road trip gas calculator

Fuel Cost Calculator

This calculator can estimate fuel cost according to the distance of a trip, the fuel efficiency of the car, and the price of gas using various units.

Related Gas Mileage Calculator | Mileage Calculator

The price of gas may go up or down, but it's always a major expense for most drivers. The average American driver spends about $3,000 per year on gas, according to the American Automobile Association. Some of the practical ways to reduce fuel costs are listed below.

Use public transportation

Walking or biking does not consume fuel, and as such does not accumulate fuel cost. In most cases, public transport alternatives to cars such as buses, trains, and trolleys are viable options of reducing fuel costs. Due to the communal nature of ride sharing, the fuel costs of operating public transport are generally less than the fuel costs associated with each individual operating their own vehicle. In some places, public transport is free. Considering the costs associated with owning or renting a car creates even more incentive to use other modes of transportation.

Also known as car sharing, carpooling is the arrangement between two or more people to travel to a shared destination in a single vehicle. Although a heavier car consumes slightly more fuel, it is usually much more efficient than two people driving separate cars towards the same destination.

Use a more fuel efficient vehicle

Driving a smaller car makes a great difference – the fuel cost is about half for a small sedan than for a very large SUV. Similarly, drive with a less powerful engine than you need. Don't pay for an eight-cylinder engine when four cylinders work just fine. Unless you're hauling heavy loads on a routine basis, the extra cost of a bigger engine results in more money spent on gasoline.

Tune the engine

A properly tuned engine maximizes power and can greatly enhance fuel efficiency. But tuning the car engine is often done to increase horsepower – that's not the way to save on fuel. Make sure the tuner gets the message.

Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent – this amount will vary depending on the nature of the repair.

Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent.

Placing ornaments and ground effects, aerodynamics kits, and airfoils, such as deck-lid spoilers, may make you feel good, but they also increase the car's drag and make it require more fuel. Such accessories offer no real handling enhancements, although they may look nice on your car. Also, place signs or cargo on the roof so that the object angles forward. This will reduce the frontal area of the object, and it will cause less drag, and cause you to use less fuel.

Adjust tires

Make sure the tires are inflated to the right levels. Properly inflated tires can reduce fuel consumption by up to 3 percent. Your tires also lose about 1 PSI per month, and when the tires are cold (e.g., in the winter), their pressure will decrease due to the thermal contraction of the air. It is recommended to check tires at least monthly, preferably weekly. Having properly inflated tires will also help you avoid uneven wear on the tread.

Gas stations don't always have accurate equipment for this purpose. Sometimes gas stations use automatic air compressors that stop at a pre-determined level. To make sure you inflate to the right level, double-check pressure with your own gauge.

Recommended inflation pressures are for cold tires; put about 3 PSI more in if the tires have been driven on a while. Inflate to the pressure recommended by the car manufacturer, not to the level stamped on the tire.

Use the correct motor oil

Gas mileage will improve by 1 percent to 2 percent if you use the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. For example, using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-30 can reduce your gas mileage by a considerable amount. Using 5W-30 in an engine designed for 5W-20 can lower your gas mileage by 1 percent to 2 percent. Also, look for motor oil that says "Energy Conserving" on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.

Plan trips carefully

There is no more obvious way to save gas than to drive a shorter distance.

Plan your route carefully. With today's GPS route planners, it's easy to calculate a straight route with the fewest stops and diversions. It is also possible to judge which route will have the least traffic. Take highways instead of local routes or city streets when possible – the steady speed maximizes fuel efficiency.

When driving in a city, try to park in a central location, and then walk from one appointment to another, or take public transportation. Ragged stop-and-go city driving is terrible for your gas mileage. This also saves the high level of gas used in parking and pulling out in a parking lot.

Factors that determine the fuel price

Government intervention.

Governments may intervene in gasoline (referred to as petrol in some parts of the world) markets by taxation, which may raise prices for consumers within or outside the governmental territory. Similarly, certain industries may receive financial support from the government to promote commercial enterprise (a subsidy). Generally, subsidized products or services can be sold at lower prices.

