Our 2024 Europe road trip, was a ‘dream holiday in the making’ ever-since we made a first EV road trip to Scotland in a hired Tesla Model S back in 2019. On that trip, while chatting with family about the next adventure, I had an idea: “Why don’t we buy a Tesla with free supercharging* and travel to Europe?”
After buying such a Tesla Model X, it was finally time to start planning! We would start from the UK then shuttle to France by EuroTunnel, then go to Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Netherlands and use StenaLine to ferry back to the UK, to make a circular trip.
* Most Tesla Model S and X, made before August 2017 came with free supercharging at any Tesla Charging Network
For paying tolls ahead, in France it can be paid using credit-card on the booth itself. But for Switzerland and Austria, cars need eVignette (a toll pass) which is easy to purchase online in advance. Fortunately Germany and Netherlands don’t have any toll.
The Adventure Begins
1st destination – Paris, France
Day 1: Bye bye UK (12 hrs on road including breaks)
Heading towards the Euro Tunnel in Folkestone our excitement grew. But it was the first day of Easter Holiday so were delayed in UK. Driving car onto the train felt like the official start of our epic journey. All it took was 1 hour wait in queue then just 35 mins inside the train to reach to Calais, in France our 1st European country.
But then it rained cats n dogs and we couldn’t see any road in French country driving on the other side of the road. Thankfully the Tesla Model X came with ‘Enhanced Autopilot’ and astonishing it was able to selfdrive drive confidently through poor visibility. Helping us reach Paris before dinner.
| Tesla Supercharger Station | Rough duration |
| Folkestone, UK France Bound (lunch) | 1 hr |
| Aire de la bie de Somme, France (coffee break) | 1 hr |
| Beauvais, France (shopping groceries) | 30 mins |
Day 2-4: Bonjour, France!
Our 3 days in France were very touristy. We started with the opulent Palace of Versailles, wandering through its lavish royal halls and acres of gardens. Next, we embraced our inner child with kids at Disneyland Paris, where thrilling rides and enchanting parades brought endless smiles.
And of course, we had to visit Paris itself. Standing beneath the iconic Eiffel Tower, we felt the romance and magic of the City of Lights. Each destination offered a unique glimpse into France’s rich history and vibrant culture, making every moment truly unforgettable.
As the weather in France was a bit chilly in month of April, so we braved to take Tesla through outskirts of Paris to go to the Palace of Versailles and Disneyland. We charged it twice during our stay at Tesla Supercharger in Paris-Val’d Europe just minutes away from Disneyland Paris.
Day 5: Driving from France to Switzerland (12 hrs on road)
Driving from France to Switzerland, was a learning experience of how much time it takes to wrap-up from one AirBnB to other. We left Paris bit late and reached Interlaken at 11 in night. It was nice that our host had no issues about us arriving so late.
| Tesla Supercharger Station | Rough duration |
| Cesson, France (had lot of food options) | 1 hr |
| Aire de Chateauvillain, France (lunch) | 1 hr |
| Besancon, France (coffee break) | 30 mins |
| Lully, Switzerland (dinner, tastiest pizza place) | 1 hr |
2nd destination – Interlaken, Switzerland
Day 6-8: Swiss Serenity
After driving through night in pitch dark uphill road, the next morning our eyes were blessed with jaw dropping scenery of snow-clade mountain from our Swiss chalet holiday home in Allmenden. It was the last house on the mountain, which had a trampoline and swings for kids also an old wood-fired hot-tub.
Switzerland was a highlight of our Europe trip, and it didn’t disappoint. Each stop was more breathtaking than the last. With Interlaken as our base we traveled to all nearby beautiful places. The true gem was Lauterbrunnen, a valley of 72 waterfalls that felt like what heaven could be if it was on earth.
With weather changed for better at Mount Titlis, we enjoyed 3 different cable car to reach to the top. We marveled at the panoramic views from the rotating cable car. Switzerland’s natural beauty and exhilarating activities made this leg of our journey truly unforgettable.
Day 9: Driving from Switzerland to Austria (8 hrs on road)
Driving from Switzerland to Austria I was expecting to see the best scenic route despite not planning for it (my bad). As Tesla routing took us from a fastest route possible which was mainly highway and lots of tunnels but nevertheless still very beautiful.
| Tesla Supercharger Station | Rough duration |
| Affoltern, Switzerland (lunch, had a lot of food options) | 1 hr |
| Imst, Switzerland (coffee break) | 1 hr |
An interesting thing happened in Arlberg Straßentunnel (13.9 km long tunnel). The Model X efficiency averaged less than 16 Wh/km (per 25 km) compared to 224 Wh/km for our whole journey. We must be going downhill all the way through the tunnel.
