DriveCosts

Trip Planner

Trip Cost Calculator

Estimate the total fuel cost of your road trip and how much each passenger should chip in.

  • Updated for 2026
  • US units
  • US avg fuel prices
  • EPA-style MPG
  • No signup
  • Transparent assumptions
miles
mpg
$/gal

Total Trip Cost

$0.00

Per Person

$0.00

Gallons

0.00gal

Total miles: 900 (round trip).

How we calculate this

Inputs
All values are user-supplied — change MPG, distance and price to match your situation.
Defaults
Pre-filled with average US fuel prices and EPA-style MPG so the page is useful at first load.
Units
US miles, gallons, MPG and USD throughout. No conversions are applied silently.
Rounding
Displayed to the nearest cent or whole mile; internal math keeps full precision.

Sources & assumptions

  • EPA fuel economy data — City / highway / combined MPG and MPGe baselines.
  • U.S. Department of Energy (fueleconomy.gov) — Vehicle efficiency and EV range references.
  • AAA gas price trends — Recent national and regional retail fuel averages.
  • EIA electricity rates — Average residential per-kWh prices used for EV charging.

We summarize publicly available data — no scraping, no external API calls. Figures are calibrated periodically; use the calculators above for your exact inputs.

How to calculate the cost of driving a road trip

This road trip cost calculator turns three numbers — distance in miles, your vehicle's MPG, and the local gas price per gallon — into a total driving cost estimate in seconds. It's the same driving cost formula AAA and the EPA recommend: (miles ÷ MPG) × price per gallon. Use it to budget any US road trip, compare routes, or split gas with passengers.

What this driving cost calculator includes

The tool focuses on fuel cost — the largest variable expense for most trips. For a fuller travel budget, layer in tolls, lodging, and food separately. For long-term ownership math, see our cost per mile calculator or the full road trip cost guide.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate the cost of driving a specific trip?

Use the driving cost formula: divide trip distance by your car's MPG to get gallons used, then multiply by the current gas price per gallon. For example, a 300-mile drive in a 30 MPG car at $3.50/gal costs about $35 in fuel.

Is this a road trip cost calculator or a fuel cost calculator?

Both. It works as a road trip cost calculator for multi-hour drives and as a simple gas cost calculator for shorter trips. Enter any distance, MPG, and price per gallon.

How do I split gas fairly with friends?

Divide the total fuel cost by the number of people in the car (including the driver). Our gas cost split calculator does this automatically — some drivers don't charge themselves a share, which is a personal choice.

Should I include tolls in my driving cost?

This calculator focuses on fuel. Add tolls separately based on your route — they can add $20–$80+ on toll-heavy corridors like I-95 in the Northeast.

What's a good MPG estimate for road trips?

Highway MPG from the EPA sticker is usually accurate for steady freeway driving at 65–75 mph. For mixed driving, use the combined MPG figure instead.

Related calculators

Fuel Cost Calculator

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MPG Calculator

Measure your real fuel economy.

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EV Charging Cost

Plan an EV road trip instead.

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