercharger. Mainly I just look at what places would be the most fun and then try to build around that with charging options as well as camping.

NICOLE: What would you say to someone who wants to change their lifestyle to enjoy this type of mobile adventure?

BRYAN: Watch others on YouTube and learn from their mistakes. Make a plan 3–6 months out and research what you actually need to bring with you. It’s usually less than you think, and as space will be limited, it’s super important only to bring the necessities. If you can, plan your trips well in advance, as this will help alleviate some anxiety. Since the pandemic, camping has become very popular, so campground space is limited and in high demand. National Parks can be crowded, so go early and plan your trips as far in advance as you can. Also, while I suggest planning ahead of time, don’t be afraid to wing it and try someplace new or unexpected. Sometimes those have turned out to be the most fun.

NICOLE: Since you are taking these road trips alone, how has that affected your experience? Do you also plan the cities on your route to stop in where you have friends or family?

BRYAN: I’m what’s considered a social introvert. I can turn it on and even be the life of the party when needed or when the mood/people are just right, but I generally need my alone time. It helps “recharge my batteries” and is actually enjoyable for me. I’m a believer you have to make yourself happy before you can make someone else happy. Now that doesn’t mean there aren’t times I find myself thinking, wow, this place would be fun with a girlfriend or a group of friends, but I’ve also made a few trips with friends. So I think mixing in both is fun and keeps things interesting while still giving yourself the time you need.

NICOLE: What’s something crazy that’s happened on your road trips so far?

BRYAN: Where should I start?… I camped near wildfires in California, stealth camped at a Lake Tahoe and Las Vegas casino, and almost got robbed outside a Chinese restaurant in Las Vegas. I’ve seen semi trucks get toppled in heavy winds, got car attacked by bugs in Nevada desert and South Dakota, and I camped 15 minutes from where Gabby Petito’s body was found in Grand Teton National Park (her body was most likely there while I was camping).

NICOLE: How long do you plan on living a mobile lifestyle? I noticed you also film reviews of Tesla products. What are some additional plans with your YouTube channel?

BRYAN: I plan to continue doing this in some fashion for many, many years. It’s something I would do anyway, even if I weren’t filming for my channel. While the mode of transportation may change year to year (next year, I’m looking at a Rivian electric off-road truck with an off-road camper), I plan to keep this as part of my life for the foreseeable future. As my channel continues to grow, companies have contacted me that sell camping gear or Tesla accessories to review their products which have been fun and can be lucrative, so I plan to continue to grow the business side of the channel. For now, I want to focus on making my videos better, higher quality, more entertaining, with a future focus on including highlighting others in those local areas to educate my audience on local customs and entertaining/fun places to visit.

Who’s ready? Jump over the four walls you’ve been staring at for over a year. Explore beyond your backyard to magnificent, breathtaking views from your dreams. Share Bryan’s adventure because it’s sure to be a wild, glorious ride that you can’t wait to see where he goes next. Please check out his latest visit to Mt. Charleston in Nevada.

I might be lucky enough to join him next time and will be sure to tell you all about it.

Thank you for reading. Please check out one of my other articles.

If you would like to support me in contributing to this wonderful writing community and other passion projects, you can buy me a coffee at www.buymeacoffee.com/NSponsel, so I have more stamina to fuel my better writing ahead.