Tesla opened an 8-stall Supercharger at Gila Valley Plaza in Thatcher, Arizona, on October 9, 2026. The site is listed at a 500 kW peak, uses V4 posts with NACS plugs, and is open to non-Tesla EVs through the Tesla app.
At a glance
- Address: 2281 US-70 B, Thatcher, AZ 85552
- Stalls: 8 (all V4 posts)
- Peak power: 500 kW (site listing)
- Connectors: NACS (J3400) only
- Non-Tesla access: Yes, through the Tesla app
- Accessible stalls: 1
- Trailer-friendly stalls: 1
- Host site: Gila Valley Plaza
- Date opened: October 9, 2026
Who can charge here
Any car with a NACS (J3400) port plugs straight in. That includes every Tesla and other EVs built with the NACS port. Tesla's own support page says NACS-equipped vehicles do not need an adapter.
Cars with a CCS1 port can charge too, but they need a NACS DC adapter. Tesla's rules are specific: the adapter must come from Tesla or from your carmaker. Third-party adapters are prohibited. Do not use an AC adapter at a Supercharger, since Tesla warns it may damage your vehicle. This site has no dual-cable or Magic Dock stalls on record, so bring your own approved adapter if you drive a CCS car.
Non-Tesla drivers start a session in the Tesla app. Create a Tesla Account, pick "Charge Your EV," choose the site, add your vehicle details and a payment method, then select the post number printed on the label at the base of the post. You have 30 seconds to remove the connector and one minute to plug in after you select the post, or you will need to start over. Tap "Stop Charging" in the app when you are done.
For a full walkthrough of adapters and which brands need one, see our guide to using a NACS adapter at a Tesla Supercharger.
How fast it charges
The Thatcher site is listed at 500 kW, the top tier for U.S. DC fast charging. The U.S. Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) says a DC charging unit can provide up to 500 kW, and that DC fast charging adds roughly 100 to 200+ miles of range per 30 minutes. Treat those as approximate. Your real speed depends on your car, its battery temperature and how full the battery is when you plug in.
A 500 kW rating is the ceiling, not what most cars will see. Tesla's V4 cabinet supports up to 500 kW per stall, and Tesla showed a Cybertruck reaching that peak at its first 500 kW site in 2025. At that same launch, Model 3 and Model Y stayed at a 250 kW maximum. Non-Tesla cars with 800-volt systems are expected to get closer to their own top charging rates on V4 hardware.
For most drivers, the practical takeaway is simple. Arrive with a low battery, charge to about 80%, and leave. Charging slows as the battery fills, so the last 20% takes far longer than the first 60%.
For context, AFDC puts Level 2 charging at about 25 miles of range per hour. A 30-minute stop here can add what a Level 2 charger adds in several hours. Our EV charging levels explained guide breaks down the differences.
Getting there
The station sits at Gila Valley Plaza, on US-70 B in Thatcher. US 70 runs through Thatcher as the town's Main Street and continues east into neighboring Safford. In Safford, US 70 meets US 191, and the two routes run together east out of town before US 191 splits off to the northeast toward Morenci and Springerville. Farther east, US 70 crosses into New Mexico toward Lordsburg. To the west, US 70 ends at Globe, where it meets US 60 and SR 77.
That makes Thatcher a useful stop for drivers moving through the Gila Valley on US 70, and for anyone heading toward the eastern Arizona high country on US 191.
What it costs
Tesla does not post a single national price. Superchargers are pay-per-use, and each site's current price per kWh shows in the Tesla app and on the screen of a Tesla vehicle. Some sites use on-peak and off-peak rates, so the time you plug in matters. Your rate is locked at the moment you plug in and does not change if pricing changes during your session.
Non-Tesla drivers often pay a different rate than Tesla owners. Tesla offers an optional paid Supercharging Membership that gives other EV owners the Tesla vehicle price at select sites. A membership is not required to charge. Non-Tesla drivers also see a temporary authorization hold when a session starts: $20 through the Tesla app, or $40 through guest checkout. Congestion fees may apply when stalls are in high demand.
Check the app before you plug in for the live price at Thatcher. Our public EV charging cost guide explains how per-kWh pricing works.
Other chargers nearby
Thatcher fills a gap in southeastern Arizona. The nearest other open Superchargers are about 40 miles or more away (straight-line distance):
- Willcox, AZ: 39.8 miles, 8 stalls
- Lordsburg, NM: 68.8 miles, 12 stalls
- Tucson, AZ – E Skyline Dr: 78.0 miles, 10 stalls
- Tucson, AZ: 81.1 miles, 10 stalls
- Tucson, AZ – 95 W River Rd: 81.1 miles, 12 stalls
Road miles will be longer than these straight-line figures. See every charger in town on our Thatcher, AZ EV charging stations page, or search by location on the ChargingNear.me charger map.
Tips
- Plan around the gap. With the next Supercharger about 40 miles away in a straight line, arrive with a buffer. Do not count on another fast charger close by.
- Use the trailer-friendly stall only when towing. There is 1 trailer-friendly stall. If you are not pulling a trailer, leave it open for someone who is.
- Leave the accessible stall for drivers who need it. There is 1 accessible stall on site.
- Precondition your battery. Set the station as your destination in your car's trip planner so the battery warms up before you arrive. A warm battery charges faster.
- CCS drivers: pack your adapter. This site lists NACS plugs only. Without an approved NACS DC adapter, a CCS1 car cannot charge here.