Estimate a road trip’s fuel cost by dividing the miles you plan to drive by your vehicle’s miles per gallon (MPG), then multiplying the gallons needed by the price per gallon: Fuel cost = (trip miles ÷ MPG) × price per gallon. For a round trip, use the total miles for both directions; add planned detours if you want them included.
Calculate your estimated fuel cost
- Find the driving distance. Use the planned road route, not the straight-line distance. Include the return leg and any planned stops or detours that add miles.
- Estimate gallons needed. Divide total trip miles by the vehicle’s expected trip MPG.
- Multiply by the price per gallon. Use a price that reflects the fuel grade and areas where you expect to refuel.
For example, a 600-mile drive at an assumed 30 MPG would use about 20 gallons: 600 ÷ 30 = 20. At an assumed $3.50 per gallon, the estimated fuel cost is $70: 20 × $3.50 = $70. These are illustrative assumptions, not a current gas-price quote or a claim about any particular vehicle.
Choose the right distance, MPG, and gas price
Distance: use the route you will drive
Road distance can differ substantially from map distance measured as a straight line. An estimate for a one-way drive will not cover the return journey. AAA’s Gas Cost Calculator lets you enter a destination and additional destinations to account for route legs.
MPG: match the figure to the trip
A vehicle’s listed highway MPG can be a starting point for a mostly highway trip, but actual fuel economy depends on the driving conditions and vehicle use. For a mix of city and highway driving, use separate estimates for those portions if you have reliable figures. The U.S. Department of Energy’s AFDC methodology calculates city and highway fuel use separately using the corresponding MPG inputs: Vehicle Cost Calculator Assumptions and Methodology.
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If you want to estimate your own average MPG from records, divide miles driven by gallons purchased over the same period. AAA’s driving-cost example also calculates fuel cost per mile by dividing gas cost by miles driven: How to Calculate Your Own Driving Costs. A past average is useful as a reference, not a guarantee of what the vehicle will achieve on a different trip.
Price: use a dated, relevant figure
Gas prices vary by location, time, and fuel grade. For a U.S. trip, AAA publishes national, state, and metro averages on its Fuel Prices page. Its calculator compares starting-location, destination, and national prices, and attributes its fuel-price data to OPIS. Check the displayed date and select a figure appropriate to your route rather than treating a national average as the price you will pay at every stop.
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AAA’s calculator displayed a U.S. national average of $4.3667 per gallon as of October 7, 2026. That is a dated snapshot, not a lasting benchmark; the same calculator page may show a different price later. Use the current displayed value only if it is still relevant when you plan the trip.
Use a calculator or estimate cost per mile
AAA’s Gas Cost Calculator accepts route and MPG inputs and displays miles, gallons used, MPG, and fuel cost. You can also calculate a quick fuel-only cost per mile by dividing the price per gallon by MPG. At an assumed $3.50 per gallon and 30 MPG, for example, fuel costs about 11.7 cents per mile: $3.50 ÷ 30. The per-mile figure uses the same assumptions as the trip estimate; it is not a fixed rate for all vehicles or routes.
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Know what the estimate includes
This calculation estimates fuel only. It does not include tolls, lodging, food, parking, vehicle wear, or other road-trip expenses. Fuel use and prices can differ from the assumptions, so treat the result as a budget estimate rather than an exact bill. The EPA also provides an MPG math resource: Miles Per Gallon (MPG) Math.
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