The New American Road Trip
Have you ever visited the World's Largest Ball of Twine? The Cadillac Ranch? Maybe the Mystery Hole?
These random roadside attractions are the bread-and-butter of the great American road trip: a place to stretch your legs, cool the car, maybe get a snack and some pictures.
And maybe...charge?
I am of the opinion that the classic American road trip, nonsensical sites and all, is ready for a comeback, and the reason: electric vehicles.
Not too long ago, I took a classic Midwest roadtrip from Indianapolis to Cleveland in my 2020 Chevy Bolt (which has NOT caught on fire, I'd just like to point out for the record). High-speed chargers are becoming more widespread, so I was able to leave my house with a full charge, stop outside Columbus to recharge, and continue on my way. With an hour to kill in Grove City, Ohio, I took a walk. Bought donuts from a food truck and a bottle of water from a bar, tipped a street musician. It was a great little break and an opportunity to decompress from a three-hour drive. Had I been there earlier, I could've toured the Grove City Welcome Center Museum or grabbed a slice of pizza from the restaurant nearby.
Perhaps the fastest charger I’ve ever used
In the middle of Somewhere, Ohio.
Likewise, one enterprising Chevrolet dealership in Strongville, OH has incorporated a much-appreciated cafe in their lobby, so I was able to top-off, use the bathroom, enjoy some A/C, surf the internet, and have lunch within an hour.
Not as fast charging.
But at least there was entertainment…and food!
This, I think, is the unrealized promise of Electric Vehicles. You've got to stop for a bit to charge, stop and get lunch, too. Visit the World's Most Random Roadside Nonsense. Snap a picture and tag Arkadelphia, Arkansas on Instagram. Maybe spark someone else’s middle American wanderlust.
Small towns and tourist sites would do well, in my opinion, to drop a high-speed charger in the middle of their old downtown between a non-chain restaurant, a weird sculpture, and some public restrooms. Bring people in with the lure of a free charge, then send them walking down main street in search of those homemade biscuits that smell freaking amazing! Plunk down a gift shop with a soda fountain inside with the biggest, greasiest, most delicious hamburgers in the state! We want something to do while charging, so my advice is this: if you build it, they will come.
