Road Trip Calculator
Plan driving time, fuel cost and overnight stops for a long journey.
Please note: Estimates for planning only. Real fuel economy, depreciation, insurance and lease terms vary widely by vehicle, region and driving style. Confirm figures against a dealer quote or your own records before relying on them.
What the Road Trip Calculator does
A road trip plan needs three things: how long the driving takes at a realistic average, how many days that becomes once you cap daily hours, and what the fuel and overnight stops cost. Breaks and overnight stops add substantially to the elapsed time and price of a long journey.
Formula
Driving hours = Distance ÷ Average speedBreaks = ⌊Driving hours ÷ Break interval⌋Days = ⌈Driving hours ÷ Driving hours per day⌉Fuel cost = Distance ÷ 100 × L/100km × Price per litre
Inputs explained
| Input | Unit | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total distance | number | Yes | Accepts more than 0. |
| Distance unit | one of 2 options | Yes | — |
| Average speed | number | Yes | Accepts more than 0. |
| Break length | minutes | Optional | Accepts 0 or more. |
| Break every | hours | Optional | Accepts 0 or more. |
| Driving hours per day | number | Yes | Accepts more than 0, up to 24. |
| Fuel economy | number | Yes | Accepts more than 0. |
| Fuel economy measured in | one of 4 options | Yes | — |
| Fuel price per unit | selected currency | Yes | Accepts more than 0. |
| Fuel priced per | one of 3 options | Yes | — |
| Lodging per night | selected currency | Optional | Accepts 0 or more. |
| Tolls and parking | selected currency | Optional | Accepts 0 or more. |
| Number of travellers | number | Optional | Accepts 1 or more. |
| Currency | one of 10 options | Optional | — |
How to use it
- Choose Distance unit and Fuel economy measured in.
- Enter Total distance, Average speed, Driving hours per day and Fuel economy and 1 more.
- Optionally add Break length, Break every and Lodging per night.
- Select Calculate.
Worked example
1,200 miles at a 65 mph average, 8 driving hours a day, 30 mpg, $3.50 fuel, $120 a night.
- Distance
- 1,200 mi
- Speed
- 65 mph
- Hours/day
- 8
- Economy
- 30 mpg
18 h 28 min of driving plus 9 breaks — 21 h 28 min total, spread over 3 days with 2 nights. Fuel $140, lodging $240, total $380.
Reading the result
- "Distance per driving day" translates the day-count into a concrete daily target, useful for planning where to stop each night.
- The daily-driving-limit table shows the real trade-off between arriving sooner and driving longer each day.
Assumptions and limitations
- Average speed is a single flat figure for the whole trip — the notes state fuel stops, traffic and towns pull down a realistic average, so mixed terrain likely has a real average that varies segment to segment.
- Lodging is applied at one flat nightly rate — real costs vary by city or region, so total lodging is only as accurate as that single assumed rate holding for every stop.
Common mistakes
- Entering a speed limit rather than a realistic average — the FAQ and notes both warn fuel stops and traffic pull the achievable average well below the posted limit.
- Assuming "cost per person" reflects how costs are actually shared — it splits the total evenly regardless of who drives or pays for fuel.
Frequently asked questions
What average speed should I use?
Well under the limit. Even on motorways, fuel stops and traffic usually pull a realistic average down to 55–65 mph over a full day.
How many hours a day is safe to drive?
Most guidance caps it at 8 to 9 hours with a break every two hours. Fatigue is a leading factor in long-distance crashes.