The Cost to Drive calculator computes the cost of a road trip based on the distance, miles per gallon and cost per gallon.
INSTRUCTIONS: Choose units and enter the following:
- (m) Total Miles Driven
- (mpg) Miles per Gallon (average for vehicle)
- (ppg) Price per Gallon
Total Cost to Drive (TC): The calculator returns the Cost to Drive in U.S. dollars. However, this can be automatically converted to other currencies via the pull-down menu.
The Math / Science
Many people would rather drive than fly, and sometimes it makes economic sense if the time on the road is not prohibitive. The formula for the cost to drive is:
TC = ( M / mpg) ⋅ ppg
where:
- TC = Total Cost of Fuel on a Road Trip
- M = Miles Traveled
- mpg = Miles per Gallon
- ppg = Dollars per Gallon
Other Travel Considerations
Consider a trip from south west Pennsylvania to Orlando Florida that is 950 miles each way. The driving time would be fourteen hours and twenty minutes each way. This would be a long day driving each way, and one should not drive more than nine or ten hours in a day, so we'll stop at a hotel for the night each way.
With two people traveling, we have:
- 1,900 total miles
- 34 mpg in our car
- $2.80 per gallon as the average cost of gas (petrol)
- 24 meals (4 travel days * 3 meals per day * 2 people)
- $15 per meal
- 2 nights in a hotel
- $150 per night
Total Price to Drive is $790.
Advice from a Dad
- Check Tire Pressure: Make sure your tires are in good shape (not too worn) and inflated to the right pressure. You'll get the best gas mileage that way.
- Check the Oil: Get an oil change before your trip and have the shop give your car the "once over" to make sure everything looks good.
- Don't Push Yourself: Tiredness kills. Don't drive more than ten hours in a day and take breaks!
- Take a Friend: If your driving, that means a passenger goes nearly for free. Hey, they could split the cost!
- Stick to Main Roads: Have you ever seen "Wrong Turn"?
- GPS vs Google Maps: Your GPS will show you the route. That's good, but Google Maps takes into account the current driving conditions and traffic. I recommend Google Maps.
- Call when you get there. Let someone know when you're traveling, where you will be and arrange to talk to them along the way. If something happens, they can help.
- Obey the Speed Limits. I'm not paying for your ticket, and it could ruin your trip.
- Be safe and have a great trip.
Road Travel Calculators:
- Cost to Drive: Fuel costs based on distance traveled, miles per gallon of vehicle, and dollars per gallon for fuel.
- Gas Mileage Equation: MPG based on two odometer readings and fuel consumed.
- Gas Mileage: MPG based on miles traveled and fuel consumed.
- Mileage Expense: Cost of travel based on mileage rate and distance traveled.
- Mileage Tax Deduction: Expense allocation based on miles traveled and category of travel (see below).
- Time to Travel: Time driving based on average speed and distance.
- Time to Overtake: Time to intercept based on distance between vehicles and average speed of both
- Compare US Dollars per Gallon vs Canadian Dollars per Liter prices
- Compute the Cost of a Road-Trip
- Euro Dollar Calculator combines unit conversions with currency conversions for the European Union and the United States.
- Fuel per Mile: This computes the fuel consumed per unit traveled (e.g., gallons per mile and liters per kilometer).
- Average Fuel Economy: This computes the miles per gallon or other fuel economy indicators (kilometers per liter)
- Energy in Diesel
- Energy in Gasoline
- CO2 from Burning an amount of Diesel Fuel
- Carbon Dioxide per Gallon Diesel
- Cost to Idle a Vehicle
- Carbon Tax
Money and Travel
The US Mileage Rate for Business Travel shows the dollars per mile deduction for business travel for the calendar year. The most recently queried information from the IRS website on mileage includes:
Mileage Calendar Year: 2024
- $67.0 USD/mi: Mileage Deduction for Business Travel
- $21.0 USD/mi: Mileage Deduction for Moving or Medical Travel
- $14.0 USD/mi: Mileage Deduction for Charitable Donation Travel
Use these deductions rates in the Mileage Tax Deduction Calculator. It computes tax deductions from miles travelled. Just enter the miles traveled and see the dollar amount associates for business, moving or medical, and charitable work.
Dollar per Gallon vs Other Currencies per Liter
International travel poses a several challenges, even if it's just over the boarder to Canada or Mexico. First, there is the conversion from liters to gallons, which is fixed, and then there's the conversion between the US dollar and other currency, which is constantly changing. vCalc is here to help. We know how to do the math and we keep track of currency fluctuations, and the result makes it easier on you.
Here are four examples, US dollar per gallon from
- Euros per Liter
- Canadian Dollars per Liter
- Great Britain Pounds per Liter
- Mexican Pesos per Liter
| Country | $1.00 Equivalent | |
| Canadian Dollar | 1.35 CAD | |
| Euro | 0.903 EUR | |
| Great Britain Pound | 0.761 GBP | |
| Mexican Peso | 19.822 MXN |
The formula to convert Euros per Liter to U.S. Dollars per Gallon is:
`DPG = € EPL * (3.7854 " Liters")/(1.0 " U.S. Gallons") * ($1.0 " USD")/( "€ 0.903 EUR")`
The formula to convert Canadian Dollars per Liter to U.S. Dollars per Gallon is:
`DPG = Can$ CPL * (3.7854 " Liters")/(1.0 " U.S. Gallons") * ($1.0 " USD")/( "$ 1.35 CAD")`
The formula to convert Great Britain Pounds (Sterling) per Liter to U.S. Dollars per Gallon is:
`DPG = £ PPL * (3.7854 " Liters")/(1.0 " U.S. Gallons") * ($1.0 " USD")/( "£ 0.761 GBP")`
The formula to convert Mexican Pesos per Liter to U.S. Dollars per Gallon is:
`DPG = ? PPL * (3.7854 " Liters")/(1.0 " U.S. Gallons") * ($1.0 " USD")/( "?19.822 MXN")`
where:
- DPG = US Dollars per Gallon
- € EPL = Euros per Liter
- Can$ CPL = Canadian Dollars per Liter
- £ PPL = Pounds per Liter
- ? PPL = Pesos per Liter
Note the currency exchange rates are updated every two minutes.
Additional Fuel Price Conversions:
- US Dollars per Gallon from India Rupees per Liter
- US Dollars per Gallon from Japanese Yen per Liter
- US Dollars per Gallon from Chinese Yuan per Liter
- Compare US Dollars per Gallon vs Canadian Dollars per Liter prices
- Fuel per Mile: This computes the fuel consumed per unit traveled (e.g. gallons per mile).