Financial markets

The global oil price fluctuates constantly. The key crudes quoted are Brent and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) in the unit of US$ per barrel. The retail fuel price is closely related to the global oil price fluctuation.

Political elements such as structure, regime, personnel, and events can all affect the cost of fuel. For instance, a change in leadership from a leader who doesn't believe in climate change to one who does may result in changes to the cost of fuel for consumers based on different policies, such as choosing not to subsidize fuel. Political relationships between countries are also a factor; nations can go to war over resources, or form alliances in order to trade, both of which can affect the cost of fuel.

Geographic area

Certain geographical areas or countries in the world have an abundance of oil, while others do not have a single drop. Regional consumers within close proximity of high supplies of oil are more likely to have lower costs of fuel due to ease of access. Areas without their own supply of oil that are isolated from the rest of the world (such as islands in the Pacific) can find fuel to be relatively expensive.

Natural disaster or weather

Earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, major floods, and other such nature-related phenomena can affect the production, manufacturing, and logistics of gasoline, which can possibly affect the price of fuel. For instance, a snowstorm may close certain roads, disallowing the transportation of the resource and driving up fuel costs in these areas. Hurricanes or earthquakes can damage oil refineries, abruptly halting production, which can also eventually increase fuel costs.

• State Gas Price Averages
• Gas Cost Calculator
• Fuel Saving Tips
• Fuel Quality
• Premium Fuel Research
• Contact AAA

Today’s AAA National Average $3.653

Price as of 5/5/24

AAA GAS COST CALCULATOR

Today’s AAA National Average

Please select Starting location and Destination

Please select car Maker, Year and Model or MPG

Results display fuel cost based on today's average.

Fuel Price Data Provided By: Oil Price Information Service (OPIS)

Compare prices

Travel Cost Calculator

Quick links, trip pricing calculator.

Travelmath provides an online cost calculator to help you determine the cost of driving between cities. You can use this data to figure out a budget for a road trip. The driving calculation is based on the average fuel efficiency of your vehicle, and you can change the gas mileage in mpg or L/100 km to match your exact make and model. Gas prices are automatically estimated based on current fluctuations, and again you can adjust these to fit your local gas station prices. Both U.S. and international units are available to make the calculations easier to use, and the output is given for both one-way and round trip travel routes.

Check the driving distance for your planned route, and see if the total driving time requires an overnight stay. If it's a long trip, you may want to research some hotels along the way . Or compare whether it's better to fly or drive to your destination.

Home  ·  About  ·  Terms  ·  Privacy

Fuel Calculator ⛽

Use this fuel cost calculator to easily calculate fuel cost and the gallons / liters needed to complete a trip. Calculate gas cost or petrol cost - we support miles and gallons, liters and km, etc.

Related calculators

• Fuel Needed & Fuel Cost Calculations

Variation in fuel consumption

• Formula for fuel amount
• How to improve fuel economy?

    Fuel Needed & Fuel Cost Calculations

In order to calculate the amount of fuel for a given trip using our fuel cost calculator or otherwise, you need to know the total distance you will be covering and the expected average fuel consumption of your vehicle. It works the same way for cars, trucks, buses, vans, SUVs, and even boats and planes. If you also want to calculate the fuel cost of a trip, then you need to know the price per gallon or price per liter at which you can by.

Our calculator supports entering distances in miles and kilometers. In terms of fuel consumption, it is very versatile as it accepts: miles per gallon, gallons per 100 miles, kilometers per liter and liters per 100 kilometers. In the US, miles per gallon and kilometers per liter would more frequently used, while in most of Europe the preferred metric would be liters to travel 100 km and gallons to cover 100 miles. The result in terms of fuel amount is in gallons or liters, and for fuel cost is in the currency you entered it in (you can simply ignore the currency sign, e.g. $ (USD)).

Make sure to account for the variation in fuel consumption when driving within city limits and on highways - usually the consumption is higher in the former case. Always fill your tank with more fuel than you anticipate you would need, especially during winter or when driving through desolate areas or when extreme weather conditions are expected.

