Road Trip Cost Calculator
Example: One-way distance: 600 mi · Round trip?: 1 · Vehicle fuel economy: 28 mpg · Gas price per gallon: 3.4 $ · Nights on the road: 2 · Lodging per night: 120 $ · Food per day (all travelers): 70 $ · Tolls (total): 40 $
| Total road-trip cost | $636 |
| Fuel cost | $146 |
| Gallons of fuel | 42.9 |
Worked example
A 600-mile trip each way is 1,200 miles round trip. At 28 mpg that burns about 42.9 gallons, and at $3.40 a gallon the fuel bill is roughly $146. Add two nights of lodging at $120 ($240), three days of food at $70 ($210), and $40 in tolls, and the trip totals about $636. Fuel is only about a quarter of the cost — the overnights and meals are what really add up.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find my real fuel economy?
Highway driving usually beats the city figure on the window sticker, but a loaded car, roof box, or mountainous route cuts it. Use your trip computer average if you have one, or the EPA highway rating as a starting point, and lower it a little for a heavy load.
Should I count depreciation and wear?
This tool counts out-of-pocket cash costs. If you want a full economic picture, add the IRS standard mileage estimate for wear and depreciation, which is well above pure fuel cost, especially for an older or less efficient vehicle.
How does this compare to flying?
For solo travel over long distances, flying often wins once you include lodging on the road. For a family, the road trip cost barely changes while flight costs multiply per person. Our drive-versus-fly tool makes that side-by-side comparison.
What about an electric vehicle?
Enter your cost per mile of electricity by converting it: divide your charging cost per full charge by the range it delivers, then set fuel economy and gas price to values that reproduce that per-mile cost. Home charging is usually far cheaper than gasoline.