Trip planning
Estimate the fuel cost before you leave.
Use your route distance, vehicle efficiency, and current fuel price to budget a one-way or round trip.
Estimated fuel cost
Fuel needed
Total distance
Cost per distance
Per traveler
Why the estimate can change
Traffic, idling, speed, hills, weather, tire pressure, cargo, and city-versus-highway driving all affect real fuel use. Your recent measured efficiency is often a better planning input than a best-case rating.
MPG is distance per fuel
Divide miles by miles per gallon to find gallons. Higher MPG means less fuel for the same trip.
L/100 km reverses the relationship
Multiply kilometers by liters per 100 km, then divide by 100. A lower number means less fuel use.
Budget beyond fuel
Tolls, parking, charging, lodging, maintenance, and vehicle wear are separate trip costs and are not included here.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s vehicle cost methodology likewise calculates fuel from miles traveled and fuel economy. This tool is a planning estimate and uses only the values you enter.
Worked example: a 300-mile one-way route in a vehicle rated at 30 MPG requires about 10 gallons. At $3.50 per gallon, a round trip costs about $70 before tolls, parking, food, lodging, charging, or other travel costs.
Assumptions and limits: the entered efficiency and fuel price remain constant across the trip. Traffic, weather, cargo, tire pressure, driving style, detours, and price changes can make actual fuel use or cost higher or lower. Method and source link reviewed September 29, 2026.
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