    Formula for fuel amount

If you are using mpg (miles per gallon), then the formula for calculating the total amount of gas needed is:

Fuel = Distance / Consumption mpg

For example, if the distance is 500 miles and consumption is 20 miles per gallon, then the fuel you will need for the entire distance is 500 / 20 = 25 gallons.

If you are using gallons per 100 mi to measure consumption, then the formula for calculating the amount of fuel needed is:

Fuel = Distance / 100 x Consumption per 100 mi

For example, if the distance is 300 miles and the consumption is 5 gallons per 100 miles, you will need 300 / 100 x 5 = 15 gallons of gas.

Both formulas are applicable for metric units - km and liters, just make sure you do not mix metric units. Using an online fuel calculator will make sure you do not commit that mistake.

    How to improve fuel economy?

Don't like the numbers you see when you use our tool? If you wonder how you can improve the fuel efficiency of your vehicle so you can cover more miles (or kilometers) with less fuel, we have some tips that can result in significant savings, especially when applied consistently over time. Here is our list of 10 fuel efficiency tips :

• Drive sensibly - If you drive aggressively - too fast compared to other cars, constantly overtaking other vehicles, and rapid acceleration followed by braking, only to accelerate again wastes a lot of gas. By some estimates, quick starts and hard stops can increase fuel consumption by more than 30% ! This is why this is number one in our fuel efficiency list.
• Observe the speed limit - Different vehicles have optimal fuel economy at different velocities, but one way to increase gas mileage is to avoid driving at higher speeds. A small reduction of your average speed , say from 70 mph to 60 mph (equivalently: from 115 km/h to 100 km/h) can help you save 10 to 20% due to lower fuel consumption.
• Follow the leader - drive at about the speed of the vehicle in front of you, if they are following the first 2 tips above. This will make sure you need to accelerate and decelerate as little as possible. If possible, overtake drivers who do not follow them, as it will make it very hard for you to do so. This will result in smaller numbers from our fuel cost calculator.
• Check your tires - make sure your tire pressure is at optimal levels as indicated in the owner's manual provided by the auto manufacturer. If the pressure is too low your mileage will decrease significantly, not to mention that the car may become dangerous to drive.
• Smart routing - make sure you take optimal paths to reach your desired destination. Learn the different modes of route selection your GPS employs - the shortest is not always the fastest and idling stuck in traffic will waste fuel. Use services such as Google Maps to check for traffic congestions on the planned route. Using a route you know well can also help improve fuel efficiency, since you will know in advance where it makes sense to increase speed and where it does not, because of a traffic light just ahead.
• Air conditioning - turning it off will most likely improve your fuel efficiency by 10-15%, and will result in you having more power to accelerate quicker when needed. If it is necessary, make sure you do not set it to unreasonably low or high levels. Air temperature in the range between 64°F - 75°F (18°C - 24°C) is comfortable for most people. Due to the law of thermodynamics, each subsequent degree of heating or cooling requires progressively more energy to accomplish and maintain.
• Remove excess weight - make sure you remove any unneeded heavy items you have in your trunk. One of the untold benefits of losing weight is that your car will be a bit more efficient as well.
• Turn cruise control ON - when on a highway, make sure to use your cruise control option. By keeping your speed constant, it will most likely save gas and result in lower fuel costs.
• Avoid idling - idling means 0 miles per gallon and the larger the car engine, the more gas is wasted when idling. Avoid excessive idling, when possible, in line with point #5 above to keep fuel costs low.
• Maintain your vehicle - a well-maintained car, truck, van, SUV, etc. will operate at greater efficiency. Exact fuel savings are hard to calculate, as it will depend on the type of maintenance work your vehicle needs. However, good maintenance is sure to lead to fuel savings and smaller cost numbers coming out of our calculator.

