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.
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.