On a summer Saturday, you’re in a get-up-and-go mood at nine in the morning; you drive through Gardenville, and halfway through, the car indicates low battery. You plug in, and while the numbers climb on the dash, you’ve got a decision to make: either scroll your phone in a parking lot, or head to the golf course about ten minutes up the road while the car does its thing. We suggest choosing the second option. That’s the upside of running a Carson Valley trip in an EV these days.
Gardnerville sits at the center of one of northern Nevada’s most beautiful stretches of Highway 395, wedged between the Sierra Nevada foothills and some of the best golf in the region. It happens to be close enough to a growing lineup of public chargers that a “plug-in break” and a round of golf line up almost perfectly.
If it’s your first trip, we’ll tell you where to charge, what to expect at each station, how the golf works, where to eat, and how to make the day work.
EV Charging Stations Near Gardnerville, NV
Earlier, taking an EV through rural Nevada meant a bit of range anxiety and a lot of pre-trip planning. But things have changed now for the good. Carson Valley is going electric, and Gardnerville has quietly built up enough charging infrastructure to serve as a natural pit stop for anyone headed to Genoa Golf Club.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC), the nation’s public charging network has expanded dramatically in just the last few years, with tens of thousands of new Level 2 and DC fast-charging ports added annually. That growth has pushed reliable charging into smaller communities along major highway corridors like US-395, which runs directly through Gardnerville, Minden, and Genoa.
According to an industry report from GreenCars, at present, the U.S. and Canada together have nearly 96,000 public charging stations, which means you don’t have to depend on one lonely charger and hope it’s working when you show up.
| Station | Network | Type | Good for |
| Tesla Supercharger, US-395 | Tesla | DC Fast | Tesla and NACS drivers who want a quick top-off before golf |
| Gardnerville Visitor Center | ChargePoint | Level 2 | Slower charge while you run other errands or play a full round |
| Cheshire Antiques Inc. | ChargePoint | Level 2 | Same idea, a second option on US-395 |
| Raley’s Gardnerville | EVgo | DC Fast | Fast charge while grabbing coffee or snacks |
| Carson Valley Inn, Minden | Tesla | Destination | Overnight charging if you’re booking a Stay & Play package |
Tesla Supercharger, Gardnerville, NV
Located along US-395, this Supercharger site gives Tesla drivers (and NACS-equipped EVs) a fast top-off on the way to or from Genoa. Tesla’s Supercharger network remains the largest DC fast-charging network in the country. It’ll have you back on the road well before your round is even close to starting.
Gardnerville Visitor Center: ChargePoint
You can find a pair of Level 2 ChargePoint stations right at the Gardnerville Visitor Center on US-395, making it an easy stop if you’re picking up local recommendations while your car tops off.
Cheshire Antiques Inc.: ChargePoint
Another Level 2 ChargePoint on US-395 is at Cheshire Antiques Inc. Neither the Gardnerville Visitor Center one nor this one charges visibly fast. So these make more sense if you’re timing your charge around a bit of Carson Valley shopping, sightseeing, or an entire round of golf.
Raley’s Gardnerville: EVgo
Raley’s in Gardnerville has an EVgo DC fast charger in the parking lot, which is a practical stop in case you just need a quick top-up. Grab coffee, pick up snacks for the round while the car handles the rest.
Carson Valley Inn: Tesla Destination Charging (Minden, NV)
If you’re booking a Stay & Play package with Genoa Golf Club, the partner Carson Valley Inn in Minden also offers Tesla Destination charging on-site, so you can plug in overnight, wake up with a full battery, and just go golf.
One honest tip: charger networks shift more than people expect; stations get added, some go offline for maintenance, and prices change. So, for the most up-to-date list of chargers, connector types, and real-time availability across Douglas County, the AFDC’s station locator and its underlying government dataset are the most authoritative sources, far more reliable than a stale map bookmark from a few years back.
