road trip cost calculator australia

Your trip calculator

With rising flight prices, you may be wondering: is it worth booking the ticket, or should I just drive? We're here to help you figure out what you might save (or spend) if you decide to load up the car and hit the road - or if taking to the skies is really the more affordable option.

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Estimates based on prices for car hire found on KAYAK in the last 31 days. Actual prices may vary. Always check current prices and routes before booking. See Methodology .

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AUSTRALIA , Budget Travel Ideas , Oceania

How much does an australian road trip really cost.

Well, of course, the answer to the question of how much an Australia road trip really costs, is how long is a piece of string?!

Because, depending how long you travel for, where you travel to, how far you travel, what style of travel you like and what type of vehicle and set-up up you’ve got, the costs are going to vary wildly on your Australian road trip!

And I know that, because I’ve done it!

Yes almost 1 year travelling from Sydney to Perth, working along the way, I’ve definitely road tripped a lot of the land Down Under and seen how wildly different peoples’ way of doing this are.

But let’s be clear, I made this journey when I was poor – very poor already and even poorer after kitting out a Land Rover for the adventure – so my Australian road trip style was about as budget as you can get!

And that’s still not as budget as I would have liked because Australia is expensive and there’s no way of getting around this.

Perhaps this article should have been called “how cheaply can you really road trip Australia?” because I tried, I really tried to keep it low.

So here’s the full breakdown to give you some benchmark around the minimum you can expect your Australian road trip cost to be…

Grab Your Copy of How to Road Trip Australia on a Budget

My ultimate guide to road tripping Australia on a shoestring is now available, meaning you can finally get ALL my top tips for driving around all, or parts, of this amazing country in one handy eBook, including…

• Full Planning & Preparation Guides
• Day by Day Itineraries & Routes
• Complete Packing & Gear Lists
• Top Money-Saving Tips & Hacks

Click Here to Check It Out!

Related australia road trip posts.

• Coffs Harbour to Brisbane Itinerary
• Brisbane to Cairns Itinerary
• Cairns to Darwin Itinerary
• Darwin to Broome Itinerary
• Broome to Perth Itinerary

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My Australian Road Trip

Although I had previously travelled in and around Australia a lot, for the sake of this post, I’m going to be talking about the Aussie road trip adventure I undertook when I packed up my life on the east coast, quit my job and the rental lease I had and embarked on, with my partner at the time, a big 4wd budget road trip.

We travelled in an old Land Rover, which we’d fitted with a roof rack and a rooftop tent among a whole heap of other modifications. We kept the backseats of the vehicle in place, and all our possessions, as well as our camp kitchen, were placed in the trunk / boot / backdoor area which we fitted with drawers and shelves.

The aim was to keep costs down by being able to sleep in / on the vehicle, as well as being able to travel anywhere as a self-compact unit, without having to worry about towing things or going off road / off-grid.

This huge, mammoth journey began in Sydney, and took us up the coast of New South Wales, into Queensland, up to Cape York, across to Darwin, then to Broome and finally down the West Coast, actually as far as Albany in south WA, before we backtracked and settled in the most awesome place we’d encountered on the way – Fremantle – taking us up to an estimated total of 21,230km.

By this point, we had largely run out of money and were tired of living in a 4wd after almost a year of doing so.

During these 12 months, we had paused our journey and worked along the way numerous times, with the biggest stop being in Magnetic Island for 3 months, where we managed a guesthouse.

When we weren’t stopped and working, we moved fast, travelling great distances and driving at least a bit most days as we tried to stay ahead of the weather. In an average week we drove 817km!

By this I mean, we desperately wanted to catch the cooler, dry season up north, which runs largely from May to September and then get out of there before cyclone season began in November.

Once you hit the tropics in Queensland – largely by the time you get to Rockhampton / Yeppoon – you actually realise that it’s a heck of a long distance to cover until you are spat out the other end of the tropics between Carnarvon and Exmouth… and you better get your foot down!

If you want to see a lot as we did too, then you’ve got to cover the distance in Australia because, as you probably know, and especially up north, there can be a whole of nothing in between!

We also picked up other travellers at various points (a reason we left the backseats of the Land Rover in, rather than give ourselves more space) to split fuel costs with them, which helped stretch our budget a little bit more.

So that’s the trip – a big 4wd extravaganza roughly from Sydney to Perth – and here’s how much it cost…

The Overall Budget

The budget I kept when trying to calculate how much an Australian road trip costs, was based on 2 people, trying to do everything as cheaply as possible (include eating… or not!) and living full time out of a Land Rover fitted with a rooftop tent so we could free camp as much as possible.

Prices are given in Australian Dollars and costs accounted for in the budget include:

• Groceries & Food
• Camping Fees & Accommodation Costs
• Insurance & Vehicle Registration
• Coffee & Drinks
• Tours, Activities & Entertainment
• National Park Permits & Attraction Entrance Fees
• Car Ferries

Vehicle Parts / Hardware and Repairs / Services

This budget doesn’t include the amount it cost us to buy or set up the Land Rover, which it must be said was considerable, even though we fitted it ourselves and bought many things on sale or second hand on Gumtree .

It also doesn’t include the fact that we left for our road trip well stocked with gear, cleaning products, clothes, equipment, supplies, tools and spares. The cost of buying all this in advance definitely saved us money on the road, but again were part of a significant initial outlay I’ve not included here.

However, the budget does include some of the repair work we had to do along the way, as I think this is quite typical of long, Australian road trips.

The budget also doesn’t include the months we were stopped in one place working, it only includes the time we were actually on the road, which was 26 weeks – exactly 6 months.

During this time, as I mentioned, we moved quite fast, trying to beat the weather largely.

Obviously, if you stay in places for a long period of time your costs are likely to be lower – mostly because you won’t be outlaying on the fuel – but it will take you longer to get around Australia, making your road trip costs greater in total too – it just depends how you balance it out.

So the total cost for 2 people, road tripping Australia for 26 weeks in NSW, QLD, NT and WA was… $21,513 AUD.

That’s just under $1 per km.. not bad!

This is obviously shared between 2 people, but it’s worth remembering that even if you are travelling alone, the big budget items of fuel and vehicle repairs / parts / services will be the same.

You can see the full breakdown of costs at the end of this article…

Your Australia Road Trip Budget

As I said at the start of this article, this is the absolute minimum I think you should set aside, as I honestly don’t think we could have done it cheaper!

We free camped a heck of a lot, we picked up other travellers to keep costs low, we never ate or drunk out in cafes and restaurants (cooking for ourselves and stocking up cheaply in major towns) and we took hardly any fancy tours or visited expensive attractions, preferring to hike, swim, relax in nature and spend time in national parks away from towns where we could.

The blog also began growing during this trip and I started getting some free accommodation and excursions, which aren’t included in the budget either.

What all of this means is that you should probably budget more!

Depending on your travel style, eating / drinking out, staying in caravan parks, enjoying guided excursions and paying entrance fees to attractions will drastically hike your budget.

Even if you plan to do it as cheaply as possible like us, remember that you will want to spend some nights in caravan parks – even if it is to charge your batteries (both metaphorically and literally) and you will want some nights out for entertainment and fun.

Factor these in!

If you don’t have an old vehicle like us, or you have lady luck on your side, the area you may spend less than we did is in vehicle parts, repairs and services… but more about this later!

5 ESSENTIAL PACKING ITEMS FOR AUSTRALIA

#1 Good Camera – You will be pretty much snapping non-stop in Australia and will need a good camera to do this gorgeous country justice. I highly recommend the Sony A6000 , which I use for all my travels and love, not least because it’s light, compact and robust!

#2 Good Walking Shoes – There will be a lot of walking in Australia – from cities to national parks. Make sure your feet are comfortable therefore with a pair of New Balance Trainers . Perfect for stylish strolling, I love mine.

#3 Good Guidebook – I’m still a massive fan of the Lonely Planet Guidebooks and do think their Australia edition is well put together.

#4 Good Water Bottle – Travelling in hot old Australia can be thirsty work, so make sure you have a metal water bottle that you can refill as you go, because tap water is drinkable… and free!

#5 Good Sun Hat – And there’s no denying you’ll need a good sun hat for protection in Australia too. In my opinion you can’t go past this Hello Sunshine one, which is both gorgeous and ideal for keeping the rays off your face.

Fuel was our third biggest single cost, amounting to roughly $4,350 AUD across 26 weeks at an average of 817 km/week.

Obviously, this cost will fluctuate largely based on the distance you will travel, where you travel, the weight of your vehicle and what you may / may not be towing, the vehicle’s fuel consumption rate, whether you use unleaded or diesel and the state of the roads as well as the humidity and weather in general.

Our laden-down diesel TD5 Land Rover was certainly not the most economical or environmentally efficient vehicle. It guzzled more juice in the humidity of the tropics, and the remote parts of Australia we travelled did not lend themselves to cheap fuel prices!

We did save money however by using the Coles / Woolworths discount coupons wherever we could and by picking up other travellers to help us with fuel costs too.

You could save money on fuel by carrying less weight onboard, having a more efficient vehicle, travelling less distance, driving on sealed roads in more populated areas of Australia where fuel is cheaper due to greater concentration of, and therefore competition among, service stations.

Groceries and Food

Groceries and food was our second biggest single expense, coming in at $5,491 AUD for 2 people over 6 months.

As I mentioned before this was all grocery shopping – we never ate out during our road trip and I wasn’t drinking during the trip either, so there’s barely any alcohol costs here .

I was a vegan during the trip, so there are no meat / fish / dairy / egg costs for 1 person here either.

That said, we were / are both fanatical about healthy eating and so we never bought the cheapest packaged food available – instead opting for lots of fruit and veg, nuts and seeds, whole grains, organic pulses and health foods such as tahini and organic peanut butter.

