Fuel Cost Calculator
Calculate the exact fuel cost for any trip based on your distance, MPG, and local gas price. Includes CO₂ emissions, cost per mile, and annual driving estimate.
📈 Average Gas Prices by Country (2025)
| Country | Price (USD/gal) | Price (USD/L) |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $3.50 | $0.92 |
| Canada | $4.80 | $1.27 |
| United Kingdom | $7.00 | $1.85 |
| Australia | $5.50 | $1.45 |
| Germany | $7.50 | $1.98 |
Indicative ranges only. Updated January 2026.
Road Trip Fuel Cost Planning Guide
Accurate fuel cost estimation makes road trip budgeting much easier. Beyond the simple formula (distance ÷ MPG × price/gallon), several factors can significantly affect your actual cost.
Factors That Change Your Fuel Costs
Cargo weight: Every extra 100 lbs reduces fuel economy by about 1–2%. A fully loaded SUV with luggage, passengers, and a trailer can see 20–30% lower MPG than its EPA rating. Terrain: Mountain driving through the Rockies or Sierra Nevada can reduce MPG by 15–25% versus flat highway. Speed: At 70 mph vs. 60 mph, most vehicles use 17–20% more fuel. Air conditioning: Running AC continuously adds $0.25–$0.75 per gallon equivalent in fuel cost.
Saving Money on Road Trip Fuel
Use GasBuddy or AAA TripTik to identify cheap gas stations along your route — fuel prices can vary by $0.40–$0.80/gallon within 10 miles. Fill up outside major metro areas and tourist zones where fuel is typically 10–20% cheaper. Warehouse clubs (Costco, Sam's Club) average $0.10–$0.30/gallon below local prices. Keep tires properly inflated and remove roof racks when not in use (adds 5–10% aerodynamic drag).
How Fuel Cost Is Calculated
Fuel cost for a trip is straightforward: (Distance ÷ MPG) × Fuel Price. For example, a 300-mile trip in a car that gets 30 MPG at $3.50/gallon costs: (300 ÷ 30) × $3.50 = $35.00. For metric users: divide distance in kilometers by fuel efficiency in L/100km, multiply by 100, then multiply by price per liter. The same trip in a 7 L/100km car at $1.50/L CAD for 480 km: (480 × 7/100) × 1.50 = $50.40 CAD.
Fuel Cost Comparison: Gas vs Hybrid vs EV
Over 15,000 miles/year at $3.50/gallon: a 25 MPG gas car costs $2,100/year in fuel; a 50 MPG hybrid costs $1,050/year; an EV at $0.15/kWh and 3.5 miles/kWh costs about $643/year. The EV saves roughly $1,457/year versus a standard gas car. Over 5 years, that's $7,285 — enough to offset a significant portion of the higher purchase price of an EV or hybrid.
Ways to Reduce Your Fuel Costs
Tire pressure has a bigger impact than most drivers realize — tires underinflated by 10 PSI reduce fuel economy by about 1%. Driving at 65 mph instead of 75 mph improves highway MPG by roughly 15%. Avoiding hard acceleration and using cruise control on highways typically improves fuel efficiency by 10–20%. For city driving, avoiding routes with many traffic lights and idling less than 30 seconds (turning off the engine is more efficient) both help. Regular maintenance — clean air filters, fresh spark plugs — can improve MPG by 4–10%.
