How much will gas cost for your drive? Pick your cities (or type your miles), set your MPG, and get a fuel estimate from published AAA state averages (updated 9/7/26).
Estimated fuel cost
$56.26
270 mi approx.One way · Regular
Updates as you edit.
One-way distance
270 mi
Fuel needed
10.4 gal
Average price
$5.42/gal
AAA state averages · Sep 7, 2026. Price uses the average of California ($5.86/gal) and Nevada ($4.97/gal). Distance is straight-line miles × 1.18, rounded to the nearest 5 miles; check a map for your actual route. Actual cost varies with route, traffic and driving style.
Road-trip fuel questions
How is the trip gas cost calculated?
Distance ÷ your vehicle's MPG = gallons needed, multiplied by the average of the origin and destination states' current price for your fuel grade (AAA daily averages). If you don't type an exact distance, we estimate driving distance as straight-line distance times a typical road factor of 1.18. For example, a 300-mile one-way drive at 30 MPG uses 10 gallons. At a hypothetical $3.50 per gallon, that costs $35 one way or $70 round trip. These are sample inputs; the calculator uses your inputs and published state prices.
How do I lower the cost of a road trip?
Fill up in the cheaper state — border differences can reach 60¢ or more per gallon, which is $9+ on a 15-gallon tank. Check both states' pages before you leave, and top off before entering an expensive state.
What MPG should I use?
Highway MPG from your car's spec sheet is close for road trips: roughly 30–36 for sedans, 24–28 for crossovers and SUVs, 18–22 for pickups, and 45+ for hybrids. Real-world highway mileage runs a bit under the sticker.