Whether we like it or not, electric vehicle popularity is currently on the rise in the US, despite what some recent events may have led you to believe. According to Cox Automotive, EVs accounted for 8.1 percent of all new car sales in 2024, up from 7.8 percent in 2023. In total, approximately 1.3 million new EVs were sold in 2024, a number that hasn't been reached before. It seems, for now, EVs aren't going anywhere.With the rise of EV popularity, there's also a rise in scrutiny regarding the vehicle segment. Of course, charging an EV to full power takes quite a bit longer than filling up a vehicle that runs on dinosaur juice, no matter how powerful a fast charger you have access to. A big question that gets asked a lot these days is "How long would it take to cross the country in an EV?"It's a complicated formula, but we've got it nailed down for you in detail below. For our hypothetical trip, we'll be using America's best-selling EV; the Tesla Model Y.N/AModel YMake TeslaModel Model YWe chose the Tesla Model Y for our pretend trip because it was the best-selling EV in the US for the 2024 model year. For our actual trip, we've picked the furthest distance between two towns in the US in a west-to-east configuration; Point Arena, California to Lubec, Maine, a distance of about 3,500 miles. To plan our trip, we've used an electric vehicle route planner, and our fictional Tesla Model Y is equipped with both a CCS and NACS charging adapter. We've also chosen the Long Range model. Setting Off 2025 tesla model y front graySo you've had a wild hair get up somewhere it shouldn't be, and you've decided to take your future new Tesla Model Y on the cruise of a lifetime - a cross-country run from the most westerly point in the US to the most easterly point. Everyone's telling you not to do it. They say your EV won't make it, you'll be stranded somewhere in Nebraska and hassled by rednecks, but you don't care. You're going, and nothing is going to stop you.So, you hop on an EV trip planner, of which there are several out there to use. Type in your start and end points, and see what the trip will be like. For this particular trip, ABetterRoutePlanner.com has been used, which tells you exactly how long of a drive it is, how many charging stops you'll need, how much each charging stop will cost, and how much time will be lost on charging. Ideally, the trip would take less than five days.2026 Tesla Model Y (3)-1RelatedThe new Tesla Model Y gets $16,000 worth of free options - would you buy one?The 2026 Tesla Model Y was just revealed for the American market, and it starts at just under $60,000. Most notably, it gets FSD semi-autonomous driving technology - which is usually an $8,000 option - as standard, along with a host of other improvements. Overall, the new Launch Series Model Y effectively costs $4,000 less than a fully-specced 2025 model. So is it worth it, or is there still something missing? Turn signal stalks, perhaps? A Long Journey 2025 tesla model y front whiteYou also have to factor in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Hours of Service regulations, which stipulate that drivers cannot exceed eight hours of driving without at least a 30-minute break, so you've got to factor a few hotel stays into your drive, or at least some eight-hour resets so you don't overwork yourself. Your trip's driving, charging, and hotel itinerary are listed below, along with the total amount of time you'll spend driving, and how long the entire exercise will take you:WaypointArrival SoCDepart SoCCostCharge DurationDistanceDrive DurationPoint Arena, CA, United States100%195 mi3 h 51 minRocklin, CA - Granite Drive [Tesla]22%84%$2131 min146 mi2 