This means our grocery budget wasn’t as cheap if you live off white sliced bread, baked beans and processed cheese, compared to avocados, sourdough and vine-ripened tomatoes!

Not drinking alcohol however saved us a lot of money.

So did cooking for ourselves, largely facilitated by the fact we had a fridge and gas cookers onboard with us.

To save money, we would normally shop for a whole week when we visited a large town with a decent supermarket and then not go to the shop again for 7 days to avoid the temptation to unnecessarily squander our budget.

We designed the fit-out of our Land Rover with this in mind, allowing a lot of place for dry and fresh food storage! We had a huge 75l fridge, which we bought second hand for $500 AUD and was the best decision ever!

I honestly don’t think we could have spent less on food short of eating less (not possible for us!) and buying poorer quality food (also not possible!)

Camping Fees and Accommodation

This was the fourth biggest expense at $1,965 AUD.

Over 6 months for 2 people, that’s nothing! Compare that to the price of your rent or mortgage!

Of course the cost of the rooftop tent, which came in at around $6000 if you include the roof rack and awning (which we got at a bulk price on sale) is not included in this price, but still, this initial outlay saved as a lot of money.

We were determined to free camp as much as we could to keep costs down on our Australian road trip, as we figured we couldn’t lower the fuel prices or the food costs more than we did, but we could opt to rough it more and spend less on accommodation.

Using the Wikicamps app (which cost a bargain amount of $8 AUD), we found many great free camps, especially in the Northern Territory and saved a ton of cash this away.

We could do this, of course, because we were totally self-sufficient in terms of our vehicle and set up – we even had a solar-panel and inverter on board to charge up our electrical devices.

Obviously, as we travelled the more crowded east coast and then again the more populated areas of the west coast, the amount of free camps reduced and the price of caravan parks went up.

This is also true if you travel the north in high season (June – Sept) when the caravan parks are full and quoting premium rates!

Travelling in low or shoulder season, travelling in more remote parts and free camping as much as possible will help you keep your accommodation and camping fees low.

Do remember that in some places like Broome or Uluru or Darwin, for example, there aren’t any free camps for miles around and you will have to fork out for a caravan park at the least.

It’s also worth remembering that at least once a week, you might also want to splash out on a stay in a caravan park, if only to use the laundry facilities, the wifi, the pool and the power!

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Insurance and Vehicle Registration

We got our insurance through RACQ and also bought their top Ultra Care Roadside Assistance package , which is a one-off annual subscription.

Given the value of what we were carrying on aboard (our whole lives!) we saw this as a good investment… and it was!

When we broke down in the Territory or needed spare parts shipped to us, the Ultra Care Roadside Assistance package paid its way and more!

Customer service was excellent and I couldn’t fault them.

If have insurance with RACQ, you can get a discount on the Roadside Assistance too.

Overall, we spent $1219 AUD on insurance and vehicle registration over the course of a year.

Other Costs

Our other costs, which included coffee and drinks, the equipment we needed to buy, tours, activities & entertainment, national park permits and attraction fees as well as laundry and some car ferries we needed to take, were low for us.

I’ve explained why in the sections above, but basically we didn’t spend much on these items, limiting them where we could, and the total for all of them over 26 weeks was $1714 AUD.

Ha ha, well what do you know!

The largest single cost during the Australian road trip we undertook was on vehicle parts, repairs and services we had to do!

This is what happens when you travel thousands of kms along unsealed, badly corrugated roads in an overweight old vehicle.

In the end we spent $6774 AUD in this area.

NEARLY A THIRD OF OUR WHOLE BUDGET!

To be fair, some of this was on car fluids, new bulbs, bolts and screws, car washing and new tyres – all of these you are likely to need to replenish during any long Australian road trip.

However some were major expenses, like when we blew a hole in radiator in the middle of remote Arnhem Land and had to be towed for hundreds of kms, before having to wait in Darwin for a week for new parts to be shipped from South Australia.

We also had to replace a gearbox in Karratha .

If you have a Toyota, repairs and parts will be a lot easier and cheaper, because they are way more common out here than British cars, but it’s always going to cost you a lot when things go wrong and accidents happen!

You should always budget some extra cash for these, especially if you plan to be in remote areas a lot where the price of mechanics is eye-watering enough before you even start factoring in the parts!

Hopefully you won’t have to use that money on boring things like repairs and can save it for more fun things instead, but either way, having an emergency kitty is definitely a good idea for your Australian road trip costs.

The Budget Breakdown

And so here’s how our final Australian road trip costs looked:

And so there you have it, the answer to how much an Australian road trip really costs.

Or as I like to think this article shows you “how cheaply can you really road trip Australia?”

And the answer, if you don’t breakdown, is pretty freaking cheap!

Have you road-tripped Australia?

How much did you spend?

Join the discussion in the comments below…

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Creator of Big World Small Pockets, Stephanie Parker is a travel addict! Originally from Jersey in the Channel Islands, Stephanie adventures the world collecting tips, advice and stories, to share with a smile

4 thoughts on “ How Much Does An Australian Road Trip Really Cost? ”

Very helpful blog, As a traveller I always love to read travel related blog. Thanks for giving us such a precious information.

Thank you 🙂

This is terrific. Thank you! I could have warned you about the Landrover. I had one. Love them or hate them, your hand is always in your pocket for repairs. We spent a week in Yass, NSW, waiting for parts, a decade or two ago. I’ve yet to travel to Western Australia….on my bucket list. I’m a shocker for budgeting, so your article is a great help.

Ha ha yes, once you’ve driven a Landrover in Australia, this info becomes quite clear! Glad you find the article useful and enjoy it when you get to WA – it’s wonderful. Steph 🙂

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BIG LAP Budget Spreadsheet for Travelling Australia

Big Lap Budget Spreadsheet

For travelling australia.

Planning a Road Trip around Australia

Are you dreaming of doing the Big Lap or heading off on an Aussie road trip? That’s awesome! I reckon it’s one of the best decisions you’ll ever make.

One of the biggest factors, which stops a lot of people from hitting the road is money.

It can sound like an impossible dream that’ll cost a fortune.

The truth is that yes, travelling Australia is going to cost you a few bucks. But that doesn’t mean your dream has to remain out of reach.

Take us as an example – we hit the road with just $2,500 in the bank!

We spent 18 months setting ourselves up to be self-sufficient (and debt-free) so that we didn’t need to rely on caravan parks. Plus, we always planned on stopping for work along the way to keep topping up the funds.

However, one thing that I wish we did have while planning our travels was a detailed Budget Spreadsheet. With the gift of hindsight and experience, I know how much it would have helped with organisation (and motivation) as we plugged away at the dream and ticked things off the list.

With over 4 years of full-time planning & travel experience under my belt, I have created the Big Lap Budget Spreadsheet for travelling Australia!

Saving for a Road Trip

If you want to save for your entire trip before you go, this Budget Spreadsheet is an essential tool in making sure that you’ve covered all bases.

You’ll be able to come up with a pretty good estimate of what the trip is going to cost you weekly, monthly and annually. You will also be able to see (and allocate) how much money you plan on spending in each category.

Stretch your budget further and travel for longer!

Playing with the figures in the spreadsheet will help you to push money around from one area to another or even eliminate unnecessary spending.

Working as you Travel

If you prefer to just “wing it” like we did and earn your travel funds as you go, I get it.

This Budget Spreadsheet comes in handy for preempting how much you may need to earn based on your expected weekly and monthly travel expenses.

On the flip-side, you can use the spreadsheet along the way to project how long your earnings will last before having to stop for the next stint of work.

Using the Budget Spreadsheet for funding travel on the road:

• Estimate how much you need to earn
• Project (as you go) how long your earnings will last before needing to stop for work again
• Estimate your expected weekly & monthly travel budget

Use the Travel Expense Tracker to log your expenses on the road.

What’s Included in the Spreadsheet

Within the travelling Australia Budget Spreadsheet you’ll find nine (9) categories with fully-automated calculators:

✔️ Accommodation ✔️ Fuel ✔️ Travel Expenses ✔️ At Home Expenses ✔️ Income ✔️ Vehicle Set-up ✔️ Trailer/ Motorhome Set-up

Each time you add in your own figures (into the yellow boxes), the spreadsheet will automatically update all totals to reflect your information. You have the ability to keep changing the numbers until they work for you.

ACCOMMODATION Calculator

• Estimate your accommodation budget
• Input length of trip (in months)
• Play around with number of nights in each style of camp
• Knead the numbers to suit your ideal weekly accommodation budget
• Helps to know ahead of time how much you can realistically spend per week on caravan parks etc.

FUEL Calculator

• Estimate your fuel budget
• Input your vehicle’s average litres per 100km (when towing if applicable)
• Input current metropolitan fuel price
• Remote area fuel loading will automatically add an extra 30% to help estimate an overall average
• Input total km for the trip
• You’ll get estimate total fuel costs per month + for the trip

TRAVEL EXPENSES Calculator

• Estimate your travel expenses
• 31 adjustable variables + space for extras
• Accommodation
• Additional expenses (attractions, laundromats etc.)
• Gas bottle refills
• Vehicle & trailer expenses (rego, insurance etc.)
• Personal expenses (medical, phone, pets etc.)

