Petrol or electric hire car

Question

All going well I'm heading to CA with the family in August for a road trip from LA to San Francisco via Death Valley and Yosemite. Having an EV here I'm thinking of hiring one for the trip but I know what range anxiety can be like so do I go for petrol instead? I can see that there are lots of Tesla superchargers in CA. Thoughts please. 🙏🏼

Answer

Choosing between a petrol (gasoline) hire car and an electric vehicle (EV) for a California road trip depends largely on the route you’re taking, the specific places you’ll visit, and your comfort level with charging logistics. Because your route includes Los Angeles → Death Valley → Yosemite → San Francisco, it’s important to carefully weigh EV practicality in the desert and mountain regions versus coastal and urban areas of California.

California has excellent EV infrastructure overall—including dense Tesla Supercharger coverage—but long stretches of remote desert and mountain roads make certain parts of your trip more challenging for EV travelers. Below is a detailed, balanced breakdown to help you decide.

1. Driving an EV in California: General Feasibility

California is one of the easiest places in the world to drive an EV, thanks to thousands of Tesla Superchargers, fast chargers, and reliable coverage along major highways. From LA to San Francisco along the coast or I-5, an EV is extremely easy.

The challenge with your itinerary is not California—it's the remote areas of Death Valley and the mountain passes around Yosemite, where charging becomes limited and you must plan ahead.

LA to Death Valley: Possible with an EV, but requires strategic charging stops before entering the park.
Inside Death Valley: No Superchargers inside the park itself; extreme heat is hard on EV batteries.
Death Valley to Yosemite: Long stretches with limited fast chargers; must plan carefully.
Yosemite Valley: A few Level 2 chargers, but often occupied; slower charging.

2. Specific Considerations for an EV on Your Route

Driving in Death Valley with EVs

Death Valley is remote, extremely hot in August, and has no Tesla Superchargers. Temperatures may exceed 120°F (49°C). EVs lose range significantly in high heat, especially if using air-conditioning constantly. Charging options are limited to slow Level 2 chargers at Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells—but these are not always reliable and can be in use.

No fast charging inside the park
High heat = reduced range
Long distances between services

Driving in Yosemite with EVs

Yosemite has a few Level 2 chargers in Yosemite Valley and at some lodges, but they are slow and often occupied during peak season (summer). Elevation changes also affect range. You need overnight charging or a very long break.

Only Level 2 charging in most parts of the park
High demand (lots of EV visitors)
Slow charging (4–8 hours)

Driving between parks

This is where the biggest EV complication occurs: the drive from Death Valley to Yosemite involves long distances, changes in elevation, and sparse towns. Chargers do exist along the route, but you need to plan carefully, especially around Lone Pine, Bishop, Mammoth Lakes, and Lee Vining.

You can make it work—but range planning must be precise
A petrol car removes the worry
Traveling with family makes inflexible charging stops more inconvenient

3. Why Petrol May Be Better for This Specific Trip

For a classic California national park loop that includes Death Valley and Yosemite, most travelers find petrol cars easier and more stress-free.

No range anxiety in remote areas
Faster, more flexible travel inside national parks
No long charging stops when kids/family are tired or hot
Gas stations are reliable and frequent outside the most remote areas
Death Valley in August is extreme—petrol reduces risk and planning complexity

4. When an EV Does Work Well

If you were doing LA → coastal towns → Monterey → SF → Yosemite → back to LA, an EV would be perfect.

Urban areas (LA, SF) are extremely EV-friendly
Charging along highways is plentiful
Summer weather is easier on batteries outside the desert

But the moment Death Valley enters the picture—especially in August—the equation changes.

5. Practical Recommendation Based on Your Itinerary

While an EV can technically be used, for your specific August route—including Death Valley and a potentially complicated transition toward Yosemite—most travelers and locals recommend choosing a petrol car for peace of mind, easier logistics, and safety in extreme heat.

Petrol car = flexible, reliable, no detailed planning needed
EV = possible, but demanding with real limits inside parks

6. Best Balanced Approach

If you truly enjoy EV driving and want to keep costs down, you could modify your route:

Avoid Death Valley and instead go to Sequoia National Park or Lake Tahoe
Do the LA → SF via coast route, which is 100% EV-friendly

Final Thoughts

Because you are traveling in August, with family, through the most remote and hottest part of California (Death Valley), the safest and least stressful choice is a petrol car. Range anxiety is real in that region, and charging infrastructure—while improving—is still sparse inside the national parks and across long mountain/desert stretches.

If your route were different, an EV would be ideal—but for this exact trip, petrol provides the smoothest experience.