Will I make it from Vail to Steamboat Springs?
In July, all 5 of these popular EVs make it from Vail to Steamboat Springs on a 90% charge with at least 10% to spare; in January, all 5 do. The biggest winter drain: 14°F cold costs 14%.
93 miles, about 1 h 48 min of driving. Leaving at 8 AM on a typical January and July day.
Check your own car and charge level
January and July, car by car
Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD
January · 14°F
Yes
Arrives with 45–58%
14°F cold costs 14%
July · 54°F
Yes
Arrives with 61–68%
The 1,900 ft climb uses 1%
Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD
January · 14°F
Yes
Arrives with 47–59%
14°F cold costs 13%
July · 54°F
Yes
Arrives with 62–69%
The 1,900 ft climb uses 1%
Ford Mustang Mach-E Extended Range AWD
January · 14°F
Yes
Arrives with 44–58%
14°F cold costs 13%
July · 54°F
Yes
Arrives with 59–67%
Highway driving uses 27%
Chevrolet Equinox EV FWD
January · 14°F
Yes
Arrives with 46–59%
14°F cold costs 13%
July · 54°F
Yes
Arrives with 61–68%
Highway driving uses 25%
Hyundai Ioniq 5 Long Range RWD
January · 14°F
Yes
Arrives with 43–57%
14°F cold costs 14%
July · 54°F
Yes
Arrives with 58–66%
Highway driving uses 27%
Yes means the low end of the range still arrives with 10% or more. Close means the likely answer does, but a colder or windier day might not. No means you'll need to stop.
Best fast-charging stops on the way
- TOWN OF AVON E. BENCHMAR DC2 — Avon, CO · ChargePoint · mile 10 · up to 63 kW
- East-West Resorts Edwards Station (Edwards, CO) — Edwards, CO · Electrify America · mile 14 · up to 350 kW
- Helios Yampa CO — Yampa, CO · EV Range · mile 63 · up to 50 kW
Questions about this trip
Will I make it from Vail to Steamboat Springs in winter?
On a mid-January morning, 5 of 5 popular EVs make the 93-mile drive from a 90% charge and arrive with at least 10%. Typical temperature on the way: 14°F.
Where should I charge between Vail and Steamboat Springs?
The best DC fast-charging stops on the way, in order: TOWN OF AVON E. BENCHMAR DC2 (mile 10); East-West Resorts Edwards Station (Edwards, CO) (mile 14); Helios Yampa CO (mile 63). Charge to about 80%; above that, charging slows sharply.
What uses the most battery between Vail and Steamboat Springs?
On a January day in a Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD, the single biggest drain is this: 14°F cold costs 14%.
What is the best EV for Vail to Steamboat Springs?
Of the 5 popular EVs we check, the Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD arrives with the most charge on a January day: about 54% (47–59%) from a 90% start. In July it arrives with about 66%.
How we work this out
Each answer drives the real road route in 30-meter steps: speed, climbs and descents (with regenerative braking), rolling resistance, cabin heating or cooling, a cold battery's lower capacity, and the typical wind. Temperatures are NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals for each place along the way. Every car is calibrated to its EPA highway rating. Each car starts at 90%.
Updated . Sources: Stadia Maps road routes and elevation, NOAA climate normals, fueleconomy.gov, and the U.S. DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center.