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Plan the ultimate road trip without going broke. Calculate exactly how much you need for gas, hotels, food, and tolls—and split the cost with your friends. This free online tool allows you to calculate road trip costs quickly and accurately. No sign-up or installation required.
The biggest mistake travelers make when planning a road trip is focusing entirely on the price of gas. While fuel is a significant expense, it rarely accounts for the majority of a multi-day journey. If you ignore lodging, food, and hidden fees, your "cheap" road trip might end up costing more than a luxury flight.
To build an accurate travel budget, you must factor in the "Four Pillars" of road travel: Logistics, Fuel, Lifestyle, and Hidden Fees.
Before you can calculate money, you must calculate time. Your budget scales directly with the number of days you are on the road.
Google Maps might tell you that a 1,200-mile trip takes 18 hours. This leads naive travelers to attempt the drive in a single day. In reality, you must stop for gas, bathroom breaks, and food. A good rule of thumb is to assume you will average 50 mph over the course of an entire day. Furthermore, driving more than 500 miles in one day is exhausting and dangerous. A 1,200-mile trip should be budgeted for at least 3 full days of travel, meaning you must pay for 2 nights in a hotel.
Gas prices fluctuate wildly, and regional math makes it even more confusing. To find your fuel cost, you need to know your total distance, your car's real-world fuel economy, and the global measurement system you are using.
Our calculator isolates the three primary global standards to prevent catastrophic budget errors. An Imperial (UK) Gallon is 20% larger than a US Liquid Gallon. If you live in London and use a US-based calculator, it will overestimate your fuel budget. Conversely, the metric system uses Kilometers and measures consumption (Liters per 100km) rather than efficiency. You must select the correct system from the dropdown to ensure accurate fuel calculations.
This is where most budgets fail. If you are traveling with four people, paying for three meals a day at sit-down restaurants will quickly eclipse your gas budget.
Do not forget the 'Misc' category. Tolls on the US East Coast can easily exceed $100. National Park entrance fees are often $35 per vehicle. Parking in major cities can cost $40 a night at your hotel. Finally, remember that driving 3,000 miles puts serious wear and tear on your car. You should mentally factor in the cost of an oil change and tire rotation upon your return.
Common questions about planning and budgeting for long drives.