Keep Climate On vs Dog Mode vs Camp Mode
Short answer: all three modes keep your Tesla’s cabin heated or cooled while the car is parked. Keep Climate On just holds the temperature. Dog Mode does the same and shows passersby that your pet is fine. Camp Mode is for staying inside the car: it also keeps the screen, music, lights and power outlets available. All three end when you drive off.
Side by side
| Keep Climate On | Dog Mode | Camp Mode | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Made for | You stepping out, cabin ready when you return | A pet waiting in the car | You staying in the car, e.g. overnight |
| Holds cabin temperature | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Touchscreen while on | Shows that climate is on | Large “owner will be back soon” message with cabin temperature | Stays usable for music, media and lights |
| Power outlets | — | — | Stay powered for phones and devices |
| Turn on from | Touchscreen (some guides say car only) | Touchscreen or Tesla app | Touchscreen or Tesla app |
| Battery limit | About 20% | About 20% | About 20% |
| After you drive | Turns off | Turns off | Turns off |
Keep Climate On
The basic option. Pick it before you leave the car and the cabin stays at your set temperature until you return, turn it off, or the battery drops to about 20%. Good for a hot or cold car you want ready after a meeting, shopping or a gym session. More detail in how to keep Tesla climate on.
Dog Mode
Everything Keep does, plus a big message on the touchscreen so people walking by can see the climate is running and your pet is safe. You can watch the cabin temperature in the Tesla app. Use it whenever a pet stays in the car. It ends when you drive, which is why it has to be set again at every stop. See why Dog Mode turns off.
Camp Mode
Built for people inside the car: road-trip naps, waiting at a charger, or sleeping in the car while camping. Climate keeps running and the car stays “awake”, so you can play music, use the screen and the interior lights, and charge devices from the outlets.
What all three share
- They run on the main battery and are limited at about 20% charge; the Tesla app warns you.
- Software updates wait until the mode is off.
- The cabin intrusion sensor is switched off while any of them is running, because moving air could trigger it.
- They turn off when you drive. On a trip with several stops, you set the mode again at each one.
Which one should I use?
- Dog in the car: Dog Mode.
- Nobody in the car, you just want it comfortable when you return: Keep Climate On.
- You are staying inside: Camp Mode.
Whichever you choose, Climate Keeper can turn it back on automatically every time you park, for up to 12 hours, so you don’t have to remember at each stop.