We're doing 3700 miles next week, Raleigh to Palo Alto california. As part of the planning, I'd love to hear some real-world experience on how much "charging time" overhead people experience... in an ICE, I can pretty accurately estimate average speeds and how far I can go in a day. With the Tesla, not so much. Clearly we can overload some of the charge time with eating and rest stopping, etc... but I'd love to hear from people who have actually done long trips.
I have 56,000 + miles on my 2 year old. We have been from Napa Valley to Canada (2500 miles round trip), I go to Fallon, NV all the time to see my brother and Mom (600 miles RT) and to Phoenix to see son, 2000 miles RT. My wife and I usually drive a couple hundred miles in the morning, charge during late breakfast, and drive another couple hundred to a motel. Any more, now we have Supercharging, we start full, drive, top up, drive, and top up, and then charge at the motel overnight. We get in 400 - 600 miles a day.
Since this planning gives for a relaxed day, I don't push it on the road. I drive in the right lane, at about 65 mph. I don't care that the speed limit is 70 or 75. Anyone can go around, and I have never felt concern for my safety. You have to do what is right for you. All I'm saying is that personally, I get more miles between charges, which I personally believe saves me more time not sitting at a charger.
Either way, Supercharging gets you on the road again pretty quickly.
The only experience I want to share is that you need to plan on a buffer (ie. you have 130 miles to next charger, fill up to 170 and keep the 40 extra as a buffer as you drive. That way you won't all of a sudden realize you are ten miles from the next charger when your battery is at zero. Most importantly, some people have never understood that speed takes more power than anything. If you have to drive 75 or 80, know that you will be drinking electrons by the bucket. Plan on that. Watch your buffer. If you are sucking electrons too fast, SLOW DOWN. After you get the hang of how far and how fast you can go on a charge, it is not a problem.
The other thing that uses a lot of juice is the heater. Make sure your temp is as low as you can stand it, and fresh air to the front window to keep off the fog. Otherwise, you will find your miles per watt hour are really low.
A cross country drive should be relaxed and fun. Have a safe trip!