AT HOME EXPENSES Calculator

• Estimate your At Home expenses (if applicable)
• Rental expenses
• Storage costs
• Postal redirection
• Credit cards & loans

BUDGET/ INCOME Calculator

• Estimate your budget/ income
• Starting cash balance
• Various income
• Government allowances
• Superannuation
• Employment leave entitlements
• Calculate how much you may need to earn along the way

TRAVEL SET-UP Calculators

• Estimate the cost of building your travel set-up
• Vehicle Set-up Calculator
• Trailer/ Camper Set-up Calculator
• Additional upgrades & modifications
• Accessories & electronics
• Safety & first aid
• Furniture & outdoor

TOTALS & SUMMARIES

• View the running totals as you input information
• Monthly Expenses summary
• Annual Expenses summary
• Travel Set-up summary
• Visual pie graph
• Toggle between the ‘Travel Budget Calculator’ and the ‘Travel Set-up Calculator’ tabs

DETAILS: Customisable Spreadsheet – ⬇️ Instant Download

🔹 Estimate your road trip budget & expenses 🔹 2 sheets (Travel Budget + Travel Set-up) 🔹 9 calculators 🔹150+ customisable variables 🔹 Automated totals 🔹 Summary & pie chart overview

COMPATIBLE FORMATS: Microsoft Excel & Google Numbers

UPDATED: 2024

Now it’s time to start turning that dream into a reality!

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Australia Road Trip Budget: A Detailed Cost Breakdown

By: Author Lotte

Posted on Last updated: December 16, 2022

Categories Australia

In this post you can read about our Australia road trip budget, I hope this will give you an idea about the cost to travel to Australia.

Australia is the 6th biggest country in the world, so big in fact that it counts as a continental landmass!

With more than 823,000 kilometers of road available to be explored, it is an amazing road trip destination ( read more Australia Trivia here ).

We love love love love road trips, in fact, it's our favorite way to travel. We've gone on lots of road trips in countries such as New Zealand , Japan , Portugal , Oman , Canada , and the U.S.A.

I can say from experience that road-tripping is one of the best and cheapest options to travel!

Australia road trip budget: how much does it cost to travel to Australia?

Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). We're very grateful when you use our links to make a purchase:-).

How much does it cost to go to Australia?

Have you always dreamed about a Working Holiday in Australia? Check out Global Work & Travel and get a €100 discount with the coupon code PHENOMENALGLOBE .

Australia is infamous for being a rather expensive destination, however, we managed to travel Australia on a very reasonable budget.

For everyone wondering: Is Australia expensive to visit? It doesn't have to be! We spent less than €100 a day (for us as a couple) during our 6-week road trip from Cairns to Melbourne.

Check the infographic below for our Australian budget breakdown and read along for tips to save money in Australia.

Australia travel budget: important facts and figures

• I traveled around Australia  with my husband , and all expenses mentioned are for the two of us together.
• I quote prices in € and Australian Dollar (AUD) . The exchange rate usually is around  €1 = 1,50 AUD. Of course, the exchange rate varies, check the most recent rates here .
• We spent 6 weeks in Australia, on an average day we spent  €98 / 146 AUD .
• Our average daily travel budget includes all our travel costs in Australia, it does not include the costs for our tickets to Australia. Also, as a travel blogger, I was fortunate enough to work with Travellers Autobarn campervan rental and several tour companies which decreased our expenses.
• My trip started in Cairns and ended in Melbourne. You can find our East Coast road trip itinerary here .

Cost to travel Australia:  our average daily expenses

• Campervan: 65% of daily costs
• Accommodation: 4% of daily costs
• Food and drinks: 19% of daily costs
• Activities and miscellaneous expenses: 12% of daily costs

1. Renting a campervan in Australia: how much does it cost?

I'm 100% convinced the cheapest way to travel to Australia is with a camper van (or a car and a tent).

We rented a Kuga campervan from Travellers Autobarn  and drove from Cairns to Melbourne in a little less than 6 weeks.

The Kuga van was great and very comfortable! The kitchen had a sink, a m icrowave, and a small fridge. The 35-liter water tank usually lasted us around 3 days.

The large bed could easily be converted to a seating area, but since we traveled in November and December we spent most of our time outside.

The curtains let in very little light, which was nice because the sun came up quite early in the South.  During our trip we never had any issues with the car, it was well-maintained and clean.

In the infographic, you can see that the daily rental costs for the campervan were  €63 / 93 AUD . These costs are divided into 2 categories:

Rent of the campervan

Costs for petrol.

Daily rental costs

I was fortunate to work with  Travellers Autobarn  and received a discount on the daily rental price of our Kuga. With this discount, the costs per day for the camper van were  €47 / 70 AUD .

The only insurance we added was a 75 AUD payment to insure any damage to the windshield.

We didn't take out any additional insurance to reduce our bond liability (in case of an accident we would have had to pay up to 2500 AUD).

It's always a gamble whether or not insurance will be worth it or not. During our New Zealand road trip I bumped into another car and I was very happy we had taken out additional insurance.

During our Portugal road trip we paid for extra insurance as well but didn't need it, so we kind of wasted that money.

In the end you won't know what's smart until you hand the vehicle back in, damaged or not. It's up to you if you want to risk it;-).

Check prices online

Depending on the season, the type of campervan you want to rent and the additional items you choose you can pay as little as 35 AUD per day .

You can see the different types of vans and get a quote on the Travellers Autobarn website .

Fuel isn't cheap in Australia and distances are big, so fuel made up a significant portion of our daily expenses (17%) .

On average we paid €16 / 23 AUD per day. We fueled up on either Unleaded 91 or Unleaded 95. Not all gas stations sell 91, but at the ones that do this is usually the most economical option.

What really helped us to find the cheapest fuel option available was the Motormouth website (also available as an app).

The website shows the current price level of petrol stations all around Australia, there can be quite a big difference between them.

Checking the Motormouth website or app before fueling up can definitely help to save some money!

2. How to find budget accommodation and free campsites in Australia

In the infographic, you can see that the total daily costs for accommodation were  €4 / 6 AUD . These costs are divided into 2 categories:

Paid campsites

• Airbnb accommodation

We slept in our campervan pretty much all the time and were pleasantly surprised by how many free campsites we found during our road trip.

We found these campsites via Campermate , a great free app where you can find information about the site and read comments from recent visitors.

Some of these free campsites even had free hot showers! During our six-week road trip we only paid for 2 campsites, the rest of the sites were free.

We stayed at an Airbnb in Brisbane (2 nights) and Melbourne (1 night). In Yamba and Sydney, we stayed with friends (3 nights), which was great and also saved us a lot of money.

3. Cost of food in Australia

The easiest and most effective way to save money in Australia is by cooking your own food. A cheap dinner will set you back at least  €10/ 15 AUD  per person.

Cooking your own meal will only cost about  €10/ 15 AUD for a couple , so you'll already save 50% each day by making your own dinner!

We paid  € 1 9 / 28 AUD for food and drinks on an average day. We made our own breakfast, coffee, lunch and dinner on 95% of the days. Every once in a while we bought a fresh fruit juice, pizza or steaming bowl of ramen.

4. Activities and miscellaneous Australia vacation cost

The average daily costs in this category were  €12/ 19 AUD . These costs can be split between:

Miscellaneous costs

Most days we went bush-walking, explored a beautiful beach or did some sightseeing in a village or city, these activities were free. However, we also did some pretty cool excursions in Australia.

We went scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef, flew over the treetops with the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and sailed around the marvelous Whitsunday Islands.

I worked with these companies and received a discount or complimentary trip, which saved us a lot of money.

This category is a little bit of everything, ranging from public transport in Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra to costs for laundry, a local SIM, postcards home, etc.

Plan your trip like a pro with these tools: ✈️ Find the best flight deals on Kiwi.com . ? Get the best car rental deal for your road trip on Rentalcars.com . ?️ Find your dream accommodation on Booking.com or Agoda . ? Book the best tours via Get Your Guide , Viator or Klook . ? Plan your journey with the  Lonely Planet . ?️ Travel safely and get reliable travel insurance from Safety Wing .

Australia trip budget: in conclusion

That's all our Australia expenses! I hope this post has shown it's possible to travel to Australia on a budget and has inspired you to visit this beautiful continent! 

Feel free to ask any questions you may have and enjoy planning your trip to Australia !

Also check this post about work and travel in Australia in case you're interested in getting an Australian work and holiday visa.

Also read about the best things to do in Sydney with kids and about places to visit in Daylesford .

This post was updated in October 2020.

Wednesday 4th of March 2020

Thanks a lot for this information. I wanted to know, we are doing a road trip from Cairns to Sydney on a campervan. The payment for the campervan has already been made so that’s counted. My question is, if we want to go diving on the Great Barrier Reef and to Whitsundays (basically that’s all we want to do as “paid” activities), do you think we, as a couple, can manage to spend an average of 60 eur per day? (This would be excluding the campervan as I mentioned above).

Do you have any details of your trips to Whitsunday and the great barrier?

Thanks so much!

Monday 16th of March 2020

Hi Beatriz,

That sounds like a wonderful trip! Regarding your question, well, it will be a bit of a tight budget as these two activities unfortunately don't come cheap... Sailing the Whitsundays is around 200AUD per person and diving is 300AUD for 2 dives and 320AUD for 3 dives. Without these activities, 60euro for a couple is definitely possible but if you really want to do these two activities I'd try and save another 1000AUD for your road trip (if possible).

You can find more information here: https://cruisewhitsundays.com/experiences/camira-sailing-adventure/ http://www.tusadive.com/prices/

Have a great trip! Lotte

Veronica Ricalde

Sunday 21st of October 2018

How safe is to stay in free Camping sites? we would like to go with two small Kids (6 months and 6 years) and my husband Freak out when i said that we can camp for free. do they have toiletts and showers? thank u and lovely regards

Thursday 25th of October 2018

Hi Veronica,

We never had any issues at the free campsites and I always felt safe. Free campsites usually do have toilets but no showers (though some do, but you may have to pay for the shower). In the Campermate app (https://www.campermate.com.au/welcome/index) you can find information about free (and paid) campsites. Keep in mind that some free sites are located along busy roads, which may not be ideal for you and your family. Enjoy your road trip!

Sunday 1st of April 2018

Hi Lotte! We are planning an East coast Australia road trip (4-5 weeks) in October and then on to New Zealand for 2 months. We will be using a campervan in both countries. How long in advance do we need to book the campervan to get the best deals? Can you still get a good deal a few weeks in advance or do they become really expensive by then? Thanks for your interesting blog!!

