Road Trip Cost Calculator
Total up everything a road trip costs: fuel, accommodation, food, tolls and parking.
Formula and sources updated · Data sources · 1View algorithm, constants and default inputs (JSON)
About this calculator
Estimate a road-trip budget from miles, miles per gallon, USD per gallon, nights, lodging, food, tolls and activities. Food is a total for all travellers per day; the per-person result divides the trip total by the traveller count. The estimate excludes costs you do not enter, such as maintenance or insurance.
Worked example
calculated with the default values below
Total distance 1,800 mi · Fuel economy 28 mi/gal · Fuel price 3.5 USD/gal · Nights away 5 · Lodging per night 120 USD/night · Food per day (all travellers) 90 USD/day (group) · Tolls and fees 60 USD/trip · Activities and entry fees 200 USD/trip · Travellers sharing the cost 2 Total trip cost 1,625.00 USD · Cost per person 812.50 USD/person · Fuel 225.00 USD · Lodging 600.00 USD · Food 540.00 USD · Cost per day 270.83 USD/day
Method and assumptions
T = D × P ÷ M + N × L + (N + 1)F + Q + E Fuel = miles ÷ mpg × USD/gallon; trip days = nights + 1. Food is the daily group total; per-person cost divides by traveller count. Other costs are included only when entered. Estimate a road-trip budget from miles, miles per gallon, USD per gallon, nights, lodging, food, tolls and activities. Food is a total for all travellers per day; the per-person result divides the trip total by the traveller count. The estimate excludes costs you do not enter, such as maintenance or insurance. Use the cited guidance and your own measurements, bills or product specifications to choose inputs. Sample defaults are not current local data.
Data sources
Use the cited guidance and your own measurements, bills or product specifications to choose inputs. Sample defaults are not current local data.
Disclaimer
These calculators give general estimates. Sizing, pricing, availability and standards vary by brand, retailer and country, so treat the output as a starting point and confirm it against the seller's or authority's own figures.
Implementation source
This record describes the implementation used by this page. It is not independent validation. External references, when available, support only the stated formula or definition; estimates and custom rules retain their own assumptions.
Formula and variables
T = D × P ÷ M + N × L + (N + 1)F + Q + E
- D
- Total distance (mi)
- M
- Fuel economy (mpg)
- P
- Fuel price ($/gal)
- N
- Nights away
- L
- Lodging per night ($)
- F
- Food per day, all travellers ($)
Fuel = miles ÷ mpg × USD/gallon; trip days = nights + 1. Food is the daily group total; per-person cost divides by traveller count. Other costs are included only when entered.
Frequently asked questions
How are the road-trip totals and daily cost calculated?
Fuel is distance ÷ mpg × fuel price; lodging is nights × nightly rate; food is (nights + 1) × the entered daily amount. Tolls and activities are added once. With the defaults, the group total is $1,625, or $270.83 per day for the group; per-person cost is separate.
Which inputs and limits apply to Road Trip Cost Calculator?
Use the units shown beside each field. These are form limits, not recommended settings. Total distance: 1–30,000 mi; Fuel economy: 1–200 mi/gal; Fuel price: 0–30 USD/gal; Nights away: 0–365; Lodging per night: 0–5,000 USD/night; Food per day (all travellers): 0–2,000 USD/day (group); Tolls and fees: 0–5,000 USD/trip; Activities and entry fees: 0–20,000 USD/trip; Travellers sharing the cost: 1–12 T = D × P ÷ M + N × L + (N + 1)F + Q + E Fuel = miles ÷ mpg × USD/gallon; trip days = nights + 1. Food is the daily group total; per-person cost divides by traveller count. Other costs are included only when entered. Estimate a road-trip budget from miles, miles per gallon, USD per gallon, nights, lodging, food, tolls and activities. Food is a total for all travellers per day; the per-person result divides the trip total by the traveller count. The estimate excludes costs you do not enter, such as maintenance or insurance. Use the cited guidance and your own measurements, bills or product specifications to choose inputs. Sample defaults are not current local data.
What is a complete worked example for Total distance = 1,800 mi; Fuel economy = 28 mi/gal?
Inputs: Total distance = 1,800 mi; Fuel economy = 28 mi/gal; Fuel price = 3.5 USD/gal; Nights away = 5; Lodging per night = 120 USD/night; Food per day (all travellers) = 90 USD/day (group); Tolls and fees = 60 USD/trip; Activities and entry fees = 200 USD/trip; Travellers sharing the cost = 2. Calculation: T = D × P ÷ M + N × L + (N + 1)F + Q + E. Results: Total trip cost = 1,625.00 USD; Cost per person = 812.50 USD/person; Fuel = 225.00 USD; Lodging = 600.00 USD; Food = 540.00 USD; Cost per day = 270.83 USD/day.