Calculate gas cost for any trip, commute, or road trip. Enter distance, MPG (fuel efficiency), and current gas price to instantly see your fuel cost. Compare vehicles, calculate monthly commute cost, and plan road trip budgets. Supports miles/km and MPG/L per 100km. Free, instant, no sign-up.
Trip gas cost, commute cost & vehicle comparison
With the average US gas price at $3.45/gallon in mid-2026 (AAA data), fuel cost is a major household expense. The average American drives 13,500 miles per year. At 30 MPG (average for a 2024 model year vehicle), that's 450 gallons/year × $3.45 = $1,552 annually just in gas. A commuter driving 40 miles round-trip daily at 28 MPG burns 1.43 gallons per day — $4.93 at today's prices, or $1,235/year for a 5-day-a-week commute. Switching from a 20 MPG SUV to a 35 MPG sedan on the same commute saves $1,254/year in fuel alone.
The IRS standard mileage rate for 2026 is 70 cents per mile — this figure covers fuel, depreciation, insurance, maintenance, and tires. For pure fuel cost comparison, this calculator isolates only the gas portion. For complete vehicle cost analysis including depreciation and maintenance, multiply total miles by the IRS rate. Electric vehicles have an equivalent fuel cost of roughly $1.00–$1.50 per 100 miles at average US electricity rates (13 cents/kWh), compared to $11.50 per 100 miles for a 30 MPG gas vehicle at $3.45/gallon — making EV fuel savings approximately 85–90% for high-mileage drivers.
Lowest: Texas ($2.90), Mississippi ($2.95), Oklahoma ($2.98). Highest: California ($4.80), Hawaii ($4.60), Washington ($4.20). National average: ~$3.45/gallon (regular unleaded). Prices fluctuate with crude oil markets, state taxes, and refinery capacity. California's high price reflects state excise tax + environmental fees totaling $1.10/gallon.
Best non-EV MPG: Toyota Prius 57 MPG combined, Honda Insight 52 MPG, Toyota Camry Hybrid 52 MPG, Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid 59 MPG. Best SUV: Toyota RAV4 Hybrid 38 MPG. Average new car: ~30 MPG. Average SUV/truck: ~22 MPG. Going from 20 to 30 MPG saves $865/year on 13,500 miles at $3.45/gallon.
Maintain proper tire pressure (under-inflation reduces MPG by ~0.2%/psi). Avoid aggressive acceleration/braking (saves 10–40% fuel). Use cruise control on highways (saves 7–14%). Reduce AC use at low speeds (AC cuts MPG by 5–25%). Remove roof racks when not in use. Keep up with maintenance — dirty air filters reduce MPG by up to 10%.
A cross-country US road trip (NY to LA, ~2,800 miles) in a 30 MPG vehicle at $3.45/gallon costs approximately $322 in fuel one-way. The same trip in a 20 MPG truck costs $484. Driving vs flying breakeven: flying is cheaper for distances over ~600 miles for a solo traveler when accounting for all road costs. With 3–4 passengers, driving wins for trips up to 1,500 miles.
Trip fuel cost is distance divided by fuel economy, multiplied by price per unit. The arithmetic is trivial; what people underestimate is how strongly real-world economy departs from the rated figure. Aerodynamic drag rises with the square of speed, so fuel consumption climbs steeply above about 55 mph — driving at 75 rather than 65 typically costs 10–15% more fuel. A roof box can cost 10–25% on the motorway. Cold weather, short trips where the engine never reaches operating temperature, and under-inflated tyres all reduce economy further, which is why annual fuel spend usually exceeds any calculation based on the window sticker.
Gallons needed = Distance ÷ MPGTrip cost = Gallons × Price per gallonCost per mile = Price per gallon ÷ MPGMetric: Cost = (Distance ÷ 100) × L/100km × price per litrewhere:
Assumptions: Fuel only. A full trip cost should include tolls, parking and, for longer journeys, the per-mile share of maintenance and depreciation, which together often exceed the fuel.
Cost a long drive, then test how much speed changes the answer.
Result$153.89 for the trip — $176.69 if driven fast
The $22.80 difference buys roughly two hours of saved time over 1,450 miles, which may or may not be worth it. Note the cost-per-mile figure of $0.106: the IRS standard mileage rate is several times that, because it covers depreciation and maintenance rather than fuel alone.