Monday 2nd of April 2018

Hi Charlotte,

Wow, your trip sounds awesome! Regarding your question, for Australia you'll be a bit ahead of the high season so I reckon you could get good deals there even if you don't book very early. For New Zealand however, you'll be traveling in peak season and I recommend to book as early as possible. While November may be easy to book, December is summer holiday for the Kiwis as well. Hope this helps! Have a wonderful time in Aussie and New Zealand!

Katie Farrant

Wednesday 17th of January 2018

Hey, I'm just wondering whether you will be uploading your Australia itinerary soon?! My partner and I are off there on the 31st Jan starting in Adelaide and going up to Cairns (by tours and greyhound) for 7 weeks. Would be great to read any recommendations you have for free/cheap activities. We have booked up a few tours- but the cost is adding up! We are off to NZ after Aus for 5 weeks and your blog made me decide to book a camper with car rental village! I can't wait!

Thanks for your comment and your trip(s) sounds great! Which tours will you be doing along the way? Yes, costs definitely add up but luckily many hikes and sightseeing in cities/villages is free. I'm working on the itinerary post, it's going to be very long (5000+ words;-). My goal is to publish the post this week because I start a new job on Monday. Perhaps you can subscribe via RSS feed so you'll receive an update when the article goes life?

So cool you'll be going to NZ as well, it's still my favorite country in the world... Have a great trip and let me know if you have questions about the itinerary once it's published.

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Best Road Trip Planner Australia

Planning a Road Trip? Introducing the All Around Oz Road Trip Planner – your perfect co-traveller! Whether you’re planning your first roadtrip or are a seasoned road tripper, this free resource is designed to make your road trip more effortless, enjoyable, and memorable.

Designed by a caravanner and camper for caravanners and campers to plan a road trip, this tool lets you create, customise, and print your unique road trip itineraries.

How To Use the Australian Road Trip Planner

Plan your road trip itinerary using our road trip planner below to track each stop.

To use our free Road Trip Planner, add your starting location and finishing location in the marked boxes below.

Need to add some stops along the way? Add your stops to your road trip by using the box supplied.

To add extra stops simply click on the plus sign and if you want to remove any stops, click on the minus sign.

Click on the “Plan My Trip” button when complete and your map, complete with instructions will be provided.

To print your map and instructions for your road trip, simply click the “Print” button situated at the end beneath the map once you have used the “Plan My Trip” button.

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What is the cost of fuel to drive around Australia?

In this post I'll give you an estimate of the cost of fuel to drive around Australia and also show you how you can calculate it for your own trip and vehicle.

The price of fuel is on everyone's mind at the moment, especially if you're planning to drive around Australia.

Fuel is one of the three biggest expenses Big Lappers have when they drive around Australia along with accomodation (caravan parks fees) and food.

With fuel prices currently sitting well over $2.00 per litre and over $3.00 per litre in remote areas, fuel could quite easily be the biggest of the big 3 expenses.

I made a video and a blog post recently about how to reduce your fuel bill and reduce your trip cost overall which might like to read > 6 Ways To Fight The Impact Of Soaring Fuel Prices

But for now, let's look at what your cost of fuel to drive around Australia might be.

• How much fuel will you need?

Driving around the outside of Australia on Highway 1 is just under 15,000km distance but most people doing a big lap around Australia take plenty of detours and travel at least double that distance.

So assuming you drive 30,000km on your trip around Australia and your vehicle averages 14 litres per 100 km, then you will use around 4200 litres of fuel.

• What is cost of fuel to drive around Australia ?

Fuel prices in Australia are currently around $2.20 per litre in the city and over $3.00 per litre in remote areas, so if we assume an average of $2.75 per litre across the whole 30,000 km trip, you will spend $11,550 on fuel.

Here is the formula to calculate your fuel cost:

KM travelled x Litres per 100 x Average fuel price / 100 = Total fuel bill

For example:

30,000 x 14 x 2.75 / 100 = $11,550

If your vehicle gets better mileage or the price of fuel drops or you travel less distance then the fuel cost to travel around Australia could be much lower.

However I think it's a good idea to be conservative when estimating costs so you don't get caught out.

• Fuel Cost Calculator

Use this handy fuel cost calculator to estimate the cost of fuel to drive around Australia.

• Download our FREE Big Lap Budget Spreadsheet

The simple way to calculate your fuel cost to travel around Australia AND all of your other expenses is to download our FREE Big Lap Budget Spreadsheet .

We created this simple spreadsheet to give you an accurate snapshot of how much money you will need to drive around Australia.

Best of all, it includes a built in fuel cost calculator (see below).

The spreadsheet takes all of the variables relevant to your trip, including fuel, and shows you how much money you'll need for your trip.

Download your copy here > FREE Big Lap Budget Spreadsheet

Despite the crazy high fuel prices (and everything else we're experiencing at the moment), there are plenty of ways to slash your costs and drive around Australia on a budget.

This article will show you a heap of ways to slash your trip cost > How To Drive Around Australia On A Budget

Also if you're planning a Big Lap around Australia, take a look at our Big Lappers Guide Book - it's our 300 page Step-By-Step Guide to planning your road trip around Australia. PLUS it includes ' The Big Lap Film Series ' - the documentary series of our 16 month big lap around Australia > The Big Lappers Guide Book

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Big Lap On A Budget

• Feb 16, 2023

Ultimate Aussie Big Lap Road Trip Cost Calculator

Ever wondered what your road trip might cost you before you set off? Or, have you completed a big lap without even a clue on all of your costs?

Our Road Trip Cost Calculator spreadsheet is the perfect tool for keeping a tab of where you money was spent while out on the road.

We designed this spreadsheet based on our many years of travelling, and arriving home not having a total end figure. Not anymore! Now we log every dollar we spend and the spreadsheet will automatically tally it for us, even giving us a year-to-date running total.

Here's what you'll receive in this download

* A comprehensive 12 month road trip cost calculator - simply input your weekly expenses and it will automatically calculate your figures, showing you a running total of how much your ultimate road trip has cost.

* Calculator for -

- Fuel expenses

- Accommodation expenses

- Grocery expenses

- Travel expenses

- Expenses at home

- Pet expenses

A month per page calculator system with a year-to-date end page which will calculate every dollar you spend.

This will give you the best insight into your monthly expenses.

With 12 categories and 61 sub-categories, it's almost certain to include everything to suit your lifestyle.

13 pages which includes one page for every month for your expenses and one year to date totals.

Fully customisable spreadsheet to personalise it to your own circumstances.

Keep a log of your every expense with our Road Trip Expenses Calculator!

You may also like our Ultimate Road Trip Budget Calculator

This spreadsheet allows you to enter your income as well as your expenses, giving you an understanding of your personal financial situation.

Even use it at home as an every day budget spreadsheet. We've been using it for years!

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Litres per 100 kilometres Calculate your litres per 100 km value. Click here .

• 26-Mar-2015 - Updated the default price to $1.375 / L based on local Coles Express price.
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• Litres per 100 km Calculator. L / 100 km Calculator

Overview: The Petrol Cost Calculator enables you to quickly determine the cost of petrol for a trip. Because we don't pay for the petrol at the time of a trip, we often don't realise the cost of petrol for a trip. By making the cost of petrol apparent you can often save money by making better decisions on whether to use a car, to use public transport, to put off the trip until later, to combine trips, or even to pay a little extra locally, because if you add the cost of petrol, you will often find a cheaper item which is further away actually costs more.

Instructions: Car Description: The car description is optional and does not affect the calculation. The description field is provided so I can provide a default value and description for cars as I blog about the fuel efficiency of different cars. This will enable others with the same type of car to quicky use the default values for their own car. Distance: Enter the trip distance. A quick way to determine an estimate of the distance is to use Google maps and enter the start and end location of the trip. Google maps will return the distance of the trip. If you regularly drive the same trip then use the trip meter on your car to record the distance. Petrol Price: Enter the current petrol price. The price of petrol varies considerably and people regularly receive discount vouchers from supermarkets. I've used the figure of $1.50 to keep things simple and as of July 2013 the price is fluctuating around this price. I've found the pump price without discount at the moment can vary from around $1.30 to nearly $1.60. Litres per 100 km: A common figure used to measure fuel consumption for cars is the number of litres per 100 km. I've found when my car was brand new my car had better fuel consumption. Even with regular servicing by the manufacturer the car's fuel consumption increased. A good technique is to fill up the tank and record the distance to the next time you fill up. Record the distance and the litres. For example: I regularly fill up with around 50 litres with my car doing around 450km. To work out the litres per 100 km divide the number kilometers by 100 and then divide the number of litres by this number. E.g. 450/100 equals 4.5. Then divide 50 by 4.5 which equals 11.11. Thus I use 11.11 litres per 100 km. This is the default value used in the calculator. The advertised figure for my car when new was 10 litres per 100 km. Country travel uses less petrol per 100 km. A good figure to use is two thirds for country travel. Now you can also use the L / 100 km Calculator from the menu.

Tips: A good way to store your own petrol cost and litres per 100 km as default settings, is to do a calculation with a distance of zero. The URL in the address bar contains your settings. Now bookmark the page or add the bookmark to your mobile home screen. Your defaults settings are now saved with the bookmark. Driving in the country uses roughly a third less petrol than city driving. You can use two thirds of your litres per 100 km as an estimate. It is better however to do one or more long trips and work out the petrol used.

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Distance Calculator for Driving Between Australian Cities

Explore detailed travel distances and routes for trips across Australia. This distance calculator provides road and air distance measurements, travel time estimates, and practical route mapping.

