Gas Cost Calculator
Gas cost calculator: estimate the fuel cost of any US road trip from miles, your car's MPG and the price per gallon.
Editorial review: Farrow (pseudonym; identity and professional credentials are not disclosed). This page is for educational purposes, not professional advice.
Your inputs
Results update as you type. Nothing you enter leaves your device.
Results
- Gallons needed
- 21.4
- Cost per person
- $66.43
- Cost per mile
- $0.111
Example with the starting values
These results use the calculator's initial inputs. Change the values above to calculate your own estimate.
Inputs
- Distance
- 300 mi
- Fuel economy
- 28 MPG
- Gas price
- 3.1 $/gal
- Trip
- Round trip
- People splitting cost
- 1
Results
- Total fuel cost
- $66.43
- Gallons needed
- 21.4
- Cost per person
- $66.43
- Cost per mile
- $0.111
How does the Gas Cost Calculator work?
Trip fuel cost is the money you spend on gas to drive a given distance, based on how efficiently your car uses fuel.
Gallons used = miles ÷ MPG. Fuel cost = gallons × price per gallon. Round trip doubles the distance, and the cost can be split among passengers.
For example, a 300-mile one-way trip in a car that gets 28 MPG uses about 10.7 gallons. At $3.10 per gallon, the fuel costs about $33.21 before any return-trip miles.
Default gas price is an estimate of the recent US average for regular. Enter your local price from a station or AAA.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Should I use city or highway MPG?
For road trips, use your car's highway MPG from fueleconomy.gov or the window sticker. Real-world mileage is often 5% to 10% lower at highway speeds.
How do I find the distance?
Use the driving distance from any map app, not the straight-line distance.
How much gas does a 300-mile trip take?
About 10.7 gallons in a car that gets 28 MPG. At $3.10 a gallon, that is roughly $33 one way or $66 round trip.
How do I calculate gas cost per mile?
Divide the gas price by your MPG. At $3.10 a gallon and 28 MPG, fuel costs about 11 cents per mile.