Gig’s day tripp’n’ guide for EVs

All-Electric Freedom

While EVs are fun to drive and easy on the environment, the need for charging can make longer trips seem daunting. However, with a little bit of planning and research, our darling little Electric Gigs are great options for long road trips!

This guide will help you plan out your next EV adventure in Northern California with Gig!

Planning your route

While EV-charging infrastructure is rapidly improving, it’s still not as ubiquitous as the gas pump. Before starting your trip, plug in your route on your favorite mapping tool.

You can see the charge level of the car before you reserve it, but for a road trip, try to grab a Gig with as close to a full charge as possible (about 200 miles).

Head over to PlugShare to find charging stations along your route. Determine where you’d like to stop for lunch as DC fast chargers can take about an hour and a half to get your Gig to full charge. Level 2 Chargers are good for a slight top-off (they’ll give you about 10-20 miles for an hour of charging).

Know your charger

There are different kinds of chargers, and they charge your vehicle at different rates. It’s good to know about how long it’s going to take to charge so that you can plan your trips and routes accordingly.

Our Electric Gigs use the SAE Combo CCS (DCFC) for the quickest charging and the Port J1772 (Level 2), as needed.

SAE Combo CCS (DCFC)
J1772 (Level 2)

Charging is on us

As you know with Gig, we always cover fuel (EV Monthly Rentals excluded). 

• Pay for the recharge up front and we’ll reimburse you. 
• We will provide a refund of your rental fee in the amount of your charging fee, which will be shown as a credit to your card account originally used for your rental.

Snap a pic of your receipt and submit it for reimbursement here.

Bring your Gig Card

Your phone needs reception to lock/unlock your Gig. So if you’re going on a far-out adventure, you’ll need a Gig Card to easily lock/unlock your car in areas with spotty reception. Request one for free from the app. 

See how it's done.

Sacramento area blogger, Gennifer Rose, took her family on a fantastic coastal all-electric weekend trip and wrote all about it.

She outlined six tips for a successful zero-emissions adventure.

Cool day trips near Sacramento

Mitch Lorens / Flickr / Used with permission

Destination: Apple Hill
Distance from Sac: 48 miles, 53 minutes
Good for: Families, couples, groups of friends

Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada is a collection of 50+ farms, wineries, and breweries known as Apple Hill. During the fall months, Apple Hill attracts thousands of visitors for pumpkins and apple picking. After Thanksgiving, it’s a great place to pick out and cut down your own Christmas tree. Enjoy hot apple donuts with cider and take home an apple pie for later. Once you reach the hill, pull over at the first farm you come to and pick up a map of the area. There are so many cute little spots to explore every trip can bring something different.

Nearby charging:
Two Level 2 stations, Wine Country Market, Camino

Also, the nearby and adorable town of Placerville has several charging stations. The Raley’s in Placerville has a fast charger.

WikiCommons / Used with permission

Destination: Nevada City
Distance from Sac: 1.25 hours, 60 miles
Good for: History, art, food

Head into the heart of Gold Country, and you’ll find the sleepy, adorable little town of Nevada City (still in California). This town has a unique feel with art galleries, vintage clothing shops, used bookstores and old theaters. One could easily spend a day wandering the streets and taking in the sights.

The nearby Empire State Mine State Park is a fascinating historical experience. Peer down an old mine shaft, chat up a real blacksmith and explore the expansive grounds where the mine owners used to live (complete with swimming pool and gardens).

Nearby charging:
Just down the freeway a bit in Grass Valley, you’ll find a few Level 2 chargers and a brand-new fast charger at the BriarPatch Food Co-Op.

Photo by Gary Mills / Pexels / Used with permission

Destination: Napa
Distance from Sac: 1 hour, 60 miles
Good for: Romantic getaways, long bike rides, wine tasting

Napa is an obvious quick trip from Sacramento. The rolling hills lined with grapevines and the palatial estates attract visitors from around the world. Wine not your thing? There are scores of beautiful art galleries, interesting shops, and, of course, world-class dining.

Extend your trip at a bed-and-breakfast and rent bikes to tour the valley floor. Or throw your own bikes on top of your Gig and save on rentals. There are also plenty of charging stations to juice up your Gig while exploring the beautiful countryside.

Nearby charging:
Stop by the Napa Outlets and do some shopping while you charge up your Gig.

Pexels / Used with permission

Destination: San Francisco 
Distance from Sac: 1.5 hours, 87 miles
Good for: Museums, history, food, shows

It’s great to live in the city by the City by the Bay! Hop in a Gig and you’re just an hour-and-a-half away from one of the most interesting and exciting metropolitan areas in the world.

Have dim sum in Chinatown, check out the latest exhibit at the SFMOMA, wander around Golden Gate Park, and top the day off with a show.

The fun thing about visiting SF with a Gig is we have designated parking lots all over the City, and while you can’t end your Electric Gig trip in the Bay Area HomeZone yet, you can still enjoy a fun day without the hassle of trying to find parking.

Nearby charging:
There are loads of chargers peppered throughout the City, there’s a  fast charger at the Whole Foods on 4th St.

Stephen Colebourne / Flicker / Used with permission

Destination: Murphys
Distance from Sac: 1.75 hours, 85.1 miles
Good for: Gold Rush history, concerts, cool old hotels

In the mid-1800s, Murphys was booming! It was one of the richest towns in California and while its Gold Rush heyday is in the past, this sleepy little town, halfway between Tahoe and Yosemite, is filled with history, stone-walled buildings, and beautiful gardens.

In addition to all the cool historical sites, there’s also Ironstone Vineyards. Check out their calendar of events and maybe catch a big-name act.

Interested in exploring some caves? Check out nearby Moaning Caverns Adventure for some world-class spelunking.

You might also want to check out the Historic Murphys Hotel, which has been continually operating since the Gold Rush and is rumored to be haunted.

Nearby charging:
There aren’t any nearby fast chargers, but the Victorian Inn and the Dunbar House have Level 2 chargers.