Calculate road trip gas cost, hotels, food, and total budget. Plan any road trip with per-person cost breakdown. Free calculator.
Road trips look cheap until you add the real costs — gas, hotels, food, activities, and the inevitable stops that add up fast. Our calculator plans every dollar before you leave, calculates fuel cost based on your actual MPG and current average prices, and shows cost-per-person so the whole group knows the budget before departure.
Formula: total miles divided by MPG multiplied by gas price per gallon equals fuel cost. Example: 1,200 mile trip in 28 MPG car at $3.50/gallon: 1,200/28 × 3.50 = $150 in gas. Round trip: $300. Always add 10-15% buffer for detours, AC usage increasing consumption, and gas price variations along route.
Road trip wins: groups of 3+ people split costs, trips under 500 miles, flexible schedule, bringing equipment or luggage that would cost extra to fly, and destinations not served by direct flights. Flying wins: solo travelers, trips over 1,000 miles, when your time has high value, or when flight prices are low.
Divide total trip miles by your car's MPG to get gallons needed. Multiply by the average gas price along your route — check GasBuddy for current prices by state. Add 10% buffer. Example: 800 miles divided by 32 MPG = 25 gallons × $3.45 average = $86.25 one way, $172.50 round trip.
Budget ranges per person per day: Budget road trip with camping and cooking $50-75/day. Moderate with budget hotels and mix of cooking and eating out $100-150/day. Comfortable with mid-range hotels and restaurants $175-250/day. Most families plan $150-200/person/day for a comfortable road trip.
Often yes for shorter distances under 800 miles. Flying 2 people round trip at $200 each = $800. Driving 1,200 miles round trip: $120 gas plus $200 hotel plus $100 food = $420 for 2 people. Road trip wins unless the flight deal is very cheap or time is the constraint.
Yes — every FreeFixo tool, including the Road Trip Budget Calculator — Plan Total Cost Before You Go, is 100% free with no paywall, no premium tier, and no usage limits. You do not need to create an account, enter a credit card, or share an email.
The Road Trip Budget Calculator — Plan Total Cost Before You Go uses the same formulas, rates, and reference data that financial planners, professionals, and government sources publish. Results are estimates intended for planning and education — for situations involving large sums or legal consequences, confirm with a qualified professional before acting.
No signup is ever required. The Road Trip Budget Calculator — Plan Total Cost Before You Go runs entirely in your browser — your inputs are never sent to a server, and we do not store, track, or share your data. Open it, get your answer, close the tab.