Road Trip Cost Calculator (Gas + Tolls + Hotels)
Add up a road trip's fuel (worked out from miles, mpg and gas price), tolls, hotel nights and food into one total, so you can budget the drive or compare it with flying.
Last updated: September 2026
Total trip cost
$740.00
Formula below · 4 sources (IRS, eia.gov, fueleconomy.gov, aaa.com) · Updated Sep 2026
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About this calculator
The all-in cost of a road trip is the sum of four line items:
total = fuel + tolls + lodging + food
Fuel is (miles / mpg) × gasPrice. A 1,000-mile round trip at 25 mpg and $3.50/gal is 40 gallons × $3.50 = $140. Real fuel use often runs 5–10% higher than EPA sticker mpg because of highway speed (drag), roof loads, and headwinds; add a 10% buffer for a conservative estimate.
Tolls vary wildly by route. The I-95 corridor from Miami to Boston costs $80–100 one-way; western US interstates are almost entirely free. Use a toll-lookup tool (TollGuru or the state DOT sites) for a specific route.
Lodging is the largest single variable. Motel-tier: $80–100/night. Mid-tier hotel: $120–180. Nicer or in a city: $200–350+. Book non-refundable rates via a hotel chain’s app for the best price, or use points if you have them.
Food budget of $50/person/day covers one diner breakfast, a fast-casual lunch, and a moderate sit-down dinner. Camping and self-catering can drop this to $20; road-food-only can push it to $80.
This calculator does not include vehicle wear (maintenance, repairs and tires of roughly $0.10/mile, or about $0.58–$0.62/mile including depreciation, which is the IRS 2026 mileage rate minus fuel at 25 mpg and $3.50/gal), parking, or attractions. Add those if you want a fully loaded number.
How to use
Example — 4-day, 1,000-mile trip. Vehicle 25 mpg, gas $3.50/gal, tolls $40, 3 hotel nights at $120, $50/day food for 4 days. Fuel = (1000/25) × 3.50 = $140. Tolls = $40. Lodging = 3 × 120 = $360. Food = 4 × 50 = $200. Total = $740. Split three ways, that is $246.67 each. Example — 12-day, 3,500-mile western loop. Vehicle 32 mpg (small SUV), gas $4.00, tolls $10, 10 hotel nights at $140, $60/day food for 12 days. Fuel = (3500/32) × 4 = $437.50. Tolls = $10. Lodging = 10 × 140 = $1,400. Food = 12 × 60 = $720. Total = $2,567.50. The Road Trip Fuel Cost Calculator checks the fuel line on its own.
Frequently asked questions
What about vehicle wear?
This calculator captures direct out-of-pocket costs. Vehicle wear — tires, oil, brake pads and repairs — typically adds about $0.10 per mile for passenger cars on top of fuel, or about $100 per 1,000 miles. Counting depreciation as well brings it to roughly $0.58–$0.62 per mile. For a proper long-term cost comparison (driving vs flying + rental), include wear. The IRS 2026 business standard mileage rate (72.5 cents per mile through June 30, 76 cents from July 1, 2026) already bakes fuel, depreciation and wear together.
Should I include parking and attractions?
It depends on how you want to use the number. This calculator gives 'travel cost' — the minimum you need to spend to complete the trip. On-trip entertainment, parking, gifts, and attraction tickets can easily add 20–100% to that base. Keep them in a separate line so you can see how much of the total is fixed transit vs discretionary.
How do EV charging costs compare?
For a Tesla Model 3, home charging costs about $0.05–$0.08 per mile (electricity at $0.15/kWh); DC fast-charging at Superchargers is $0.15–$0.30 per mile depending on state. A 1,000-mile trip in a Model 3 costs $50–$100 in electricity vs $140 in a 25-mpg gas car at $3.50 fuel. Add 15–25% more driving time for charging stops on long trips.
What's the cheapest way to cut trip cost?
Lodging is usually the biggest lever. Two nights of camping instead of hotel can save $200–300. After that, food (buying groceries and packing lunches saves $20–$30/day per person). Fuel is nearly fixed for a given route — you can only save 10–15% by driving slower and packing lighter. Tolls are route-dependent; a free route may add an hour but save $50.
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