Calculate Road Trip Gas, Food & Hotel Costs
Budget your road trip by distance, MPG, gas prices, food, and lodging. Total trip cost estimator.
Road Trip Budgeting
The three biggest costs: Gas (20-30%): Calculate gallons needed (total miles ÷ MPG) × gas price. A 1,200-mile trip at 28 MPG and $3.50/gal: $150. Hotels (40-50%): Average US hotel: $120-160/night. Save with Airbnb, camping, or staying with friends. Food (20-30%): Budget $40-60 per person per day for a mix of restaurants and groceries.
Money-Saving Road Trip Tips
Gas: Use GasBuddy to find cheapest stations. Fill up before entering expensive areas (national parks, turnpikes). Hotels: Book mid-week rates, use hotel reward programs, and consider staying slightly outside popular destinations. Food: Pack a cooler with breakfast and lunch supplies — eat out only for dinner. This alone saves $20-30 per person per day.
The break-even point between driving and flying for 2 people is approximately 600-800 miles one way. Below that, driving is almost always cheaper. Above that, factor in the value of your time — an 8-hour drive vs a 2-hour flight means 12 hours of saved time for two people. At $25/hour value, that is $600 in time savings that may justify the airfare.