This distance calculator, spanning Australia and beyond, simplifies planning your journeys. Enter starting and destination points in the "From" and "To" fields, accepting city names, addresses, or GPS coordinates. Click the crosshair icon to pick locations directly on the map. Press "Calculate" to proceed.

Tailor your trip with "Fuel consumption" and "Fuel price" fields to estimate fuel costs accurately. For a customized route, use "Advanced options" to add stops or adjust speed settings, ensuring your travel is just as you like it, whether you're in a hurry or prefer a leisurely pace.

Sample Road Routes Between Cities

• Distance from Sydney to Perth
• Distance from Adelaide to Melbourne
• Distance from Canberra to Sydney
• Distance from Perth to Adelaide
• Distance from Brisbane to Townsville
• Distance from Brisbane to Toowoomba
• Distance from Melbourne to Geelong
• Distance from Melbourne to Bendigo
• Distance from Ballarat to Melbourne
• Distance from Perth to Bunbury

Practical Applications of the Distance Calculator

Family Holiday Road Trip Planning : Families planning a summer getaway can use the distance calculator to map out their journey, factoring in fuel consumption and current fuel prices. This ensures they can budget for petrol costs and plan stops at kid-friendly spots along the way.

Business Travel Route Mapping : For professionals driving to business appointments, the distance calculator helps plot the most efficient routes. This tool aids in scheduling meetings based on travel time and calculating travel expenses, including fuel costs.

Logistics and Freight Cost Estimation : Freight forwarders and logistics companies benefit from the distance calculator by estimating the mileage for transportation routes. This allows them to determine shipping costs based on their tariffs, ensuring accurate billing and efficient route planning for long hauls.

Midpoint Meetings for Friends : Friends living far apart can find a halfway point to meet, making the distance calculator invaluable for organising catch-ups or adventures, ensuring fairness in travel distances for everyone involved.

Find Distances Between Two Cities Across Australia

Infrastructure developments such as new roads, highways, and bridges mean the distance between cities might vary annually.

Our online calculator enhances your favourite GPS navigator , allowing you to plan your route ahead of time, with the navigator taking over en route.

Leveraging OSM data, our platform offers the key functionalities of Google Maps , including:

• Mapping distances and routes to provide a comprehensive journey overview.
• Features for zooming, map dragging and dropping, and entering full-screen mode.
• Route adjustments through marker movement or by adding waypoints via addresses.
• Route calculation in kilometres or miles, with unit settings adjustable from the top-right corner menu.

Our calculator also includes several unique features:

• Capabilities to print, save as PDF/PNG, or export routes to GIS systems and GPS navigator formats like GPX, KML, GeoJSON .
• A route outline featuring a sequence of cities and timings for passing intermediate cities, sidestepping the lengthy turn-by-turn directions usually given for long distances.
• A versatile fuel cost calculator catering to various fuel types such as petrol, diesel, and LPG, requiring just your vehicle's fuel efficiency figures.
• The generation of distance matrices at no cost, with results savable in Excel format for thorough planning and analysis.

Australia and Worldwide

11,186 localities covered in Australia. 1,971,411 localities worldwide.

This service measures the distance between cities around the world and is available in several languages:

• English www.drivebestway.com Interstate distances in the USA
• English ca.drivebestway.com CA Driving Distance Map
• Spanish www.mejoresrutas.com Medición de distancias: México
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• English gb.drivebestway.com UK Map Distance Tool
• Spanish es.mejoresrutas.com Calculadora de distancia para viajar en España
• Spanish ar.mejoresrutas.com Calculadora de distancia para viajes en Argentina
• Spanish co.mejoresrutas.com Calculadora de distancia para viajes en Colombia
• Spanish us.mejoresrutas.com Calculadora de distancia para viajes en EE. UU.
• Spanish cl.mejoresrutas.com Calcula distancia online en Chile
• Spanish pe.mejoresrutas.com Medir distancia en carreteras de Perú
• Spanish ve.mejoresrutas.com Calcular distancia por carreteras venezolanas
• Spanish br.mejoresrutas.com Calculadora de km en rutas brasileñas
• Portuguese pt.melhoresrotas.com Planejador de viagem em Portugal
• French www.bonnesroutes.com Service de calcul des km en France
• French ca.bonnesroutes.com Outil de distance interurbaine au Canada
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• Polish www.najlepszetrasy.com Planowanie trasy przez Polskę
• Czech www.dobracesta.com Vzdálenost mezi hlavními městy v ČR
• Italian www.percorsomigliore.com Trova distanza tra città italiane
• Malay www.pandujalanterbaik.com Pengiraan jarak dalam kilometer Malaysia
• Dutch www.besteroutes.com Afstand berekenen Nederland
• Turkish www.duzgunyolusec.com Türkiye iller arası uzaklık ölçümü
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• German be.besterouten.com Routenplanung Belgien
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• German at.besterouten.com Route in Österreich berechnen

How Distances Are Computed Between Cities and Points

Algorithm for distance and travel time calculation.

This calculator utilizes shortest path search algorithms within a weighted road graph, including Dijkstra, A-Star, and Contraction Hierarchies . Unlike other calculators that typically use either distance or travel time as graph weights, this tool optimizes for drive time with a preference for higher-class roads, factoring in road priority.

The road graph is built using OpenStreetMap data, calculating distances between road segments from their precise GPS coordinates with the haversine formula , which measures the "air distance" or straight line distance between points. Since road distances deviate from straight line distances due to curves and directional changes, the tool models the road as a series of straight segments. For each segment, the haversine formula is applied, allowing accurate calculation of road distances.

Recognizing that cities span more than a single point, the tool selects central points within cities to calculate distances. Routes can be personalized to start or end outside city centers by inputting specific addresses or choosing points on a map. Additionally, users have the flexibility to adjust the start and end points directly on the map.

Travel time is estimated by segmenting the route and assessing the maximum speed limit on each segment. This information helps calculate the fastest possible travel time for the journey.

It's important to note that route calculations are based on computer models, which aren't flawless. Planning should include allowances for potential inaccuracies .

Alternative Distance Calculation Methods

Opening a highway atlas and manually plotting a route offers a straightforward method for estimating distances. Rolling a curvimeter along your chosen path allows you to gauge approximate mileage. For time estimations, consider an average speed of 80 km/h on main intercity roads. Though these figures are rough, their simplicity is a clear benefit.

In the absence of a curvimeter, a ruler makes a good substitute. Starting with the ruler's zero point at the beginning of your route, trace along, closely following the road's twists and turns. Then, translate this measurement into kilometers or miles based on the map's scale, typically found on each page of the atlas.

Distance between cities can also be determined using tables in atlases and guidebooks , a particularly handy method for journeys between major urban areas. It's worth noting, however, that these tables often exclude smaller towns. For those planning routes between major cities, pre-calculated distance tables for Australia , accessible on various websites, atlases, or guidebooks, offer a straightforward method. It's worth noting, however, that these tables might not cover smaller towns.

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Road trip in Australia budget and cost breakdown for 2024

Going on a road trip in Australia can require a big budget, so it’s important to make sure you have enough savings before thinking about setting off. Depending on your goals and the kind of trip you want to go on, your budget will vary (whether you’re a tourist on holidays or a backpacker on a Working Holiday Visa). In this article, we aim to give you an idea of how much your road trip will cost, as well as some money-saving tips. The prices are indicative only but should help give you an idea of the budget needed.

Table of Contents

Why take a road trip to Australia?

Australia offers unrivalled diversity, from the coral reefs of the Great Barrier Reef to the rainforests of Daintree and the vast desert expanses of the Red Centre. A road trip is the ideal way to discover the beauty and variety of this country, at your own pace.

What’s more, the country is very suitable for vanlife! There are plenty of places to sleep, lots of campsites, suitable rest areas… Most of the roads are well maintained and ideal for exploring the country. So go for it, you won’t regret it!

What budget should I plan for before going to Australia?

Working holiday visa or tourist visa costs.

Your visa is the key to entering the country. Obtaining it allows you to buy your plane tickets and to take out health and/or travel insurance.

The Working Holiday Visa (WHV) – subclasses 417 & 462 costs $635 per person. It is valid for up to 12 months after it is granted (so you can choose a departure date up to one year later) and it allows you to travel Australia for 12 months. It is renewable twice under certain conditions.

A Tourist Visa is a better option if you plan to stay in Australia for less than 3 months. Getting a tourist visa is free (subclass 601).

Warning: Make sure you apply for your WHV or Tourist Visa on the Australian government website only.

Total visa cost

For a Working Holiday Visa, the cost is 635 AUD . Tourist visas are free.

Plane tickets

Spanning a distance of approximately 14,000 to 18,000 kilometers, the journey from Europe to Australia is a substantial one. For such an extensive flight, the cost for a one-way ticket typically starts at around 800 EUR, while a round-trip fare with a stopover can be expected to be about €1700.

To secure the most economical fare, it’s advisable to book your plane tickets well before your intended departure date. Use online comparison services to scan for the best flight deals. Keep in mind that ticket prices can fluctuate based on the departure and arrival cities you choose, as well as the season and day of the week.

Your city of arrival can also influence the price of your plane ticket. For those planning a road trip without the intention to purchase a vehicle, comparing rental car prices is a must. Rates can differ significantly, for instance, when renting a vehicle from Sydney to Cairns as opposed to the reverse route. For potential buyers, pre-trip research on platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree can reveal where to find the most competitive deals on vehicles.

If your travel plans are flexible and you don’t have a set date for returning, consider opting for an ‘open’ return ticket. These tickets, which are often available through travel agencies, provide the flexibility to choose your return date at a later time, potentially saving you from change fees that airlines might impose. Additionally, some airlines offer ‘flexible’ tickets that allow changes without extra charges, which could be a prudent choice if your itinerary is not set in stone.

