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Estimating a trip's fuel cost ahead of time helps with road trip budgeting and comparing the running cost of different vehicles.
This calculator finds the fuel needed and total cost for a trip based on distance, fuel efficiency, and gas price.
How it works
Enter the trip distance, your vehicle's fuel efficiency in miles per gallon, and the price per gallon. The calculator divides distance by fuel efficiency to find gallons needed, then multiplies by the price per gallon for total cost.
- Enter trip distance (miles).
- Enter fuel efficiency (mpg).
- Enter price per gallon ($).
- Click Calculate to see your results.
Examples
A 300-mile trip
At 28 mpg and $3.50 per gallon, a 300-mile trip needs about 10.7 gallons, costing roughly $37.50.
Who should use it
- Budgeting for a road trip.
- Comparing the running fuel cost of different vehicles for the same trip.
Industry applications
- Travel and trip planning
- Fleet and vehicle cost management
Advantages
- Shows gallons needed, total cost, and cost per mile in one calculation.
- Works for any vehicle, given its actual fuel efficiency.
Limitations
- Doesn't account for varying fuel prices along a route or changing driving conditions.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using an optimistic mpg figure instead of your vehicle's realistic average, which understates the true cost.
- Forgetting to double the distance for a round trip.
Best practices
- Check your vehicle's actual average mpg (from the dashboard display or a recent fill-up calculation) rather than the manufacturer's rated figure, which is often optimistic.
Tips
- For a more accurate mpg figure, calculate it yourself from a recent full tank: miles driven divided by gallons used at the next fill-up.