I drove the Ford F-150 Lightning 100 miles off the grid — here's my verdict

I’m driving down a quiet highway in Ford’s 2025 F-150 Lightning with the windows down, snacks in the frunk, a clear view of cattle across acres of ranches and what seems like no other people for miles.

Well, I should clarify that the truck is actually driving itself. And maybe a $82,000 electric ride sounds a little delicate for the dusty grandeur of North Central Texas. But after spending a few days with the F-150 Lightning, it turned out to be the thing that empowered this city girl to go off grid and embrace cowboy core for a night.

Leaving the city behind

BlueCruise was a game-changer on the long stretches of empty highway out from Fort Worth to Rough Creek Ranch in Glen Rose, TX. I leaned back (into massage chairs, no less) and let the truck handle the journey through adaptive cruise control.

One of the first things I noticed is how quiet the Ford F-150 Lightning is. Without engine noise, I could hear the wind and the tires on the road. That was until I launched a playlist and the B&O sound system filled the cabin with a curated soundtrack heavily inspired by Cars movies.

Meanwhile, the 15.5-inch touchscreen infotainment display kept me on course while showing battery levels, the distance available on the truck's 320-mile range and everything else I might need while leaving the city in my rear-view mirror.

Enjoying a frunk picnic

By the time I arrived at the ranch, all that hands-free driving had me hungry. Enter the F-150 Lightning’s Mega Power Frunk, which magically transforms into a mobile picnic station.

Everything I needed for a filling meal outdoors fit perfectly. The powered frunk kept things cool, while the power tailgate made loading and unloading my gear effortless. Between the versatile storage, clever compartments and power supply, I felt self-sufficient even in the middle of nowhere.

And if a random storm happened to roll in (which isn’t out of the question in North Texas) I could retreat back inside to the fold-out workstation big enough to fit all the sandwiches, drinks and snacks my stomach desires.

Stargazing in style

After my post-lunch nap and participating in some cowboy core activities, night fell. Away from the city’s light pollution, my eyes had a sky full of stars to feast on. Taking a short ride to the most remote part of the ranch, the moon roof provided the ultimate view, upstaged only by laying out in the truck’s bed.

The F-150 Lightning’s lights can be individually controlled to illuminate a temporary campsite, while the Pro Power Onboard 9.6 kW is powerful enough to fuel a portable heater, kettle, cooktop or similar camping gear. Heck, I would pack a projector setup for the ultimate movie night under the night skies.

Going off grid on my own terms

The 2025 F-150 Lightning isn’t just a luxury EV disguised as a classic Ford pickup.

As I rolled back to civilization, I did so with a new respect for what an electric truck can do. The 2025 F-150 Lightning isn’t just a luxury EV disguised as a classic Ford pickup. It can haul gear, tow a trailer, power a campsite, handle long stretches of highway and still make you feel like a cowboy.

The truck empowered me to go off grid, to explore, to picnic, stargaze and drive with my hands almost entirely off the wheel. Sometimes, the features that seem too fussy turn out to be exactly what you need to go off the grid.

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Kate Kozuch is the managing editor of social and video at Tom’s Guide. She writes about smartwatches, TVs, audio devices, and some cooking appliances, too. Kate appears on Fox News to talk tech trends and runs the Tom's Guide TikTok account, which you should be following if you don't already. When she’s not filming tech videos, you can find her taking up a new sport, mastering the NYT Crossword or channeling her inner celebrity chef.

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