All the above advice is fine, but what do you do if you have been following the above advice, yet our tool still shows you numbers that are so high you want to cry? Well, it is most likely time for a new car, or it could be just the fuel price fluctuations over which, unfortunately, neither you nor we have much influence, individually. Fuel prices in most places contain license fees and other state or local government taxes, in some places reaching as much as 50% of the final price. Financial market fluctuations, natural disasters or extreme weather, crisis, as well the geographical area you are in and the local fuel suppliers all influence the price of gas. All you can do is try to observe them and predict when you can get a more decent price.

Cite this calculator & page

If you'd like to cite this online calculator resource and information as provided on the page, you can use the following citation: Georgiev G.Z., "Fuel Cost Calculator" , [online] Available at: https://www.gigacalculator.com/calculators/fuel-calculator.php URL [Accessed Date: 05 May, 2024].

     Transportation calculators

Road Trip Gas Calculator

Welcome to our Gas Calculator - Your tool for trip budgeting. Compute travel expenses by entering miles, gas price, and fuel efficiency. Plan your journey confidently with accurate cost predictions

Cost per mile:

Total miles:

Planning Your Journey with a Road Trip Gas Calculator: A Comprehensive Guide

A Road Trip Gas Calculator is an invaluable tool for anyone planning a road trip, offering a simple way to estimate fuel costs based on distance, fuel efficiency, and gas prices.

This tool helps travelers budget accurately for their journeys, making road trips more enjoyable and stress-free.

This guide delves into the importance of calculating gas expenses, how a Road Trip Gas Calculator works, and its strategic benefits for optimizing travel plans and expenses.

Understanding Road Trip Gas Calculators

A Road Trip Gas Calculator estimates the amount of gas needed for a road trip and the total cost based on the vehicle's fuel efficiency, the trip's total distance, and the current price of gas.

This calculation allows travelers to plan their budget and make informed decisions about their route and travel logistics.

The Importance of Calculating Gas Expenses for Road Trips

Calculating gas expenses is crucial for several reasons:

Budget Planning : Helps travelers allocate funds accurately, ensuring that gas expenses are covered within their travel budget.

Route Optimization : Encourages travelers to consider different routes based on fuel efficiency and cost, possibly discovering more scenic or less expensive paths.

Expense Management : Aids in managing overall travel expenses by providing a clear picture of one of the trip's main costs.

How a Road Trip Gas Calculator Works

A Road Trip Gas Calculator requires three key pieces of information to provide an estimate of gas costs:

Vehicle Fuel Efficiency : The average miles per gallon (MPG) or kilometers per liter (km/L) your vehicle can travel. This figure can typically be found in the vehicle's manual or online.

Trip Distance : The total miles or kilometers you plan to travel. This can be determined using a map or a GPS device.

Gas Price : The current price per gallon or liter of gas. This varies by location and can be found at local gas stations or through various online resources.

By inputting these details, the calculator will estimate the total quantity of fuel needed for the trip and the associated cost, based on the formula:

Total Gas Cost = (Trip Distance / Fuel Efficiency) × Gas Price

Advantages of using a road trip gas calculator.

Efficiency and Accuracy : Provides a quick and precise estimate of gas costs, facilitating effective travel planning.

Cost-Saving Insights : Offers the opportunity to explore cost-saving measures, such as optimizing the route or traveling at more fuel-efficient speeds.

Financial Preparedness : Helps travelers ensure they have allocated enough funds for fuel, avoiding potential budget shortfalls during the trip.

Implementing Gas Cost Calculations in Travel Planning

To effectively incorporate gas cost calculations into travel planning, consider the following practices:

Early Planning : Use the calculator during the early stages of travel planning to estimate gas expenses accurately and adjust your budget or route as needed.

Comparative Route Analysis : Compare different routes to determine which offers the best balance of fuel efficiency, travel time, and scenic value.

Regular Updates : As gas prices fluctuate, update your calculations close to your departure date for the most accurate budgeting.

Real-world Applications and Success Stories

Travelers frequently use Road Trip Gas Calculators to plan and budget for vacations, family visits, and other journeys.

