Trip Cost Calculator

A 2,800-mile Los Angeles → New York drive in a 30 MPG sedan burns ~93 gallons — about $325 at the current US average. A 20 MPG truck or SUV burns ~140 gallons ≈ $490. Shorter example: a Houston, TX → Denver trip (1,030 mi) is roughly $120 in a sedan, $180 in a truck.

Use the Pick my car tab to get EPA-certified MPG from fueleconomy.gov (covering all US gas vehicles 1984–2026). Combined MPG is a weighted city/highway mix — most accurate for mixed driving. Prefer Highway MPG for interstate-heavy trips.

Low-tax states with refinery access — Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Louisiana — typically post the cheapest pump prices. High-tax or supply-constrained states — California, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Illinois — run 50¢–$1.50/gal above the national average. Fueling up before crossing into CA or PA on a road trip can save $10–$25 on a full tank.

Most US states have toll roads — think I-95 in the Northeast, Florida's Turnpike, the Kansas Turnpike, and Texas toll examples like SH 130, TxTag, and Harris County EZ Tag. Plan for $5–$30 per long one-way trip, more in the Northeast corridor. The calculator estimates fuel only; tolls, parking, food, and maintenance are on top.

Yes — the Google Maps Distance Matrix computes accurate driving distances between any two US addresses, and fueleconomy.gov covers vehicles sold nationwide. Enter any origin and destination in any of the 50 US states (or even Canada/Mexico border crossings). For precise per-station prices outside Texas, use the I'm at the pump toggle to type today's local gas price.

Yes — toggle Round trip below the passenger selector. The calculator doubles the distance and fuel cost but keeps per-person math the same (round-trip cost ÷ passenger count).