First Family Road Trip in Our Rivian R1T: Houston to San Antonio Using Tesla Superchargers and More!

This past Labor day weekend, we embarked on our first family road trip in our new Rivian R1T, covering the Houston to San Antonio route down I-10—a journey I didn’t think would be possible in a non-Tesla EV just yet. The good news? The trip was a breeze (well, mostly).

Here’s how it all went down.

Charging on the Road: A Mix of Networks

Prepping for the Trip

A few days before our trip, Rivian sent us an email to opt-in for a free NACS to CCS adapter. This came just after I had already purchased a Lectron adapter, but both would prove useful.

For this journey, we relied on a mix of Tesla Superchargers and other charging networks, including Volta and Electrify America (with some challenges, but more on that later).

Our Charging Stops

Here’s the rundown of our charging stops for the trip:

• Houston to San Antonio (Departure: 85% SoC)
  • Tesla Supercharger - Luling (Arrived at 20% SoC)
• San Antonio
  • Hotel Charging (Free)
  • Volta Charging at La Cantera (Free)
  • Chargepoint L2 at Pearl Parking Garage (Free)
  • Electrify America (Failed session)
• San Antonio to Houston (Departure: 70% SoC)
  • Tesla Supercharger - Katy (Arrived at 10% SoC)

Driving to San Antonio: Smooth Sailing

The drive from Houston to San Antonio started with a bit of typical Houston traffic, but nothing too out of the ordinary. Although our Rivian R1T’s range could have made it all the way to the hotel without stopping, traveling with a toddler means guaranteed stops—no complaints there!

Our first charging stop was at the Tesla Supercharger in Luling. Despite Rivian’s charging port being located on the front driver’s side, we managed to find a stall that worked well without blocking two spaces. We took our usual Buc-ee’s break: snacks, bathroom, and a bit of stretching, and by the time we were done, the R1T was charged and ready to go.

Exploring San Antonio: Plenty of Free Charging

In San Antonio, we drove around for meals, did the essential Target run (happy wife, happy life!), and enjoyed free charging at several spots:

• Volta Charging at La Cantera
• Chargepoint L2 at Pearl Parking Garage
• Free charging at our hotel at La Cantera Resort

Surprisingly, I didn’t feel the need to use the Tesla Superchargers or the nearby Rivian Adventure Network (RAN) station. The availability of free chargers around the city made getting around easy and cost-effective.

The Journey Back: An Electrify America Disappointment

The return trip was a different experience. We planned to stop in Sealy for a quick charge, but our toddler had other ideas, so we made an unscheduled stop in Columbus at Snappy’s. That’s where things took a turn.

The Electrify America (EA) charger had four stalls, but one was down, three were occupied, and there were two vehicles waiting. After some unsuccessful bathroom attempts, we decided to move on rather than wait. This is the kind of headache other EV owners have often reported, and now, we’d experienced it ourselves.

Saving the Day: Tesla Superchargers

We made it to the Tesla Supercharger in Katy with 10% SoC. Thanks to the Lectron adapter, charging was seamless. We followed our usual routine—bathroom and snack breaks—while the R1T juiced up enough to make it back home without any further issues.

Final Thoughts: The Rivian R1T Impresses on Its First Road Trip

Despite a few EA related hiccups, I couldn’t be happier with our Rivian R1T. The versatility and access to the Tesla Supercharger network made this trip much smoother than anticipated. With the growing number of chargers along I-10 from networks like Shell Recharge and EVGo, road trips in an EV are becoming more predictable and less stressful for our family.

I’m excited for what’s next and can’t wait for the charging infrastructure to become even more reliable for all EV owners!