How the electrons get into the truck.
Charging an EV on a road trip is already routine. Add a 6,000-pound Airstream and the details get more interesting: which stalls fit the trailer, how much wind is on the forecast, how much elevation we climb, and where it makes sense to arrive with extra margin.
- Rivian Adventure Network is free for this trip. Default to RAN wherever it reaches the route. Fall back to Supercharger or EA only in the gaps: the I-80 corridor across Iowa and Nebraska, the Texas panhandle, and southern Utah.
- Use the Rivian in-car nav as the source of truth for both RAN and compatible Superchargers. The planned RAN stops here are checked against a third-party map; confirm each one in the app before relying on it, and watch for newer RAN sites the app may show.
- Rivian R1T with the free NACS adapter works at V3/V4 Superchargers that are explicitly enabled for non-Tesla EVs. The Tesla app is still useful for starting sessions and billing.
- Most Superchargers are pull-in nose-first only. RAN sites are often newer and more trailer-friendly, but still scout the layout. If a stall will not take the trailer behind, unhitching becomes part of the stop.
- Charge to 80% at fast chargers. The last 20% takes nearly as long as the first 80%, so campground 100% charges are the better use of time.
- Before Friday: do one test session at a RAN site and one test Supercharge with the NACS adapter, to confirm the Rivian account and payment method are set up for both.
- Heads-up on third-party-host Tesla Superchargers (the ones at partner sites, not Tesla-owned): the Rivian membership-pricing handshake has failed to initiate the session at several stops on this trip, leaving a RED port and no charging, with both the OEM Tesla adapter and the A2Z adapter. Keep plug-and-charge enabled in the Rivian as a fallback: it authenticates via the car's signed cert and starts the session, just at the full Tesla pay rate instead of the Rivian-member discount.
Which plug, in which order
What gets opened, daily
- Rivian Trip planner + nav, only shows compatible Superchargers
- Tesla Initiate Supercharger sessions, billing
- PlugShare Recent user comments, especially for trailer-friendly layouts
- A Better Routeplanner (ABRP) Most accurate consumption model when you set vehicle profile + trailer weight
- Electrify America EA station status + payment
- Recreation.gov USACE and federal campground reservations (Indian Point)
The bag of adapters
- Rivian NACS DC adapter (OEM only for warranty-safe DC charging)
- Rivian J1772 adapter (L2 destination chargers, 14-50 outlets)
- Portable Level 2 charger with NEMA 14-50 plug
- 30A → 14-50 adapter (for campgrounds with only 30A)
- Rated extension cord (only if absolutely needed)
Charging FAQ
EV towing, charging questions
Which network, how often, how much it costs, and how to make Tesla stalls work with a trailer.
Which charging network should you prioritize when towing an EV?
In order: the Rivian Adventure Network (free on our truck, 200 to 220 kW, pull-through stalls sized for a trailer), then Tesla V4 Superchargers through the Rivian NACS adapter (up to 325 kW), with IONNA Rechargeries and Electrify America as backups. We route the day around RAN where it reaches the road and fall back to Tesla everywhere else.
How often and how long do you charge while towing?
Every 100 to 120 miles on the highway, three to five DC fast-charge stops on a full driving day, 20 to 40 minutes each. A typical tow charge adds 60 to 125 kWh. We never unhitch the 23-foot Airstream: pull-through stalls or the edge of the lot handle it every time.
Can a Rivian use Tesla Superchargers to tow-charge?
Yes, through the Rivian NACS adapter, and Tesla V4 stalls are the densest fast-charging network in the country. Two cautions from the road: some third-party-host Tesla sites reject Rivian membership pricing (the port lights red), so keep plug-and-charge enabled as a fallback, and trailer access varies, so scout the stall layout before committing.
How much does it cost to charge an EV on a towing road trip?
It ranges from free to about $0.57/kWh. Rivian Adventure Network was free for us; paid sessions ran roughly $0.39 to $0.44/kWh on IONNA and most Tesla stalls, up to $0.57/kWh at a full-price third-party Tesla site. We log the kWh, rate, and total for every session so the real per-mile cost is on the record.