Road Trip Fuel Cost Calculator
Calculate total fuel cost for any road trip.
Enter distance, fuel economy, and fuel price to get total cost in miles/km, MPG/L per 100km, and multiple currencies.
Fuel is typically the largest variable cost on a road trip, and it varies dramatically based on vehicle efficiency, distance, and fuel prices. This calculator gives you an accurate estimate so you can budget properly and compare alternative routes or vehicles.
The Fuel Cost Formula
Fuel Used = Distance / Fuel Economy
Total Cost = Fuel Used × Price Per Unit
In imperial (US):
- Distance in miles, economy in MPG (miles per gallon)
- Gallons = Miles / MPG
- Cost = Gallons × Price per gallon
In metric:
- Distance in km, economy in L/100km (liters per 100 km)
- Liters = Distance × L/100km / 100
- Cost = Liters × Price per liter
Unit Conversion
1 US MPG = 3.785 L / 1.609 km = 2.352 km/L 1 L/100km = 235.214 / MPG (US) 1 Imperial MPG (UK) = 1.201 US MPG
Typical Fuel Economies
| Vehicle Type | MPG (US) | L/100km |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid car | 45–55 | 4.3–5.2 |
| Compact car | 35–45 | 5.2–6.7 |
| Midsize sedan | 28–35 | 6.7–8.4 |
| SUV (small) | 25–32 | 7.4–9.4 |
| SUV (full-size) | 18–26 | 9.1–13.1 |
| Pickup truck | 16–25 | 9.4–14.7 |
| Minivan | 22–28 | 8.4–10.7 |
| Electric vehicle | Use charge cost instead |
Fuel Price Averages (typical ranges)
US regular gasoline: $3.00–$4.50 per gallon European gasoline: €1.50–€2.00 per liter Australian petrol: A$1.70–A$2.30 per liter Canadian gasoline: C$1.40–C$2.00 per liter
Additional Road Trip Costs
Don’t forget to budget for: tolls (can be significant on US East Coast and European motorways), rest stop food and drinks, parking fees at destinations, and any wear items (tires, oil).