Travel Insurance

Travel/health insuranc e is a large but necessary expense for travellers. It will cost you around 400€ for one year. It covers your costs in the event of an accident, hospitalisation, repatriation or in the event of civil liability. Remember to read the terms and conditions carefully before signing the contract.

If you are leaving for less than 90 days, short-stay insurance is a better option. Budget around 100€ or $160 for a month’s coverage.

If you are travelling around the world, it’s strongly recommended to get insurance tailored to this kind of trip. Budget between €50 and €75 per month for decent round-the-world coverage (Chapka, AVI, SafetyWing, World Nomads, True Travellers, etc.). Cancellation insurance can also be useful, especially if you are travelling with your family. This type of contract guarantees reimbursement of cancellation costs for any sudden, unforeseeable event beyond your control.

Among others, SafetyWing policies provide different levels of coverage for all key areas while you are travelling. To get a quote, just enter your details below:

Note: As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you purchase an insurance from SafetyWing using this link. We do not represent SafetyWing . This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

Total insurance cost

The cost of one month of WHV insurance is around $80 (or €55) for people under 30. For those over 30, expect to pay around $155 (80€). For travel insurance (less than 90 days), budget around €30 to €55 per month.

Road Trip Budget Australia: Expenses to plan for

Travelling via public transport, taking the bus (long distances).

Doing all or part of your road trip in Australia by bus or coach is very possible! Many options are available to you, depending on the route you want to take.

For long journeys and a certain level of comfort (air conditioning, comfortable seats, toilets, etc.), choose coaches like those from the Premier Motor Service or Greyhound companies. In some cases, you can benefit from a lower rate if you book in advance (Early Bird). Here are some examples of journeys and their cost for a one-way trip for one person:

* Prices as posted on the websites of Premier Motor Service and Greyhound on the 30/10/2023.

Taking the bus (short distances)

To travel short distances (for example to reach your coach), use public buses. You’ll find them in all the states of Australia and they have a pretty good network. Most companies offer an electronic card which will allow you to pay less for your journeys. As an indication, we estimate an average price of $0.20 per kilometre across all states.

Taking the train

Australia’s rail network is nowhere near as good as its road network and will only be suitable for certain routes. However, the train is generally faster than the bus and the price is very similar. In major cities, in particular, you can use the same public transport card to take the bus, tram or train. Here you can check out the train map .

Finally, if you want to have a unique experience, you can also try taking the major Australian train lines . Some trains cross the country and are renowned worldwide. This includes the Ghan (Adelaide – Alice Springs – Katherine – Darwin), starting at $1500 for a journey. For the Indian Pacific (Sydney – Broken Hill – Adelaide – Kalgoorlie – Perth), expect to pay $2400.

The cost of a campervan rental in Australia varies depending on various criteria.

The time of year: It is way more expensive in summer than in winter. It is the same with school holidays and public holidays.

The length of your stay: It goes without saying that the longer your trip, the more you’ll have to pay overall. Remember to book in advance to save money.

The route: If you are arriving or departing from a small town, fares may be higher. Also, if you do not return the vehicle to the same place of departure, an additional tax may be added (one way fee).

Insurance: The average cost is $30/day. But be aware that if you rent a van for more than a month and a half, you will only pay for the insurance for the first 50 days.

Indications of the average price of renting a “classic” van for 2 people:

• For a basic converted vehicle model: approx. $80 per day
• For a basic fitted van model: approx. $115 per day
• For a motorhome-equipped model: approx. $200 per day

This rate includes unlimited mileage and 24-hour assistance under conditions.

Total costs if you rent a campervan Budget on average $150 per day For example, a total of $4,500 for a month’s road trip. Don’t forget to include the cost of fuel when you are planning your budget.

You can read more in our article: Cheap campervan rentals in Australia – How to get a good deal or use the Motorhome Republic comparison tool below to find the best deals:

Buying a vehicle

Buying a vehicle is a good idea if you plan to stay longer than 3 months.

Prices vary according to the model, the brand, supply and demand, the time of year but also the city of arrival . In low season (between April and October) prices are lower because there are more offers than requests. In high season (between October and April), prices are higher because there are many requests and fewer offers.

• For a converted car/station wagon , count $4,000.
• For a fitted van , budget between $7,000 and $10,000.
• For a converted 4×4 , count between $8,000 and $10,000.

Read more: Choosing and buying a vehicle

Vehicle maintenance

Maintenance costs depend on the type of vehicle, how old it is, its daily maintenance and the number of kilometres driven .

To keep your vehicle in good shape, it needs regular maintenance. For example, the oil should be changed every 5,000 to 10,000 km.

Certain parts of your vehicle must be replaced regularly. When they need to be changed depends on the vehicle model and the number of kilometres driven . Check the recommendations of the car’s manufacturer.

The main expenses are:

• Garage inspection: approximately $200
• Labour: approximately $70 – $90 an hour
• Oil change: between $120 and $200.

Wear parts :

• Clutch kit: minimum $800
• Suspension: approximately $500
• Timing belt: $500 – $700 (depending on vehicle)
• Brakes 70 – $100
• Oil filter: $50 – $100
• New tire : about $120.

Servicing :

• Engine oil bottle (5L): $60
• Windshield washer product (1L): $20
• Coolant (1L): $20.

Petrol budget

Several factors influence the price of fuel: the area where you’re buying it, the brand of the gas station, the time of year… In general, prices vary between $1.80 and $2 per litre.

On average for the different types of fuel, the prices (as of January 2024 – source  fuelprice.io ) are:

• Unleaded 91: $1.78
• Premium Unleaded 95: $1,66
• Diesel: $1.93

Total fuel costs For a month long road trip in Australia, plan a budget of $600.

Accommodation

Caravan parks.

Campsite fees are charged per vehicle and not per person. This allows camping expenses to be shared between the driver and the passengers. The standard price for a campsite is about $40. This covers the various facilities available at a campsite (showers, toilets, barbecues, etc.). Free campsites are also available, though they are less frequent and not always close to tourist areas. You may wish to switch between paid and free campsites. You can budget approximately one night out of four for a paid campsite.

To guide you on your roadtrip, we recommend downloading the Wikicamps application ($7.99). It will help you locate the best places to spend the night and find drinking water, toilets and showers, both free and paying.

Total camping costs For a month-long road trip, the camping budget is about $250 (1 night every 4 days).

Youth Hostel

Like almost everything, hostels are more expensive in big cities. The price of a room will vary according to the number of beds in it. The fewer there are, the higher the price. If you have a smaller budget, opt for mixed rooms and dormitories with 4 to 10 beds. Private rooms offer similar prices to an entry-level hotel. On average, the price of a night in a hostel is $40.

Total costs for a hostel For a month-long road trip the cost for hostels is around $1200 (30 nights).

Housing prices for an Airbnb are similar to those in Europe. The price depends on the location and the quality of the accommodation you wish to book. The price decreases if you book for a longer period. Rooms are limited to two people. It is therefore possible to divide the costs by two. For one night, a low-cost Airbnb is around $80.

Total costs for Airbnb For a month-long road trip, plan on around $2000.

This is the most expensive accommodation option. Prices depend on the quality of the hotel and its facilities (swimming pool, spa, restaurant, etc.). For a room, prices are around $100 per night. These prices may also vary depending on the season and the tourist influx.

Total costs for hotels For a month-long road trip, plan on around $2000.

Housesitting

House sitting is an increasingly popular practice in Australia. It allows travellers to stay for free in a home while the owners are away. In exchange, the housesitters take care of the usual household chores, and sometimes pets. It’s an excellent way to significantly reduce accommodation costs during a stay in Australia. With growing demand, it is relatively easy to find housesitting opportunities, especially if you are flexible with dates and locations.

💡 To find Housesitting opportunities in Australia, head over to the city/town Facebook groups! You’ll be able to post an ad or reply to certain publications if you’re interested.

Another alternative: specific websites such as PawShake or MadPaws !

Food & Shopping

Several options are available to you regarding your meals. You have a choice between shopping and cooking your meals or eating out in a restaurant . The most common scenario is to alternate between meals cooked by you and a few restaurant visits. For a backpacker, the frequency of meals in a restaurant is around two per week. A week of meals will cost around $120 . A meal in a restaurant will cost around $30.

Total costs for food For a month long road trip in Australia, plan a budget of around $600.

During your trip, you’re bound to be tempted by certain shops! You’ll need to factor the “shopping” part into your roadtrip budget! Here are some prices:

• Women’s dress: Between $80 and $100
• Women’s swimmers: Between $50 and $80
• Men’s swimmers: About $50
• New surfboard: Minimum $400.

Tours & Activities

On the east coast.

Ideas for free and independent activities: Visiting national parks, visiting towns, swimming. For a few dollars you can buy or rent equipment to do more exciting water activities: surfing, snorkeling, paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing…

Ideas for paid and supervised activities: Surfing lessons, supervised scuba diving, sea excursions…Tour operators will allow you to visit areas that are difficult to access, to take boat cruises or helicopter flights. You are guided in your excursion and all the equipment is provided to you so that you can fully enjoy your trip. Whatever the type of excursion, the prices are well over $500 for a weekend.

Price examples:

• Rent a surfboard: $25 for 2 hours
• Diving supervised: $250
• Skydiving: $300
• 1 to 3-days trip to Fraser Island: between $200 – $500
• Whitsundays Islands boat trip (1 day): $250
• 1-hour scenic flight over the Whitsundays Islands: $300
• Day snorkelling or diving in the Great Barrier Reef: around $250.

On the West coast

The West Coast is a wilderness area, activities mainly consist of visiting national parks , discovering local wildlife and beaches .

The organised tours mostly focus on sea life : whale watching boat trips, diving with whale sharks or Manta rays, snorkeling, etc. The biggest expenses are therefore related to fuel and food.

