Trip Cost Calculator

Plan your road trip budget. Calculate fuel costs, add tolls and expenses, and split costs with passengers.

One-way or total trip distance

Your vehicle fuel efficiency

Current or expected gas price

Total toll fees

Total parking fees

Food, lodging, activities, etc.

Number of people sharing expenses

Total Distance = One-Way × (1 or 2 for round trip)\nFuel Needed = Distance ÷ MPG\nFuel Cost = Fuel Needed × Price Per Gallon\nTotal Cost = Fuel + Tolls + Parking + Other\nCost Per Person = Total Cost ÷ Passengers
Example (Weekend Road Trip):\nDistance: 250 miles (one-way)\nTrip Type: Round Trip\nMPG: 28\nFuel Price: $3.40/gallon\nTolls: $15\nParking: $20\nOther: $100 (food, hotel)\nPassengers: 2\n\nTotal Distance: 250 × 2 = 500 miles\nFuel: (500 ÷ 28) × $3.40 = $60.71\nTotal: $60.71 + $15 + $20 + $100 = $195.71\nPer Person: $195.71 ÷ 2 = $97.86

How do I calculate the cost of a road trip?

Total Cost = (Distance ÷ MPG) × Fuel Price + Other Expenses. For example, a 500-mile trip at 25 MPG with $3.50/gallon gas costs: (500 ÷ 25) × $3.50 = $70 in fuel. Add tolls, food, lodging for total trip cost.

What should I include in trip cost calculations?

Essential: fuel cost. Common additions: tolls, parking fees, meals, lodging, vehicle wear (oil changes, tire wear), rental car fees, and activities/attractions. This calculator focuses on fuel cost but allows adding other expenses.

How do I split costs with passengers?

Calculate total trip cost, then divide by number of people sharing expenses. If total cost is $200 and 4 people are splitting, each pays $50. Some groups split only fuel, others split everything including food/lodging.

Should I calculate one-way or round-trip?

For round trips, double the distance. If your destination is 200 miles away, round-trip is 400 miles. Alternatively, calculate one-way and multiply the total cost by 2. Remember to account for different routes if not retracing exactly.

How accurate is this for planning a budget?

Fuel cost estimates are quite accurate if you know your vehicle MPG and current gas prices. Add 10-20% buffer for price fluctuations, detours, or AC/terrain reducing efficiency. Other costs (food, lodging) vary widely by preferences.