Road Trip Cost Calculator
Planning a road trip? Add up fuel, lodging and food to budget the whole journey — and see the cost per mile.
Example: with Total trip distance? 1200 · Your car’s MPG 28 · Gas price 3.50 · Nights of lodging 3 · Lodging / night 130 · Food & other / day 60 · … → Total trip cost: $780.
Computed by the calculator below using its default values. Change any input to see your own numbers.
Trip planning and fuel apps
Learn moreFuel is only part of it
Fuel is the headline number, but on a multi-day trip lodging and food often cost more than gas. Tallying all three gives a realistic budget — and the cost per mile is a handy way to compare driving against flying or to split costs with travel companions.
How it’s calculated & sources
Fuel = distance ÷ MPG × gas price. Lodging = nights × nightly rate. Food = days × daily allowance. Total adds them; cost per mile divides by distance.
Benchmark: fuel = distance ÷ MPG × gas price; add lodging and food for the true trip cost.
Results update as you type and are general estimates, not personalized financial, tax, medical or legal advice. Verify with a professional.
Worked example
A 1,200-mile trip at 28 mpg and $3.50/gallon burns about $150 of gas; add 3 nights at $130 and 4 days of food at $60 for roughly $870 total.
Frequently asked questions
Should I include wear and tear?
For a true cost, add ~$0.10–0.20/mile for maintenance and depreciation. Our car cost-of-ownership tool breaks that down.
Is driving cheaper than flying?
For short-to-medium distances or groups, often yes — especially since one tank covers everyone. Compare the per-person total against airfare plus a rental.