Road Trip Fuel Cost Calculator
Estimate the fuel, cost, driving range, and gas stops required for a one-way or round-trip drive.
Trip Details
The number of people only divides the estimated fuel cost. It does not change the vehicle’s fuel economy.
Vehicle and Fuel
Road Trip Estimate
Fuel stops assume the vehicle begins with the selected amount of fuel. Actual stops may vary with the route, traffic, reserve fuel, and available gas stations.
How Fuel Cost Is Calculated
Total fuel is calculated by dividing the total driving distance by the vehicle’s estimated miles per gallon. Fuel cost is the required gallons multiplied by the price per gallon.
Fuel Cost Per Person
If several people are sharing the trip expense, the calculator divides the total estimated fuel cost equally among them. The number of people does not change the gallons required or the vehicle’s MPG.
Fuel Stops Versus Tankfuls Used
Tankfuls used describes the total amount of fuel consumed compared with one full tank. Fuel stops count how many times you may need to stop for fuel during the trip. Fuel already in the tank at the beginning is not counted as a stop.
Road Trip Example
A 1,200-mile one-way drive in a vehicle that gets 24 MPG requires approximately 50 gallons. At $4.00 per gallon, the one-way fuel cost is approximately $200. The round-trip cost is approximately $400. If four people split the fuel expense, each person pays approximately $100.
Why Actual Fuel Use May Differ
For maintenance, ownership and other modeled costs, estimate vehicle costs beyond trip fuel separately; trip fuel expense is only one component. If the itinerary crosses time zones, convert local dates and times across time zones when coordinating arrivals. Plan driving duration, stops and traffic separately; the converter does not estimate travel time.
Real-world fuel economy can change because of traffic, speed, weather, terrain, tire pressure, idling, cargo, towing, and driving habits. Use your vehicle’s typical highway MPG when planning a long road trip.