Road Trip Cost Calculator
The Road Trip Cost Calculator combines your fuel costs with daily expenses like food and lodging to estimate the total budget you need for a road trip. Works in U.S. units (miles, MPG, price per gallon) or metric (kilometers, L/100km, price per liter). The daily-extras figure is multiplied by the full number of days you enter, not by "driving days" specifically, so if your trip includes rest or sightseeing days beyond the days you're actually driving, either raise the day count or budget for those separately. Because the fuel formula applies your entered MPG (or L/100km) as a flat rate for the whole trip, it can't account for mountain grades, stop-and-go traffic, or a loaded vehicle or trailer — all of which lower real-world fuel economy below a rated figure, so budgeting a bit above the estimate is wise for hilly or heavily-loaded routes. Setting days to 0 zeroes out the daily-extras term entirely, which is a quick way to see fuel cost alone before adding lodging and food separately.
Switch between U.S. Customary and Metric units.
How This Tool Works
Pick your units, then enter your trip distance, vehicle fuel economy, fuel price, number of days, and average daily costs for food/lodging to get a total trip budget.
Formula & Method
U.S.: fuel cost = (distance ÷ MPG) × price per gallon. Metric: fuel cost = (distance ÷ 100) × L/100km × price per liter. Total cost = fuel cost + (days × daily extras like food and lodging).
Example Calculation
U.S. units: an 850-mile trip at 32 MPG with $3.79/gallon gas, over 4 days at $175/day for food and lodging. Gallons needed = 850 ÷ 32 = 26.5625 gal. Fuel cost = 26.5625 × $3.79 ≈ $100.67. Daily extras = 4 days × $175 = $700. Total trip cost = $100.67 + $700 = $800.67. In metric: a 1,200 km trip at 7.5 L/100km with $1.65/liter fuel, over 4 days at $175/day. Liters needed = (1,200 ÷ 100) × 7.5 = 12 × 7.5 = 90 L. Fuel cost = 90 × $1.65 = $148.50. Daily extras = 4 × $175 = $700. Total = $148.50 + $700 = $848.50.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this include tolls?+
No, tolls aren't included automatically. Add your estimated toll costs to the daily extras field or account for them separately in your total budget.
Can I plan my trip in kilometers and liters?+
Yes — switch the unit toggle to Metric and enter distance in kilometers, fuel consumption in L/100km, and price per liter. Daily costs stay in your local currency.
Should I plan for round trip or one-way distance?+
Enter your total driving distance — if it's a round trip, make sure to include both directions in the distance field.
How can I estimate daily food and lodging costs?+
Research typical hotel and restaurant prices for your route, or use a per-person daily estimate ($100–200/day is common for a couple) and adjust based on your travel style.
Does the fuel economy I enter need to be my real-world MPG, or is the EPA rating fine?+
Real-world MPG (or L/100km) — measured with our MPG Calculator or your own trip computer — gives a more accurate trip budget than the manufacturer's rating, since actual highway fuel economy is often a few percent lower once you factor in speed, AC use, cargo, or a loaded vehicle. If you only have the rated figure, it's a reasonable starting point, but expect your real fuel cost to run slightly higher.
How do I budget a multi-vehicle trip, like a caravan with friends?+
Run the calculator once per vehicle using that vehicle's own fuel economy, then add the resulting fuel costs together. Enter your shared daily food and lodging total just once, not per vehicle or per person, since the daily-extras field isn't multiplied by how many cars are in the group.
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<a href="https://everyfix.net/tools/road-trip-cost-calculator/">Road Trip Cost Calculator</a> by <a href="https://everyfix.net">EveryFix</a>Related Tools
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