Enter your trip distance, MPG, and gas price — get the exact fuel cost for your road trip instantly. Free, no signup, works on any device.
Open Full CalculatorThe formula for road trip fuel cost is simple. You just need three numbers: your trip distance, your car's fuel economy (MPG), and the current gas price per gallon.
Use Google Maps or Apple Maps to get the exact mileage from your starting point to your destination. For a road trip with multiple stops, add up each leg of the journey. If you're doing a round trip, multiply the one-way distance by 2.
Your car's MPG (miles per gallon) is listed on your window sticker or in your owner's manual. For highway road trips, use your highway MPG — it's typically 3–5 MPG higher than your city rating. If you've never checked, Gaslo's MPG calculator helps you measure your real-world fuel economy.
Check GasBuddy, Google Maps, or Waze for current prices along your route. If you're planning in advance, use the national average as a baseline. Gas prices vary significantly by state — California and Hawaii tend to be the most expensive, while Texas and Mississippi are typically the cheapest.
Divide distance by MPG to get gallons, then multiply by the gas price. The quick calculator at the top of this page does all of this for you automatically.
Here are common road trip distances and estimated fuel costs at $3.50/gallon for different vehicle types:
| Trip Distance | Compact Car (32 MPG) | SUV (25 MPG) | Truck (18 MPG) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 miles | $10.94 | $14.00 | $19.44 |
| 250 miles | $27.34 | $35.00 | $48.61 |
| 500 miles | $54.69 | $70.00 | $97.22 |
| 1,000 miles | $109.38 | $140.00 | $194.44 |
| 2,000 miles | $218.75 | $280.00 | $388.89 |
Based on $3.50/gallon regular unleaded. Actual costs vary by route, driving style, and current gas prices.
Fuel economy drops sharply at high speeds. Driving at 65 mph instead of 75 mph can improve your MPG by 10–15%, saving a meaningful amount of gas on a long trip. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates every 5 mph over 60 effectively costs you about $0.22 more per gallon.
Consistent speed is more fuel-efficient than constant acceleration and deceleration. Cruise control keeps you at a steady speed, reducing fuel waste. On a long highway drive, this alone can improve fuel economy by 7–14%.
Gas prices can vary by $0.30–$0.50 per gallon between states and between urban and rural areas. Use GasBuddy to map out the cheapest gas stations along your route before you leave. Filling up just before an expensive stretch (like entering California) can save $10–$20 on a large tank.
Extra weight reduces fuel economy. A roof cargo box adds significant aerodynamic drag — studies show it can reduce MPG by 2–17% depending on speed. Remove it when you're not using it. For every 100 lbs of extra weight, you lose about 1% fuel economy.
Under-inflated tires increase rolling resistance. Check your tire pressure the morning before your trip (tires are most accurate when cold) and inflate to the PSI listed on the driver's door sticker — not the number on the tire sidewall.