# Road trip cost calculator

> Planning a road trip? Enter your destination distance, your car's fuel economy, and the gas price to see the total fuel cost and how much each person owes.

Calculate the total fuel cost of a road trip plus cost per person and cost per mile from your car's MPG and the gas price.

**Interactive version:** https://onlinecalculator.me/everyday/road-trip-cost/
**Category:** Everyday

## Formula

```
Fuel used (gal)   = Distance (mi) ÷ MPG
Total fuel cost   = Fuel used × Price per gallon
Cost per person   = Total cost ÷ Passengers
Cost per mile     = Total cost ÷ Distance
```

## Example

300-mile trip, 30 MPG, $3.50/gallon, 2 passengers:

```
Fuel used = 300 / 30 = 10 gallons
Total cost = 10 × $3.50 = $35.00
Cost per person = $35.00 / 2 = $17.50
Cost per mile = $35.00 / 300 ≈ $0.117
```

## Frequently asked questions

### How is the fuel cost calculated?

Fuel used = distance ÷ MPG. Total cost = fuel used × price per gallon. Cost per person = total cost ÷ passengers.

### What MPG should I use?

Use the EPA combined MPG for highway driving. Real-world MPG is typically 15–20% lower than the city estimate and close to the highway estimate on long trips.

### Does this include tolls or food?

No — this calculator covers fuel only. Add tolls and food separately.

### How do I find my car's MPG?

Fill up the tank, drive a known distance, fill up again, then divide miles driven by gallons used. Or check the EPA Fuel Economy Guide at fueleconomy.gov.

### How do I share my calculation?

Click "Share with my numbers" to copy a URL with your trip details.

## Sources

- [Trip Calculator — fuel cost estimator](https://www.fueleconomy.gov/trip/) — U.S. Department of Energy / EPA (FuelEconomy.gov)
- [Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update — weekly retail fuel prices](https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/) — U.S. Energy Information Administration

## Related calculators

- [Mileage calculator](https://onlinecalculator.me/everyday/mileage/) — Calculate your car's actual MPG from a fill-up.
- [Auto loan calculator](https://onlinecalculator.me/finance/auto-loan/) — Monthly payment and total interest on a car loan.
- [Carbon footprint calculator](https://onlinecalculator.me/everyday/carbon-footprint/) — Estimate your driving carbon emissions.
- [Fuel economy converter](https://onlinecalculator.me/unit-converters/fuel-economy/) — Convert MPG to L/100km and other units.

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