Trip Gas Cost Calculator

How much will gas cost for your drive? Pick your cities (or type your miles), set your MPG, and get a fuel estimate from today’s AAA state averages (updated 7/24/26).

Driving distance (approx)
270 mi
Fuel needed
10.4 gal
Avg price used
$5.16/gal
Fuel cost
$53.57

Method: straight-line distance × 1.18 typical road factor — approximate; check a map app for the exact route; price = average of California ($5.59) and Nevada ($4.72) state averages from AAA. Real 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.

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.