• Whale watching tour: from $80
• 1 day Wave Rock tour: $200
• Swimming with whale sharks: approx. $400

In the North of Australia

The Northern Territory is especially interesting because of its two national parks: Litchfield (free entry) and Kakadu (paid entry). Hiking, picnicking and swimming are the main activities, to be done alone or accompanied by a guide.

• Entrance to Kakadu National Park: $25 per person from November to May, $40 from June to October
• Guided tour of Litchfield National Park: around $200.

In the Centre of Australia

In the centre of Australia, the main activities to do are hikes around Uluru and Kata Tjuta. You can explore this region on your own but there are also many excursions offered by tour operators.

• Parachute jump over Uluru: from $400
• Helicopter flight over Uluru for 20 minutes: from $200.

Going out & activities in town

In the city, the main activities you will be doing are most likely visiting parks and museums, shopping and going out to bars and nightclubs. Going out and museums will make up the bulk of the budget. In some cities like Sydney, Adelaide, Cairns and Brisbane you can go for a swim or do water sports. There is no need to budget for sports.

• 1 cocktail in a night club: $16
• 1 schooner in a bar: $10
• Museum admission: free (temporary exhibitions at an additional cost of $10)
• Admission to a zoo: around $40

Total costs for activities For a month-long road trip, budget around $600 for tours and activities.

Mobile Plans

In Australia, 3 operators share the majority of the market: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Telstra is the operator that covers most of the country (98%) and has a network in some remote areas. This will surely be the best choice for your road trip if you plan to get away from the big cities!

In terms of budget, Telstra offers a forait at $55/month (€33) for 40GB. Don’t hesitate to consult our article on Phone Plans in Australia for more information!

Evaluate your road trip budget

It is important to note that a road trip budget in Australia will depend on the number of kilometres travelled and the duration of your trip . If you are travelling for a year, you will probably spend some days driving 400 km, and others without driving anywhere. If you are on vacation for just a few days or weeks, you will probably travel more kilometres over a short period.

Finally, depending on the number of people you are travelling with, the tourist activities that you want to carry out ( trips to the Great Barrier Reef , scuba diving, skydiving etc) your budget will also have to be readjusted.

Facebook survey: weekly road trip budget

We did a survey of a backpacker’s weekly road trip budget in Australia. This survey was conducted with a sample of 92 people.

The majority of respondents spend an average of $300 to $400 per week. About 20 people managed to spend less than $300 a week. Conversely, around twenty people spend more than $600 per week. The high average is therefore between $300 and $600 and the low average between $300 and $400.

Budget calculator

The average budget varies according to many criteria. It is therefore important to adjust it according to your route, your interests, mode of travel etc.

The average estimate for a road trip per month

The average estimate for a one-month road trip. In order to give an “average”, we have based the rates below in the following graph:

• Profile : backpacker couple
• Vehicle : basic campervan for 2 people
• Type of travel : year-long trip
• Total Budget : approximately $2000

Travel budget for an organised tour

If you are worried about ​​organising a road trip , rest assured: you can book an organised tour and avoid the stress. Some cover a large part of the country and others focus on one or more routes. Some of them are guided, in English.

National tours across Australia typically last between 10 days and 1 month and may or may not include flights. Their price excluding international flights can vary from £1500 to £5000. Budget between £3000 and £10,000 for tours which include your international flight.

Here are some examples of popular tours:

• National tour around the most iconic places in Australia: Sydney, Uluru, Kings Canyon, Glen Helen, Alice Springs, Darwin, Kakadu National Park, Katherine, Darwin, Cairns (with international flight), count 20 days as well as a budget of around €4,000 per person.
• For a road trip up the East Coast from Sydney to Cairns with international flight and vehicle rental, count about 20 days and 2,500€ per person.
• For a road trip on the west coast from Perth to Exmouth with international flight and vehicle rental, count around 20 days and €2,500 per person.

How to save money on a road trip?

Saving on fuel.

For those travelling a lot, fuel is probably going to be your biggest expense . Even if the cost is usually lower than in Europe for example, fuel price varies a lot in Australia. Big cities such as Sydney are where you will find the best value. As soon as you start going into the outback, prices increase a lot. They can even double in some isolated areas.

To save money, always keep an eye on the fuel prices at service stations you’re passing or stopping at, even if you’re not out of gas. If you find a service station that’s cheaper than the others, you can fill up your tank even if it’s only half empty, or use an extra cannister to stock up for when you need it.

Get a Woolworth or a Coles shopping card , because their affiliated stations offer 4cents/L discount when you shop at their supermarket. These discounts are usually valid for a month, and you will save $2 to $4 per refuel!

Saving on food

Food is a huge part of your budget. To avoid spending too much, shop in big supermarkets such as Aldi (the cheapest), Coles or Woolworths. Avoid corner shops when you can as they are much more expensive.

Go for the supermarket brands when shopping, as they are often cheaper than other brands and still good quality.

Try to shop in big cities; prices are much higher in smaller towns. Look for discounts, offers, etc. and keep your receipts to take advantage of other discounts (alcohol, fuel, etc.).

In cities, you will also find markets where fruits and veggies will be cheaper than in supermarkets . If you go right before closing time, you might even benefit from huge discounts.

Finally, to make some cheap meals go for:

• Pasta (500g/$1)
• Tuna (100g/$1)
• Sliced bread (1 packet/$2.50)
• Noodles (x5/$1.50).

Saving on equipment

Shops such as Kmart, Target, Super Cheap Auto and BigW sell equipment for very cheap. You will find everything you need to go camping or equip your car.

You can also buy second hand via websites such as Gumtree, one of the most popular second-hand websites. Check on Marketplace on Facebook as well. These are a great way to get ready for a road trip while benefiting from extremely good deals.

Savings on daily life

On a road trip, comfort can be lacking and it can be tempting to spend every night on a campsite, where you have access to facilities like showers, toilets, WiFi etc. Although campsite fees are often pretty low (about $30), it can quickly add up. If you like a bit of adventure, we advise you to look for free campsites. Free spots to spend the night listed on apps like WikiCamps and CamperMates.

Along your road trip route, it will be relatively easy to find free amenities: beach showers, public toilets, WiFi, etc. Visitors Centres in towns and cities will be able to provide you with information.

Another tip is to wash your laundry by hand ! Equip yourself with a bucket of water and detergent, and a rope to tie between two trees to dry your clothes. You can also go to the laundromat every now and then, it’s not too expensive.

Saving on extras

When you need to renew your wardrobe, buy some kitchenware or new books you should try second-hand shops. Vinnies, the Salvation Army, Red Cross , etc. offer amazing deals! T-shirts are usually under $5, shoes around $5 and pants around $8 to $10. Sometimes there is even still a tag on the items! Camping equipment, board games, work clothes and more are also available at unbeatable prices!

These second-hand shops can be found in every town in Australia, even the smallest ones where the prices are the cheapest.

Near their homes, locals sometimes leave mattresses, camping gear or other equipment that they want to get rid of for free. Watch out for garage sales !

It all depends on the region. The north is ideal in winter (May to September), while the south is preferable in summer (December to February).

Cars use less fuel than motorhomes, but you may have to pay for accommodation. Weigh up the pros and cons depending on your itinerary.

A road trip to Australia is an unforgettable adventure. With careful planning and a well-managed budget, you can explore this magnificent country without breaking the bank. Follow our advice and save! Get ready, pack your bags and set off to discover the land of the kangaroos!

The decision to rent or buy a van or car for a road trip in Australia depends on a number of factors, including the length of your trip, your budget, your personal preferences and your risk tolerance. If you’re planning a long trip (more than 3 months) then it makes more sense to invest in a vehicle.

More advice for a road trip in Australia:

• Road Trip Routes – Itinerary ideas
• Road trip Australia: Guide
• Road trip Australia: Tips for everyday life
• Road trip Australia: Choosing and buying a vehicle
• Road Trip Australia: Where to camp?

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

Great Ocean Road: Itinerary & Travel Guide

Ultimate Australia Road Trip Guide: Top Routes & Essential Tips for an Unforgettable Journey

West Coast of Australia: Perth to Darwin road trip itinerary

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Who uses travelmath.

Companies like United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Ryanair use Travelmath to re-route passengers and plan new flight paths.

Celebrities love Travelmath!

"Travelmath is the one app I couldn't live without - it calculates all your journey timings and because I travel a lot, it's essential. Whoever invented Travelmath, I love you! " – Drew Barrymore

"There's a website called Travelmath, it's really good if you're into flight times. "  – Blake Griffin

Dirtiest Public Transit

See the research from our Travelmath study on public transportation hygiene. How does the New York subway rank against Chicago, DC, SF, and Boston?   Read the full study!

Germiest Hotel Rooms

See even more research from our Travelmath study on hotel hygiene. Spoiler alert: Don't turn on the TV...   Read the full study!

   Travel Tools

What is travelmath.

Travelmath is an online trip calculator that helps you find answers quickly. If you're planning a trip, you can measure things like travel distance and travel time . To keep your budget under control, use the travel cost tools.

You can also browse information on flights including the distance and flight time. Or use the section on driving to compare the distance by car, or the length of your road trip.

Type in any location to search for your exact destination .

Quick Calculator

How do i search.

To get started, enter your starting point and destination into the boxes above. If you want an airport , it's best to enter the 3-letter IATA code if you know it. For cities , include the state or country if possible.

You can also enter more general locations like a state or province , country, island , zip code, or even some landmarks by name.

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• Australian Travel Time & Distance Calculator

When planning an Australian self-drive holiday or road trip , use our Australian Driving Time and Travel Distance Calculator Below to work out the best route between two towns or cities.  

This calculator will give you average driving time taking into consideration obstacles like mountain passes, winding roads, single lanes etc.  It does not allow time for stops, heavy traffic or the impact of various weather conditions.

We recommend you allow extra time to enjoy your journey with safety.  When travelling between mainland Australia and Tasmania you'll need to catch a ferry or flight.

