Trip Cost Calculator
Calculate the total cost of a road trip from distance, fuel efficiency, and fuel price, plus any extra costs like tolls, parking, and food.
miles
mpg
$
/ gallon
Extra Costs
$
$
$
Results
Total Trip Cost
$100.00
Fuel Needed
10.0 gallons
Fuel Cost
$35.00
Extra Costs
$65.00
Cost Per Mile
$0.33
How Does the Trip Cost Calculator Work?
Enter your trip distance, your vehicle's fuel efficiency, and the current fuel price. The calculator divides distance by fuel efficiency to get the gallons needed, then multiplies by the fuel price to get the fuel cost. Add any extra costs — tolls, parking, food, or anything else — as separate line items, and the calculator adds them to the fuel cost for a total trip cost, plus a cost-per-mile figure.
Example
A 300-mile trip in a car that gets 30 mpg needs 10 gallons of fuel. At $3.50 per gallon, that's $35 in fuel. Adding $15 in tolls, $10 in parking, and $40 for food brings the total trip cost to $100 — about $0.33 per mile.
Common Use Cases
- Budgeting for a road trip before you leave.
- Comparing the true cost of driving versus flying or taking a train.
- Splitting trip costs fairly among passengers based on the total.
- Estimating reimbursable travel expenses for work trips.
FAQs
Does this account for round trips?
Enter the total distance you'll actually drive — if it's a round trip, double your one-way distance before entering it, or enter the full round-trip mileage directly.
What if my vehicle's fuel efficiency varies by driving conditions?
Use a conservative (lower) mpg figure for highway-and-city mixed driving, or your vehicle's combined EPA rating, to avoid underestimating fuel cost. Aggressive driving, cargo weight, and terrain can all reduce real-world efficiency below the rated figure.
Can I use this for an electric vehicle?
Not directly — this calculator is built around gallons and fuel price. For an EV, use a dedicated EV charging cost calculator that works in kWh and electricity price instead.