2026 Tesla Model Y FSD Road Trip Tests Charging Network
A 1,500-mile cross-country drive in a 2026 Tesla Model Y revealed improved charging speeds but intermittent Full Self Driving failures, highlighting real-world EV performance during peak travel.
A 1,500-mile road trip in a 2026 Tesla Model Y from northern Wisconsin to Lindon, Utah, tested the latest Full Self Driving software and Supercharger network conditions. The journey, completed over three days from October 18 to October 20, 2026, was the driver's sixth cross-country EV trip and the first in this base rear-wheel-drive Model Y, which was purchased for about $40,000. The car, equipped with Hardware 4, ran FSD (Supervised) V14.3.12 for the duration, with two e-bikes carried on a rear rack.
FSD Performance and Issues
The Full Self Driving system, version 14.3.12, demonstrated strong capability on long highway stretches, enabling precise lane centering and navigation rerouting. However, it experienced a significant failure at a Minneapolis Supercharger, remaining unavailable for the better part of two days. During this outage, smart cruise control also failed, and the car misread a road's speed limit as 15 mph when the actual limit was 65 mph. Calibration to restore the system took nearly an hour. The driver, an 86-year-old with over six years of FSD experience on a previous 2019 Model 3, noted the system still struggles with the first and last 100 yards of a journey and with interpreting map data at stoplights. To enable FSD while towing the e-bikes, the owner had to cover the rear camera with tape.
Charging Network Experience
Charging sessions revealed a mixed performance across the Supercharger network, which showed strain during a busy fall weekend with leaf-peeping traffic. Wait times were generally short, but station conditions varied widely.
| Location | Stall Type | Charging Speed | Wait Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wausau, WI | V2 Supercharger | ~50 kW | 5 minutes | 8 stalls full, 40-minute session required |
| Menomonie, WI | Hardware 4 Supercharger | ~100 kW | Queue for 3 cars | Only one stall open, 3 empty stalls available |
The stop in Wausau was the driver's first full Supercharger session there in seven years. In contrast, the newer hardware in Menomonie enabled much faster charging. A four-stall Supercharger was also used in Lusk, Wyoming. The article did not provide per-stop energy totals or session costs.
Real-World Driving Conditions
The trip demonstrated that current highway travel speeds have increased, with the driver maintaining 80 mph compared to a previous 75 mph limit. When functional, FSD handled these long interstate stretches effectively. The journey passed through varied landscapes, including the 1,000-square-mile Powder River Basin with its 250-foot-thick coal beds and double railroad tracks for shipping. Wildlife sightings included a bison herd at Custer State Park and pronghorns. The driver pays approximately $99 per month for the FSD subscription after an initial free trial, with Tesla currently offering two months free FSD with new Model 3 or Y purchases. The 2026 Model Y represents the volume car experience for most new Tesla owners. The driver reflected on the need to trust the vehicle's navigation during unexpected road events. "I’m going to have to learn to trust the navigation," the author said. "The Nav knows about road closures like this and even traffic jams."
