Our fuel cost calculator calculates exact travel costs based on distance, your car’s fuel consumption, and current fuel prices. The calculator is useful for budget planning vacation trips, daily commutes, business trips, and comparing transportation alternatives.
The calculator provides a complete overview of your travel costs with four simple input values.
Distance in miles Enter how far you will drive. Use Google Maps to find the exact distance between two addresses. The calculator supports both one-way and round trips.
Fuel consumption in MPG You can find this in your car’s manual or on the window sticker. Typical fuel consumption figures are 30-40 MPG for small gas cars, 25-30 MPG for mid-size cars, 18-25 MPG for large cars and SUVs, 30-40 MPG for diesel cars (often higher than gas), and 40-60 MPG for hybrid cars.
Fuel price per gallon Enter today’s price for gas or diesel. Prices vary between gas stations and states, so check your local station for the most accurate calculation.
Number of passengers If you’re sharing the car with others, enter how many people are traveling. The calculator automatically calculates the cost per person.
The calculator shows four main results based on your input values.
Total cost: The total cost for the entire trip based on distance, consumption, and fuel price. Shows both one-way and round trip depending on your selection.
Fuel used: How many gallons of gas or diesel you will use on the trip. Useful to know if you need to refuel along the way.
Cost per passenger: If multiple people share the car, this shows how much each person should pay.
Cost per mile: Average fuel cost per mile driven. Useful for comparing different routes or transportation alternatives.
Using wrong MPG figures: Manufacturer’s stated MPG is often higher than real consumption. Use actual MPG from your driving experience for the most accurate calculation. Track for a month and note how many gallons you fill and how far you drive, then calculate your real MPG.
Forgetting round trip: Remember to select round trip if you’re going home the same day. Many forget to double the distance and get too low a cost estimate.
Not accounting for driving style: Aggressive driving, city driving, and stop-and-go traffic decrease MPG significantly. Reduce your expected MPG by 10-20% if you drive mostly in the city or carry heavy loads.
Using highway vs city MPG: Your car has different MPG ratings for highway and city driving. Use the appropriate figure or a weighted average based on your route.
New York – Miami (1,280 miles): Consumption 28 MPG, gas price $3.50/gal. One-way: 1,280 miles ÷ 28 MPG × $3.50 = $160. Round trip: $320. With 4 people: $80 per person.
Daily commute (25 miles × 2 = 50 miles): Consumption 26 MPG, gas price $3.75/gal. Per day: 50 miles ÷ 26 MPG × $3.75 = $7.21. Per month (20 working days): $144.23. Per year: $1,730.77.
Weekend trip to the lake (100 miles): Consumption 22 MPG, gas price $3.60/gal. Round trip: 200 miles ÷ 22 MPG × $3.60 = $32.73. With 2 people: $16.36 per person.
Drive economically: Avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking. Maintain steady speed on highways. Use cruise control where possible. Accelerate gradually for better fuel economy.
Plan your route smartly: Avoid rush hour traffic when possible. Choose routes with less congestion and stops. Combine multiple errands in one trip. Use GPS with traffic information for the best route.
Maintain your car: Correct tire pressure reduces rolling resistance and improves MPG. Regular service keeps the engine efficient. Remove unnecessary weight from the car. Take off roof racks when not in use (increases air resistance).
Find cheapest fuel: Compare prices at different stations with apps like GasBuddy. Fill up on Monday or Tuesday (often cheapest). Avoid highway stations (often more expensive). Consider membership at chain stations for discounts and rewards.
Fuel cost is only part of the total cost of driving. Tolls can significantly increase travel costs on many major highways and bridges. Parking in cities often costs $20-100 per day in major cities. Wear and tear on tires, brakes, service, and depreciation amounts to approximately $0.15-0.25 per mile. Annual insurance divided by the number of miles also gives a cost per mile that should be included in the total calculation.
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