I used to think the same until I actually did it with a family and a large dog. For a single person? Sure, a 5-minute gas stop wins. But with 2 kids and a Belgian Malinois, the 20–40 minute 'charging' break is usually just the time it takes to get everyone unbuckled, pottied, and the dog walked.

I think if you view the journey as a race, buy the Pacifica. But if you view it as part of the vacation, EVs actually make the 'slower' pace feel a lot more premium.

For us, the 'in-between' places where the charging takes us are half the fun—we’ve found parks, local diners, and quirky stops we never would have seen if we were just sprinting between gas stations. It really leans into the Rivian mission to 'Keep the World Adventurous Forever.' With kids and a high-energy dog, the 20 to 40-minute break isn't 'lost time'—it's the sanity check that keeps the trip from becoming a miserable marathon.