Road Trip Cost Calculator
Total trip cost including gas, hotels, and food — with a per-person breakdown. Plan your next road trip budget in 30 seconds.
⛽ Fuel
🏨 Accommodation
🍔 Food & Travelers
Total Trip Cost
$0
📐 How the Road Trip Cost Formula Works
Gas Cost = (Miles ÷ MPG) × Gas Price
Hotel Cost = Nights × Cost per Night
Food Cost = Travelers × Days × Food per Person per Day
Total = Gas + Hotel + Food + Other
Per Person = Total ÷ Number of Travelers
How to Budget for a Road Trip
A road trip budget has four main components: fuel, accommodation, food, and activities. Fuel is the most variable — it depends on your vehicle's efficiency and current gas prices, both of which can swing the cost significantly. Use the road trip cost calculator above to model different scenarios before you leave.
Average Road Trip Costs by Travel Style
Budget travelers who camp and cook their own meals can complete a week-long US road trip for $600–$900 total per person. Mid-range travelers staying in motels and eating at casual restaurants typically spend $1,200–$2,000 per person for a week. Travelers who prefer hotels and restaurants should budget $2,500–$4,000 per person per week.
How to Reduce Road Trip Fuel Costs
The single biggest lever on fuel cost is your vehicle's MPG. A vehicle getting 35 MPG uses 29% less fuel than one at 25 MPG over the same route. Maintaining steady highway speed (55–65 mph) improves fuel economy by up to 15% compared to 75+ mph driving. Tire inflation matters too — every 1 PSI drop in pressure reduces fuel economy by about 0.2%.
Hidden Road Trip Costs to Include
Tolls are frequently overlooked — a coast-to-coast US route using I-80 has no tolls, but I-95 along the East Coast can add $40–$80 in toll fees each way. Parking in cities like New York or San Francisco costs $25–$60 per day. National Park entry fees run $15–$35 per vehicle. Build a 10–15% buffer into your "other expenses" field for surprises.
Road Trip vs. Flying: Which Is Cheaper?
For distances under 500 miles, driving is almost always cheaper than flying when you account for airport fees, baggage, and transport to/from the airport. For 500–1,000 miles, the comparison tightens — especially with 2+ travelers, where road trip costs per person drop significantly. Beyond 1,500 miles, flying is typically more economical for a single traveler, but road trips remain cost-competitive for families.
Frequently Asked Questions
A budget road trip costs $60–$100 per person per day (gas, camping or budget motel, cheap food). A mid-range trip runs $150–$250 per person per day with motel accommodation and restaurant meals. Luxury road trips exceed $400 per person daily.
Divide total trip miles by your vehicle's MPG to get gallons needed. Multiply gallons by current gas price. Example: 600 miles ÷ 28 MPG = 21.4 gallons × $3.50/gal = $75 in gas. Don't forget the return trip if driving back.
Budget: $25–$40/person/day (fast food, packed snacks). Mid-range: $50–$80/person/day (casual restaurants). Camping with your own cooking: $15–$25/person/day. This calculator lets you set whatever daily food budget matches your style.
The average new car gets 28–32 MPG combined. Mid-size SUVs average 22–27 MPG. Full-size trucks average 18–22 MPG. Hybrids get 40–55 MPG. For the most accurate number, check your vehicle's EPA fuel economy rating at fueleconomy.gov.
The IRS standard mileage rate (65.5 cents/mile in 2023) accounts for fuel, maintenance, and depreciation. For a precise true cost of driving, multiply your total miles by the IRS rate. This calculator focuses on out-of-pocket cash costs — fuel, accommodation, and food.