Electric SUV vs. Gas SUV for Richmond County Families

Picture the plan. Kayaks at Hitchcock Creek, a 35-mile run north on US-1 toward Southern Pines for lunch, then back through Rockingham for the weekly grocery haul. A completely normal Richmond County family Saturday. It’s also the kind of day that separates a gas SUV from an electric one in ways most comparison articles never honestly map out.

The 2026 GMC Acadia handles the whole loop without a second thought. Whether a family EV SUV does the same is a fair question, and we’ll give you a straight answer. That includes where gas earns the day and where it genuinely doesn’t.

What’s the Route?

The whole loop runs roughly 90 miles, and that total mileage sits at the center of the EV conversation for Richmond County families, so watch it as you read the stops below. It’s the number that shapes everything else.

Total loop: roughly 90 miles. On a full tank the Acadia doesn’t think twice. On a full charge, a modern EV handles it too. The difference shows up when plans change mid-day on US-1 through the Sandhills, where charging infrastructure is still thin.

The Three Stops, in Order

Hitchcock Creek Blue Trail: Loading Up and Getting in the Water

Ten minutes from our lot, the Roberdel launch puts you on the water, and the Hitchcock Creek Blue Trail covers 14 miles from Roberdel to the Pee Dee River. Most families run the developed 3.67-mile paddle to the Steele Street Access, a route maintained by the City of Rockingham. No permit required. September flows vary with rainfall, but the creek runs year-round.

The 2026 GMC Terrain (AWD is standard across all 2026 Terrain trims, per GMC) fits two sit-on-top kayaks on roof rails with 29.8 cubic feet of cargo remaining behind the rear seats for dry bags and the kids’ gear. Tight, but genuinely workable for a family of four. Step up to the Acadia and you’ve got 97.5 cubic feet of maximum cargo space, with 57.3 cubic feet available when only the third row is folded flat. For a family loading coolers, paddles, and camp chairs at the same time, that’s a genuine difference in practice.

Gas SUV at this stop? You drove ten minutes and planned nothing. An EV asks nothing extra here either. Stop one is a push.

Southern Pines via US-1: Where the Honest Conversation Starts

Thirty-five miles of US-1 through the longleaf-pine Sandhills makes one of the better drives in the region, and it’s also the leg where charging infrastructure starts to matter for the family thinking about going electric. So this is where the honest comparison begins.

The Acadia’s 2.5-liter turbocharged engine makes 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque (per GMC), and it tows up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. On US-1 with the AC running hard against a September afternoon, it stays completely unbothered. You can fill up in Aberdeen if you want. Several stations, no planning required.

Now the concession we’ll make plainly. A fully charged EV with 200-plus miles of rated range handles this 90-mile loop just fine under typical conditions. That’s true, and we won’t pretend otherwise. What we can’t tell you is that Level 3 DC fast charging runs as routine along US-1 between Rockingham and Southern Pines as it does in Raleigh or Charlotte, because right now it doesn’t. Drivers who charge at home every night and plan ahead won’t feel that gap on a day like this. Drivers used to refueling whenever it’s convenient will find EV ownership asks for a genuine adjustment in habits.

Hot weather adds a layer. The EPA rates EV range under controlled conditions. On a humid North Carolina September afternoon with three kids and climate control running full blast, your real-world range runs measurably shorter than the sticker figure. Building in a 10-to-20-percent buffer below the rated number is a practical planning margin on days like this.

Explore financing options at Dieffenbach GMC

The Grocery Run: Cargo Is Cargo

Two kayaks are still on the roof, and now you need six bags of groceries plus an awkward case of water. The Acadia’s under-floor storage compartment keeps small items from rolling loose, and the liftgate opens hands-free on all 2026 Acadia models, per GMC. The Terrain’s 63.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seat folded flat means you could break the kayaks off the roof and slide them inside if weather shifted during lunch. Both handle this stop cleanly.

EV versus gas here? It doesn’t matter. Cargo is cargo. This stop is neutral.