Memorial Day weekend is fast approaching, marking the unofficial start of the summer travel season—and the perfect time for an annual family road trip.Despite soaring fuel prices, a recent Hertz survey found that 64 percent of Americans still plan to hit the road this summer.With our nation’s 250th anniversary and Route 66 celebrating its 100th birthday, there are more reasons than ever to embark on a memorable family drive.
Now, all that’s left is to choose the perfect car.“If you’re thinking of taking the tribe cross-country, this is the automobile you should be using—the Wagon Queen Family Truckster,” says Ed, the car salesman in National Lampoon's Vacation.While the Truckster is an iconic choice, it’s also fictional, so that option is off the table! However, with gasoline prices near record highs, it might be wise to consider an EV for your next road trip.
Although you may need to recharge once or twice along the way, the fast-charging capabilities of many newer electric vehicles make this a minor inconvenience.There are dozens of new EVs on sale today in the U.S.Picking the best one for your family road trip is going to depend on what type of vacation you are planning on taking.
The size of your family, the distance you plan to travel, and the activities you plan to do all play an important role in determining the best EV for your road trip needs.To help you out, we have identified the five best EVs for five types of road trips.We admit that none of our choices are available with Metallic Pea paint or eight headlights, but they will get you and your tribe wherever you want to go, and you won’t need to pay for a single gallon of gasoline along the way.
5 Lucid Air Grand Touring (for the really long road trip) Market-leading range king conquers charging deserts with ease If you and the family plan to drive several hundred, or even several thousand, miles, the Lucid Air Grand Touring is the perfect choice.It is rated for 512 miles of range, which is more than any other EV currently on the market.And when you do start to run low on juice, you can recharge in as little as 12 minutes with a 350 kW DC fast charger.
Driving on a road trip can be fun, but traffic can be stressful.That is where the standard 20-way power front ventilated seats with massage will come in handy.For your family, they can use the power shades to block the glare of the afternoon sun.
Should the sun be replaced with an unexpected thunderstorm, you will appreciate the standard all-wheel drive in the rain.In addition, the Lucid Air Grand Touring seats up to five people and features one of the best infotainment systems in the business.The Lucid Air Grand Touring makes a combined 819 horsepower and can get you to 60 mph in about three seconds flat.
On top of all that, this might be the best-looking EV on the market.The only drawback here is the $114,900 starting price.Related The 10 EVs Under $60,000 With The Best Range You can go far without overspending.
Posts By Tyler Dupont 4 Rivian R1S Dual Motor (for a rugged adventure) The practical adventurer's choice Sometimes a road trip doesn’t involve a road at all.If your vacation will include some off-road excursions, the Rivian R1S Dual Motor SUV might be your best bet.Sure, you can go all the way up to the 1,025-horsepower Quad Motor R1S, but we think that is overkill.
We think a 533-horsepower SUV with a 4.5-second zero to 60 mph time is plenty! Especially when you factor in that it is over $40K less than the top-trim Quad Motor.The R1S might not get you through Pritchett Canyon trail in Moab, but it will get you down forest roads or beach trails without any issues.It also includes helpful off-road features, such as a built-in air compressor.
For a $3,000 upgrade charge, you can add a three-person tent to sleep under the stars.The 270-mile range isn’t the best in the world, but you can add about 150 miles worth of range in 20 minutes with a fast charger.Escort MAX 360c MKII Radar Band Detection X, K, Ka Companion App Drive Smarter The Escort MAX 360c MKII is the follow-up to the standard MAX 360c radar detector.
This enhanced version features longer-range detection with its updated dual-antenna platform and increased false alert filtering through Blackfin DSP integration.$595 at Amazon Expand Collapse 3 Kia Light Long Range EV9 (for those that need three rows) Spacious three-row sanctuary free from the third-class squeeze For those with larger families to transport, the Kia EV9 is worth a look.We would suggest the Light Long Range trim, as it has a starting price under $60,000 and an EPA-estimated range of 305 miles (one of the longest in the EV9 lineup).
Using a DC fast-charging system, the Light Long Range EV9 can add 100 miles of driving range in just 13 minutes.Once you are back on the road, there will be plenty of space for you and your family to spread out.Unlike other three-row SUVs, the EV9 offers plenty of space for those sitting in the back row.
You may be in the third row, but it doesn’t feel like third class.Related I didn’t expect an EV SUV this spacious to feel so luxurious This EV SUV surprised me—it's packed with space and comfort, even if the drive itself is a bit mellow.Posts By Adam Gray 2 Tesla Model 3 Premium (best all-rounder) Fast charging, long range, and autopilot highway cruising The Tesla Model 3 is the default EV for road trips, and for good reason.
It does everything well, and it does so at a reasonable price.We recommend the Premium rear-wheel drive trim.The Premium model offers the longest range of all the Model 3 variants at 363 miles.
It also offers the quickest recharge time, adding 195 miles of range in just 15 minutes when connected to a supercharger.The car is also plenty quick with a zero to 60 mph time of less than five seconds.And all this comes at a sub-$43,000 price point.
The Model 3 is also capable of Full Self-Driving (Supervised).That will make the hours spent behind the wheel considerably easier on the driver.The one problem with a road trip is that you often arrive at your destination tired.
Taking advantage of Tesla’s self-driving system means that you are more likely to arrive energized and refreshed.Related This Electric SUV Might Be the Best Choice for Family Road Trips Spacious, quiet, and packed with tech, this electric SUV makes long drives a breeze, perfect for families looking to travel in comfort and style.Posts 1 By Tyler Dupont 1 Hyundai IONIQ 6 N (exploring Route 66) Track-ready performance meets four-door practicality for the highway All Hyundai N models are still built in South Korea, so I couldn’t see the new IONIQ 6 N first-hand when I visited the Hyundai Metaplant last month.
That is a shame because it is one of the most compelling vehicles in their lineup and the perfect EV for exploring the scenic Mother Road.When exploring Route 66, you are going to want to do it in a fun car.The IONIQ 6 N has 641 horsepower, gets to 60 mph in about three seconds, and has a drift mode.
That sure sounds like fun.However, the IONIQ 6 N is also practical.It has four doors and spacious rear seating.
The trunk isn’t the biggest in the world (right around 11 cubic feet), but you can fold down the rear seats so you can bring home all those mementos from your trip.The IONIQ 6 N will be available in limited quantities and has not yet reached showrooms.You next all-electric road trip As summer highways fill up and charging stations become the new roadside diners, one thing is clear: the EV road trip has officially arrived.
Whether your ideal getaway involves crossing multiple states, tackling off-road trails, hauling the entire family, or carving up stretches of Route 66, there is now an electric vehicle built specifically for that mission.More importantly, these EVs prove that going electric no longer means sacrificing comfort, capability, or excitement.Clark Griswold may have needed a Wagon Queen Family Truckster for his adventures, but in 2026, the perfect family road trip machine might just plug into a charger instead of a gas pump.
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