What makes a great road-trip car
For long-distance US driving, prioritize highway MPG over city MPG — most road trips are 80%+ interstate. A car that gets 38 MPG highway will burn ~26% less fuel on a 600-mile drive than one rated at 30 MPG highway.
Cabin comfort matters as much as fuel cost. Adaptive cruise control, ventilated seats and a quiet cabin reduce fatigue. Aim for at least 400 miles of cruising range so you stop on your schedule, not the car's.
Top picks by category
Best efficient sedan: Toyota Camry (39 hwy MPG, 615-mile range). Quiet, reliable, easy to find parts anywhere in the US.
Best SUV: Toyota RAV4 Hybrid territory — RAV4 (35 hwy MPG) gives you cargo for gear without destroying your fuel budget.
Best hybrid: Toyota Prius (57 MPG combined). Cheapest per-mile gas car you can road-trip in.
Best long-range EV: Tesla Model Y or Model 3 — 300+ mile range and the largest Supercharger network in the US.
Sample road-trip fuel costs
For a 1,000-mile round trip at $3.45/gal: a 40 MPG hybrid costs ~$86, a 30 MPG sedan ~$115, a 22 MPG SUV ~$157, and a 16 MPG full-size truck ~$216. Run your own numbers in the Fuel Cost Calculator.