h 16 minFernley, NV [Tesla]10%71%$2123 min125 mi1 h 36 minEight-Hour Reset8 hEVgo Car Charging Station10%73%24 min128 mi1 h 43 minElko, NV [Tesla]10%62%19 min109 mi1 h 25 minWest Wendover, NV [Tesla]10%71%24 min125 mi1 h 38 minSouth Salt Lake, UT - S Main Street [Tesla]10%55%$1014 min79 mi1 h 8 minKroger Smiths 86 (Evanston, WY) [Electrify America]10%57%$2015 min99 mi1 h 22 minKroger Smiths 182 (Rock Springs, WY) [Electrify America]10%68%$2821 min115 mi1 h 32 minEight-Hour Reset8 hRawlins, WY [Tesla]10%58%17 min96 mi1 h 19 minLaramie, WY [Tesla]10%77%28 min153 mi2 h 5 minSidney, NE [Tesla]10%63%19 min118 mi1 h 37 minNorth Platte, NE [Tesla]10%54%14 min97 mi1 h 20 minKearney, NE [Tesla]10%67%$1521 min126 mi1 h 44 minEight-Hour Reset8 hCaseys Lincoln #30 [Electrify America]10%54%$613 min93 mi1 h 21 minShelby, IA [Tesla]10%56%16 min102 mi1 h 29 minDes Moines, IA [Tesla]10%62%18 min112 mi1 h 39 minIowa City, IA [Tesla]10%47%$911 min82 mi1 h 13 minCasey's Geneseo [Electrify America]10%75%$2826 min145 mi2 h 12 minEight-Hour Reset8 hMunster, IN [Tesla]10%66%20 min121 mi1 h 51 minHowe, IN - Gene Stratton Travel Plaza - EB [Tesla]10%59%16 min108 mi1 h 34 minGenoa, OH - Wyandot Service Plaza [Tesla]10%80%$1929 min150 mi2 h 12 minGirard, OH [Tesla]10%71%$1723 min130 mi1 h 53 minClearfield, PA [Tesla]10%62%$1718 min118 mi1 h 44 minEight-Hour Reset8 hSheetz 213 Bloomsburg PA [Electrify America]10%59%$2016 min112 mi1 h 57 minMatamoras, PA [Tesla]10%72%24 min145 mi2 h 24 minManchester, CT - Tolland Turnpike [Tesla]10%57%15 min106 mi1 h 43 minLawrence, MA [Tesla]10%84%$1133 min162 mi2 h 29 minEight-Hour Reset8 hWaterville, ME [Tesla]10%84%$2134 min170 mi3 h 19 minWest Quoddy Station, 823 S Lubec Rd, Lubec, ME 04652-3675, United States10%0 m4 Days 15 Hrs 21 Mins$2639 Hrs 42 Min 3568 mi2 Days 5 Hrs 39 Mins*Stats courtesy of ABetterRoutePlanner.comOf course, many of us might bend the rules a bit regarding the eight-hour resets, as they add a whopping two days to the overall travel time. However, if you were planning on doing it by-the-books and making it from one side of the country to another within a standard working week, it's possible in the Tesla Model Y, barring any unforeseen circumstances, of course. What If I Wanted To Do This In A Normal Car? 2025 Toyota Camry SE AWD Supersonic Red Front AngleFair enough, let's take an exceedingly normal car, like the 2025 Toyota Camry, and see how things will change using an identical route to the one shown above. Of course, the Camry won't require any sort of charger adapters, or any length of time spent at a gas station apart from the time it takes to fuel up. We'll also maintain the recommended eight-hour reset, as stipulated by the FMCSA:Fuel Stop #Location1Lovelock, NV2Salt Lake City, UT3Laramie, WY4Henderson, NE5Davenport, IA6Swanton, OH7Henrietta, NY8Seabrook, NHTotal Trip TimeTime Spent DrivingEight-Hour ResetsTotal Cost Of FuelTotal Distance4 Days 5 Hrs2 Days 5 Hrs6$180.343513.76 mi*Stats courtesy of GasBuddy.com. Stats assume a full tank upon the journey's start. Fuel pricing is based on current market averages for the regions listed above. It seems the 2025 Camry would be the one to have here, as you'd save money on both fueling/charging, and you'd also arrive roughly 10 hours sooner than the Tesla would. However, we have to keep in mind the 2025 Toyota Camry LE FWD is a hybrid, and manages to achieve 51 mpg combined. While many cars exist on the market today that can manage similar fuel economy stats, not all of them can, and your mileage may vary widely if you're planning on doing this trip in something like a new Ford F-150.Sources: Tesla, Toyota, FuelEconomy.gov, ABetterRoutePlanner.com, NHTSA