Gas cost calculator for road trips
Figure out how much gas a road trip will take and what it'll cost, with this week's average prices for your state and the real driving distance for every stop.
Your route
Start at A and add stops in the order you'll drive them. Towns, cities, addresses and postcodes all work.
Car and fuel
Use your car's real-world MPG if you know it. It's usually lower than the brochure figure.
Find my car's MPG
Estimates only. Traffic, speed, load and hills all change real consumption.
Popular US road trips
- Atlanta to Orlando 438 mi
- Austin to Houston 166 mi
- Boston to Washington 444 mi
- Charlotte to Atlanta 244 mi
- Chicago to Detroit 282 mi
- Chicago to Indianapolis 184 mi
- Dallas to Austin 195 mi
- Dallas to Houston 239 mi
- Denver to Salt Lake City 536 mi
- Houston to New Orleans 349 mi
- Los Angeles to Las Vegas 270 mi
- Los Angeles to New York 2791 mi
Gas prices by state
See this week's average gas and diesel prices for every US state.
How the fuel cost calculator works
Enter where you're starting, any stops along the way, and your destination. We find the fastest driving route using OpenStreetMap data and measure every leg in miles. Then we look up what fuel actually costs near your starting point: in the UK from the government's Fuel Finder scheme, which every forecourt must report to, and in the US from the Energy Information Administration's weekly survey.
The cost is simply the miles you'll drive, divided by your car's miles per gallon, multiplied by the price of the fuel. Add the number of people travelling to see each person's share.
The formula
UK: cost = miles ÷ mpg × 4.546 × price per litre. A UK gallon is 4.546 litres.
US: cost = miles ÷ mpg × price per gallon.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate gas cost for a road trip?
Divide the trip's miles by your car's mpg to get gallons, then multiply by the price per gallon. A 300-mile trip in a 25 mpg car at $3.20 a gallon costs about $38.
How much does gas cost per mile?
At $3.20 a gallon in a 25 mpg car, gas costs about 13 cents a mile. Bigger trucks and SUVs at 18 mpg pay closer to 18 cents a mile.
Where do your US gas prices come from?
From the U.S. Energy Information Administration's weekly retail gasoline and diesel survey, published every Monday. We use the figure for your state where EIA publishes one, otherwise your region.
Can I split the gas cost with friends?
Yes. Enter the number of people travelling and the calculator shows each person's share.