For example, a family planning a cross-country road trip might use the calculator to determine the most cost-effective route, taking into account gas prices and their vehicle's fuel efficiency.

Similarly, solo adventurers and digital nomads use these calculators to manage their travel expenses, ensuring their journeys are both affordable and enjoyable.

A Road Trip Gas Calculator is an essential planning tool for anyone embarking on a road trip, providing valuable insights into fuel costs and helping to manage travel budgets effectively.

By enabling travelers to estimate and optimize their gas expenses, it contributes to a smoother, more enjoyable travel experience, ensuring that road trips remain a popular and accessible way to explore new destinations.

Even the planning part of your adventure should be fun

Route from A to B and discover what you love in between. Plan better trips, collaborate with friends, and enjoy the process.

Estimate your fuel costs

Save at the pump with Roadtrippers.

How to estimate your travel costs

Did you know that Roadtrippers can help you estimate your fuel costs for your next road trip? Get started by entering your vehicle information in your profile.

• How do you estimate fuel costs?
• Can I edit the MPG for my vehicle?

Plan your next road trip

One-tank road trips.

5 one-tank road trips from Los Angeles, California

5 one-tank road trips from Boston, Massachusetts

5 one-tank road trips from Chicago, Illinois

5 one-tank road trips from Charlotte, North Carolina

5 one-tank road trips from Washington, D.C.

5 one-tank road trips from New York City

Turn your road trip into an adventure.

How to plan a road trip

How to plan a road trip: 5 steps to get you ready to hit the road

10 national parks that are fun for the whole family

Plan Your Trip Now

Discover the most incredible people, places, and experiences worth the detour.

Why adventure seekers love Roadtrippers

"Tears of joy"

“After 5 days of using three maps and five different apps, I found Roadtrippers. I was telling my boyfriend as we sat in the RV and started crying as I described it to him. Happy days.” Olivia T.

"Absolutely love this app"

"If you go on even one road trip a year it’s worth it. I use it to find new and unusual stuff in my area… LOVE IT!” Lindsey L.

"Makes planning fun"

“I’m planning a 60-day road trip and this app makes it so much fun and far less work! I couldn’t imagine trying to plan a trip without it now.” David M.

"Discovered new things"

"Fantastic! Really useful with road trips and with finding things in my city I didn't know existed. Seriously, I recommend it to everyone, I love it!" Nick R.

The #1 road trip planning tool .main-hero { display: none; } .plan-a-road-trip-button { display: none; } #featuredbar { background: #FFDC4E; } #emojireviews { background: #EAE7F5; }

Discover the most incredible people, places, and experiences worth a detour. Share and collaborate with friends. Have fun planning your next weekend getaway, spring break road trip, or cross-country adventure.

The #1 road trip planning tool

Discover millions of places

Find quirky roadside attractions, scenic points, national parks, and more.

The perfect itinerary-maker

Instantly estimate fuel costs with our powerful route planner. Explore places within a set distance from your route, filter and sort by reviews, photos, and more.

Get pre-made trip guides

From classic American road trips to the weird and the wonderful, get inspiration from our pre-made trip guides.

Search and book hotels

Find the best places to stay along your route, check out reviews and photos, and book the most convenient option.

More reasons to love Roadtrippers

Plan better trips

Add up to 150 of the best stops to your epic road trips.

RV routing Beta

Make a route that's customized for your RV.

Plan your trip without interruption.

Collaboration

Build incredible journeys with a little help from your friends.

New map styles

Go lighter or darker depending on time of day.

Live traffic

Check traffic conditions while on the road.

Amazing deals

Get special discounts from our travel partners.

Offline maps

Select from our list of offline maps to explore off the grid.

• Trip guides
• Trip Planner
• Sign up Log in Sign out
• Log in Sign out
• ROADTRIPPERS MEMBERSHIP
• RV RESOURCES

Plan your journey, find amazing places, and take fascinating detours with our app.

We couldn't find an existing Roadtrippers account using that service. Please try signing in with another option or create a new account with Roadpass.

We need your email address to send you trip itineraries and other updates.