Plug In, Then Play Through: Golf at Genoa Golf Club
Once your car is charging, Genoa Golf Club is roughly eight miles from Gardnerville, about a twelve-minute drive, which puts every charger on that list within easy reach of the club.
We offer two distinct courses, set at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains with the kind of views that make you forget you’re mid-swing:
The Lakes Course
Co-designed by PGA Champion Peter Jacobsen and John Harbottle III, the Lakes Course is a links-style layout with water in play on 14 of its 18 holes as the Carson River threads through the property. It’s been a U.S. Open qualifying site, and both USA Today and Golf Digest have named it among the country’s standout courses.
The Ranch Course
It is a different beast entirely, designed by Johnny Miller and John Harbottle III. Cut into the high desert, it offers 300 feet of elevation change, more than 100 bunkers, and a waterfall feature that catches new players off guard, all with sweeping Carson Valley views.
Both courses are open to the public, and both sit close enough to the Gardnerville charging stations that you can plug in, drive over, play 18, and come back to a car that’s ready to go. If you’re planning ahead, you can book a tee time online before you even leave the house, or look into golf membership if Carson Valley is becoming a regular stop.
Hungry After Your Round? Where to Eat Near Genoa Golf Club
You deserve a good meal after a round of golf, and Genoa Golf Club doesn’t make you drive far for one. Right at the club, the dining options include:
- The Knaughty Pine Bar: a compact spot next to the pro shop with a full bar and quick-service food, perfect for a stop after nine holes or a relaxed finish after eighteen.
- The Lakes Grill: carry-out and call-ahead options for golfers who want to eat and keep moving, whether that’s back to the charger or on to the next stop of the day.
If you’d rather expand the search a little further into Carson Valley, the area around Genoa Golf Club has a genuinely strong dining scene, from contemporary American plates to Italian and sushi spots. OpenTable’s landing page for restaurants near Genoa Golf Club is a solid place to browse and book ahead.
For an overnight trip, Minden Mill Distilling, the estate distillery housed in Minden’s historic flour mill just up the road from the Carson Valley Inn, is worth capping off the day (arrange a ride; it’s a working distillery, not a drive-through).
Smart Moves for EV Golfers Traveling Through Carson Valley
- Get the ChargePoint, EVgo, and Tesla apps installed before you go so you can start and monitor a charge without standing next to the car.
- Match charger type to your timeline. DC fast is your best bet if you’re in a hurry, a Level 2 charger is better if you’re settling in for a full 18 holes.
- Book tee times ahead of time on weekends and during peak season, Carson Valley draws golfers from Reno, Tahoe, and Carson City. Bring extra balls too.
- Check the AFDC locator before you leave home. Do not rely on a third-party app that hasn’t updated its data in a while.
FAQ
Is there a fast charger near Genoa Golf Club, or do I need Level 2?
Both are available in Gardnerville. The Tesla Supercharger and the EVgo unit at Raley’s are DC fast chargers. At the same time, the ChargePoint stations at the Visitor Center and Cheshire Antiques are Level 2, which charge more slowly but work well if you’ll be gone for a while anyway.
Is there an EV charging station near Genoa Golf Club?
Yes, the closest public chargers are a short drive, about eight miles away in Gardnerville, NV. You’ve got two ChargePoint Level 2 stations, a Tesla Supercharger, and an EVgo DC fast charger at Raley’s.
Does Genoa Golf Club have on-site EV charging?
No, but the club’s public charging options are located in nearby Gardnerville and Minden rather than directly on-site. If you need charging while you’re at the club, call ahead to confirm current availability.
How long does it take to charge an EV near Gardnerville while I golf?
DC fast charger (like the EVgo unit at Raley’s or the Tesla Supercharger) can charge in 20 to 40 minutes, while Level 2 chargers, like the ones at the Gardnerville Visitor Center, charge slower and can take a couple of hours.
