Fuel Cost Calculator
Calculate fuel costs for any trip. Enter distance, your vehicle's MPG, and current gas prices to estimate your total fuel expenses.
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How to Use This Calculator
Planning a road trip or comparing commute costs? Our fuel cost calculator gives you accurate estimates for any journey:
- Enter the trip distance in miles (use Google Maps or a similar tool for accurate distances).
- Input your vehicle's fuel efficiency in miles per gallon (MPG). Check your owner's manual or fueleconomy.gov for your car's rating.
- Enter the current fuel price per gallon in your area.
- Click 'Calculate' to see total gallons needed and the cost for your trip.
Why This Matters
Fuel costs add up quickly, whether you're planning a road trip vacation, evaluating a job offer with a longer commute, or deciding between driving and flying. Understanding your actual fuel costs helps you budget accurately, compare travel options, and even evaluate whether a more fuel-efficient vehicle would save you money. For regular commuters, small differences in MPG can mean hundreds of dollars saved per year.
- Budget accurately for road trips and vacations
- Compare the cost of driving vs flying or taking transit
- Evaluate how a longer commute affects your finances
- Calculate the real savings of a more fuel-efficient vehicle
- Plan multi-leg trips with different fuel prices by region
Worked Examples
Weekend Road Trip
Driving from Los Angeles to Las Vegas (270 miles each way) in a car that gets 28 MPG with gas at $4.50/gallon.
Monthly Commute Cost
A 25-mile each way commute (50 miles/day) working 22 days/month. Your car gets 32 MPG and gas is $3.80/gallon.
Cross-Country Trip
Driving from NYC to LA (2,800 miles) in an SUV getting 22 MPG with average gas price of $3.60/gallon.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using the EPA highway rating when you'll be doing mostly city driving - city MPG is often 20-30% lower.
- Forgetting that MPG decreases at higher speeds - driving 80 mph vs 65 mph can reduce efficiency by 15-25%.
- Not accounting for fuel price differences by region - prices can vary by $1 or more across states.
- Ignoring the return trip when budgeting for road trips - always calculate round-trip costs.
- Using manufacturer MPG ratings instead of real-world experience - track your actual fuel usage for accuracy.