3rd destination – Innsbruck, Austria
Day 10-12: Austrian Alps and Bavarian Bliss
Driving through the Alps was an exhilarating experience, with winding roads and breathtaking landscapes at every turn. We reached Innsbruck, a city nestled in the heart of the mountains. We strolled through this charming old town and marveled at the dazzling exhibits in Swarovski World.
We routinely crossed Austria and German border without any passport checks. In Germany’s Bavarian forest we visited fairy-tale Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau and Schlossteich Castles. But our adventure reached new heights at Highline179 in Austria, one of the world’s longest suspension bridges.
Day 13-14: Autobahn Blitz (2 days on road)
We actually did a “Blitz” and traveled from south to north of Germany. This was the longest stretch of our journey. I managed to get the Tesla Model X to its limits and reach 215 kph/134 mph on no-speed limit Autobahn highway. But Autobahn experience can get daunting with constant overtaking.
Where on right most lane you have slow moving trucks and on left most side the “mad max” lane. But our Model X was the alpha here too as others were conservative on fuel it had free supercharging at disposal. We stopped by some of the biggest EV charging station ever seen.
| Tesla Supercharger Station | Rough duration |
| Ulm, Germany (38 Tesla + others) | 45 mins |
| Merklingen, Germany (40 Tesla + others) | 30 mins |
| Rauenberg, Germany (12 Tesla charging points) | 1 hr |
| Hilden, Germany (40 Tesla + other) | 1 hr |
| Leusden, Netherlands (16 Tesla but very slow charging speed) | 15 mins |
4th destination – Amsterdam, Netherlands
Day 15-16: Dutch Delights: Tulips, Windmills, and Canals
In the Netherlands, our journey was a feast for the senses. We started with the vibrant tulip fields of Keukenhof Garden, where millions of blooms created a mesmerizing sea of colors.
Next day, we visited the historic windmills of Zaandam, stepping back in time to explore traditional Dutch craftsmanship. There was surprisingly lot to experience in this place like cheese, chocolate, wine, clocks and clogs.
Finally, Amsterdam gave us mixed feelings with its charming canals, iconic houses, and lively atmosphere. Cruising through the waterways on a boat and exploring the bustling streets with smell of weed gave us nausea. So we left the city early to enjoy last glimpse of Tulip fields nearby.
Day 17: Ferry back to UK (6 hrs on Ferry and 5 hrs on road)
Ferry was a good relaxing end to our long journey. We managed to reached before time to catch Stena Line Ferry, Hook of Holland. 6 hrs on ferry sounds longs but not enough if you like to take a nice nap in a cabin.
After driving for so many days on right side of the road. Landing back to UK made roads disoriented. But quickly comparable how tiny width UK road are and significantly noisy surface we drive on. Finally after reaching home quick look at the trip meter showed Tesla Model X clocked 4505 km / 2799 miles.
Extra Tips:
- Hop Charging: Instead of waiting at one charging point for full charge, plan to hop from one to another. Because 20% to 80% can take half time (15-20 mins) than 5% to 100%.
- Pack Light: The Model X had ample storage, but packing light makes it easier to access your essentials. Book AirBnB with washing machine to reuse clothes.
- Stay Flexible: Be open to spontaneous detours and unexpected stops. Some of the best memories come from unplanned adventures and good weather.
- Movie Theater: Instead of each fellow person doing separate thing on mobile. Buy a tablet holder and let passengers enjoy the ride with a movie.
Summary
A road trip is more than just travel. It’s about the thrill of the open road, the adventures of unexpected detours, beauty of new places and the memories we gather along the way meeting new people. Because sometimes the “journey itself is the destination“.
Embarking on this epic European road trip in Tesla Model X was an experience of a lifetime. The reliability of Tesla’s extensive Supercharger network and comfort of the Autopilot system made our long distance journey possible.
Our road trip shows that long distance exploration is both practical and fun in an electric car. And manifests that with a bit of patience, even the most ambitious adventures can be achieved and dreams can become reality.