Pricing terms

The price is based on current exchange rates but is only an approximation. Please contact us for a final price

Australian distance calculator, route planner, mileage, driving directions and petrol calculator

Calculate the amount of petrol you need for the journey and how much it will cost you

Distance between two point in Australia with marked route on map, mileage, driving directions and weather forecast

Choose convenient units: miles, kilometres for driving distance. Weather forecast can be displayed in F or C

Preparing for a road trip? Our distance calculator website will help you to do it very easily and fast!

Welcome to Distance Calculator for Australian cities. If you are wondering where is certain city or how far is it from you, Distance-Calculator.info is the perfect place. Distance between two points is our specialization. Australia is a beuatiful country, there are so many spectacular scenic places that it's your duty to travel around the states and explore. We offer you help with our route planner.

How to find out, e.g. distance from Melbourne to Sydney? It's very simple and we are going to walk you through the main steps:

• Choose your first city (where you start your journey) and type it into the first box above;
• Select your destination (final city) and type it into the second box;
• Press calculate.

This is it. You are going to be redirected to the page with distance information, travel time, mileage, marked map route, weather forecast in destination city and petrol calculator in addition, to make your trip even easier to plan. We hope you will enjoy this service and will continue to use it every time the next road trip appears on the horizon.

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10 Must-Have Aussie Road Trip Apps

Travel smarter in 2024: essential australian road trip apps for your journey.

As we all start to dust off our suitcases and fire up our engines, now is the perfect time to plan that long-awaited road trip around Australia. The right apps can make your journey more enjoyable and stress-free. Here's our rundown of the top 10 road trip apps that every traveler should have on their device for a trip across Australia in 2024.

See the fuel price from A to B

Roadtrip provides a super clever way to budget for the fuel costs for your journey from point A to point B.

The app uses the make and model of your exact car to estimate the fuel cost! Perfect for deciding which car to take or splitting the costs with friends. It also has helpful links to find accomodation at your destination, all in one place.

Find campsites in Australia

Probably the best app for finding campsites or caravan park across Australia, it's super well designed but unfortunately iPhone only (for now). With powerful filters, and user reviews, this has got to be one of the best apps for an Aussie roady.

Live petrol prices in Australia

The perfect companion app to Roadtrip, Petty shows you the cheapest petrol near you. Super helpful if you're on a tight budget and need to fill up. It works in almost every state across Australia, but it is iPhone only. A good alternative for Android users is Petrol Spy.

The best app for finding great walks

Alltrails is an awesome app that caters specifically to those who like to go off the beaten track, with millions of trails all around the world, you can see ratings and reviews from other travellers who have done the walk. It's super useful for seeing the true time to explore some of the great walks across the country!

Bathroom, Loo and WC Finder

PlugShare is the #1 App for EV drivers

• Key Feature: User-contributed insights on charging stations.
• Why It's Essential: PlugShare provides invaluable user-generated content on EV charging stations worldwide, offering real-time updates and reviews from the EV community.

Wikicamps AU

Find campsites & caravan parks.

As one of the oldest apps on the list, and a paid up front app, you might be wondering why we picked it. Well you know what they say, it's an oldie but a goldie. Over the years this app has only gotten better, and even includes a fully offline mode, so you never need to worry about cell service on your road trip across Australia.

Itineraries, budgets & packing

We love this lesser-known app because it's super well designed. It's especially perfect for budgeting and packing for a longer road trip. Used in conjunction with apps like Roadtrip for fuel budgeting you can get a great estimate for the trip costs.

Roadtrippers

Planner, map, & travel guides.

We all know and love Google maps, but Roadtrippers takes things to the next level for road trips! It shows you all the exciting places you might want to stop and see on a road trip, including offline maps.

Splitting bills with friends and family

While apps like Roadtrip are great for splitting the cost of fuel, often there are other expenses like accomodation or dinner that you want to easily split with friends or family. That's where Splitwise comes in – everyone in the group can add expenses and the app with automatically figure out how much everyone owes. Genuis!

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Pacific petroleum, recent blog posts.

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Australia Toll Calculator – Tolls, Fuel, Toll Tags, Routes

Plan trips and calculate toll charges across tollways like CityLink, EastLink, Gateway Bridge, Hills M2, M4, M5 and others using our Australia Toll Calculator! Get accurate toll amounts, trip durations, and fuel estimates for car, taxi, truck, bus, motorcycle and more. Check toll costs upfront to find the cheapest or fastest toll route. Pay for toll fees electronically using tags - LinkT, Sydney Pass, E-Toll - toll booth, toll discounts. Our toll road calculator provides a breakdown of toll charges by toll plaza, toll tags and your vehicle type. Integrate our Toll API with your business for pre-trip, on-trip, and post-trip toll and route information.

Input your travel details, specifying vehicle types, payment methods, and waypoints, to unveil precise toll charges along with the quickest, shortest, and alternative routes. Our dynamic calculator updates in real-time, reflecting the latest rates and route adjustments, ensuring you're always equipped with up-to-date information.

Select Vehicle Type

Departure Time

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• Cheapest and Fastest Routes: Compare routes by cost and time.
• Toll Rates: View rates for all payments, including cash and passes.
• Cost Breakdown: Detailed costs for tolls and fuel.
• Toll Plaza Locations: View cash and tag toll locations on the map.
• Truck/HCV/RV/Bus: Route large vehicles on major tollways, avoiding restrictions.
• Reorder Stops: Optimize your route as needed.
• Set Departure Time: Plan immediate or future trips with customizable times.

Australia Toll Guide

• How do tolls work in Australia?
• How do you pay tolls in Australia?
• How much are tolls in Australia?
• How do I pay Sydney tolls?

We offer precise estimates for both cost and trip duration along with thorough breakdowns of expenses to facilitate well-informed decisions. Additionally, we offer a diverse range of payment options, including tags, cash, and license plates, while accommodating various vehicle types with customizable settings.

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Australia Toll Calculator - Toll Plazas, Toll Rates, Toll Tags, Routes & more

Visit the TollGuru Toll Calculator app

Out of the 50, 37 US states have toll booths for turnpikes, bridges or other toll facilities. The major ones include New York, New Jersey, Florida, California, Texas, and Puerto Rico territory. 13 of the US states and the District of Columbia do not have any toll roads.

The US Toll Calculator is Free to use for car, SUV, Pickup truck, EV, taxi, rideshare, carpool, bus, motorcycle, and RV with or without trailers to travel across the US. For trucks, you’ll have to take a Web Calculator subscription.

Alternatively, use our apps (iOS or Android) for free trip calculations for all the vehicles.

If you find any discrepancy in the toll rates or plaza details, please report to us.

The Simple Formula For Calculating How Much Gas Will Cost On Your Road Trip

T he idea of hitting the open road and enjoying an adventure without daily responsibilities included can be endlessly exciting. Yes, a road trip enjoyed alongside family and friends can feel liberating, but when it comes to your travel budget, the story might be a little more restrictive. Somehow, road trips have a way of adding up to totals beyond what travelers initially anticipate.

Between the cost of lodging, food, and the souvenir shopping to be done along the way too, things can understandably get pricey. It's not uncommon for it all to be more than you bargained for. One of the big hitters when it comes to your road trip budget is typically the amount you'll spend on gas.

Fluctuating gas prices from city to city and between states only add to the confusion. This makes having a plan in place before you get behind the wheel a good idea. While you can't control the price of gas, you can closely calculate what you'll spend by using a simple four-step process.

If you plan in advance, there's room to focus on the road trip fun ahead once you set off. You'll have a budget you can work with that won't cause added stress too. To calculate how much gas will ultimately cost on your road trip, you'll need to look at the gas mileage on your vehicle, how far you're traveling, and the gallons of gas required.

Start With Vehicle Fuel Efficiency And Miles You'll Travel

The first step in calculating how much gas will cost on your road trip is determining how many gallons of gas per mile your vehicle uses. Start by looking up your vehicle's fuel tank capacity which is found in the owner's manual. From here, it's easy to reset your trip odometer, fill up your tank and take note of how far you've gone when it's time to refill again.

It's important to remember that how you drive can make a difference in how your vehicle burns fuel during a road trip. City driving comes with a lot of stop-and-go traffic which uses more gas more quickly. Extended stretches of highway and interstate driving can make gas go farther.

When figuring out the gallons per mile on your vehicle, make sure to use the driving techniques you're likely to use on your road trip for a more accurate picture of gas mileage. If you have multiple vehicles, it's worth your while to test them all. The more fuel-efficient model is going to save you money in the long run.

Step two is to take a look at the total distance you anticipate you'll be traveling. Modern apps like Google Maps make this a fairly quick and easy task. While you might not know exactly what all of your side stops will be, consider adding in a few you think you'll be making to get a more accurate mile count.

Gallons Of Gas Give You The Cost You've Been Looking For

The third step in this calculation is to note current gas prices. This is going to fluctuate everywhere you travel, but using the national average is a useful point of reference for this cost equation. AAA has an easy-to-view national gas price log that adjusts daily. The U.S. Department of Energy also provides a gas price map where costs can be broken down by state and city.

The final step in calculating your road trip gas costs involves some easy math. Begin by dividing your total trip miles by your vehicle's miles per gallon. The answer is the total gallons of gas your journey is going to require.

Multiplying the total gallons of gas needed by the national gas price average will result in an accurate estimate of what you'll spend on gas during your trip. Having this number available will help you budget more efficiently. It will also give you the freedom to worry less about overspending along the way.

You can't control or even plan out every little detail of a trip . You most likely wouldn't want to anyway when unexpected adventures are often half the fun of a road trip. However, the cost of gas isn't something you have to leave to chance when you have this handy calculation available. Put it to use and feel free to let the exploring officially begin.

Read this next: Safety Items You Should Pack For Your Next Road Trip