Road Trip Cost Calculator
Estimate a road trip's total fuel cost and see how much each traveler owes if you're splitting gas.
How this calculator works
- Enter the one-way distance, your vehicle's MPG and the gas price per gallon.
- Enter the number of travelers splitting the cost, and toggle round trip if needed.
- The calculator computes total fuel needed and cost, then divides evenly by the number of travelers.
Planning a road trip with friends? This calculator estimates the total fuel cost for the drive and splits it evenly across everyone in the car — useful for agreeing on gas money before you hit the road.
Example
A 300-mile one-way road trip (600 round trip) at 28 MPG with gas at $3.60/gallon, split between 4 people: fuel needed = 600 ÷ 28 ≈ 21.4 gallons. Fuel cost ≈ $77.14. Per person ≈ $19.29.
Limitations
This covers fuel only, split evenly — it doesn't include tolls, lodging or food, and doesn't account for uneven contributions (e.g., only the driver paying for wear and tear).
Frequently asked questions
How do I split gas money on a road trip?
Calculate the total fuel cost for the trip, then divide it evenly by the number of people traveling — that's exactly what this calculator does.
Should the driver pay less since they're driving?
That's a personal or group decision — some groups split fuel evenly regardless of who drives, others factor in wear and tear separately. This calculator gives the even fuel-only split as a starting point.
Does this include lodging or food costs?
No — for a full trip budget including lodging, food and activities, use the Travel Budget Calculator.
How do I calculate for multiple cars?
Run the calculation once per car with that car's MPG and its group of travelers, since fuel economy differs by vehicle.