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Road trip cost calculator
Miles, drive time, gas (or charging) and cost per person for any drive — with stops along the way. An honest estimate in a few seconds.
Your estimate shows up here
Enter where you're starting and where you're headed. We route it on real roads, then do the math for fuel, time and cost per person.
How the estimate is calculated
- We look up your places with a map search, so “Moab, UT” becomes a point on the map. The result lists exactly what we matched, so you can catch a wrong Springfield.
- We route the drive on real roads with the open-source OSRM router: the distance and the free-flowing drive time for every leg, through your stops in order. Round trip doubles it.
- Fuel: miles ÷ MPG × price per gallon. Electric: miles ÷ 100 × kWh/100 mi × price per kWh.
- Realistic time adds about 15 minutes for every 2 hours at the wheel (fuel, food, stretching). Driving days keep each day to 6 hours of driving or less.
- Cost per traveler splits the total evenly. Lodging and food are only included if you add them.
It's an estimate. Gas prices move weekly and differ by state, real-world MPG usually comes in under the sticker, and traffic, tolls, parking and park entry fees aren't included.
Tips to spend less on gas
- Slow down a little. Fuel economy drops quickly above about 50–60 mph; the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that driving 5–10 mph slower improves it by roughly 7–14%.
- Check tire pressure before you leave. Under-inflated tires cost MPG and wear faster under a loaded car.
- Pack inside the car when you can. Roof boxes and bike racks add drag that you pay for every mile.
- Fill up away from the interstate exit and outside big-city centers, where prices are usually higher. In states like California, buying fuel just before you cross the border can help.
- Use cruise control on flat highway stretches, and avoid long idling at stops.
Road trip cost questions
How is road trip gas cost calculated?
Fuel cost = total miles ÷ your vehicle's MPG × the price per gallon. For a 600-mile drive in a 25 MPG car with gas at $3.50, that's 600 ÷ 25 = 24 gallons × $3.50 ≈ $84. Tick “round trip” and the miles double. This calculator gets the miles from real road routing between your places, not a straight line.
What MPG should I use?
Use your car's combined EPA rating (fueleconomy.gov lists every model since 1984), then knock off about 10% for a loaded car at highway speeds — roof boxes, bikes and 75+ mph cost more. Rough guides: compact cars 30–35 MPG, sedans 26–30, SUVs 20–25, pickups 15–20, RVs 8–12.
How long will the drive really take?
Routing services quote free-flowing traffic with no stops. Plan on a short break every two hours, which this calculator adds as about 15 minutes per 2 hours of driving, and budget more for city traffic, construction or mountain roads. Most people are comfortable with 5–6 hours behind the wheel a day, so the suggested number of driving days caps each day at 6 hours.
How do I estimate EV charging costs for a road trip?
Switch to Electric and enter your car's efficiency in kWh per 100 miles (most EVs use 25–35) and your charging price. DC fast chargers on highways typically cost $0.30–$0.60 per kWh, while charging at home or at a hotel is often $0.12–$0.20, so mixing in overnight charging can cut the bill a lot.
How do I split road trip gas costs with friends?
The fair default is an even split of fuel (and tolls) between everyone in the car — the calculator shows a per-traveler figure. Some groups give the car's owner a break for wear and tear, commonly a few cents a mile on top. Agree on it before you leave, and keep receipts in one shared place.
Why is the default gas price $3.40?
It's a rough U.S. national average for regular, updated periodically — not today's price at your pump. Prices vary by state, by season, and even by exit, so type in what you're actually paying for the most accurate estimate.
Know the cost? Now plan the stops.
Wanderply turns a route into a day-by-day road trip in about 3 minutes and narrates every stop out loud on the drive. Free to start, no account needed to try it.