Fuel Economy Trip Calculator

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Fuel Economy Trip Calculator

Imperial (Miles / MPG) Metric (KM / L/100km)

Trip Summary

Total Fuel Required:
Estimated Fuel Cost:

How to Calculate Your Trip Fuel Costs

Planning a road trip involves more than just picking a destination; budgeting for fuel is a critical step for any traveler. Our Fuel Economy Trip Calculator helps you estimate exactly how much gas you will need and the total cost of your journey based on current fuel prices.

To use this tool effectively, you need three pieces of information:

  • Trip Distance: The total mileage or kilometers of your intended route.
  • Fuel Efficiency: Your vehicle's average consumption (Miles per Gallon or Liters per 100km).
  • Fuel Price: The current local price of gasoline or diesel.

Understanding the Mathematics of Fuel Economy

Depending on where you live, you likely use either the Imperial or Metric system. The math changes slightly between the two:

Imperial (US/UK): The calculation is straightforward. You divide the distance by your MPG to find the gallons needed.
Formula: (Distance / MPG) * Price per Gallon = Total Cost

Metric (Rest of World): This uses "Liters per 100 Kilometers." To find the fuel used, divide your distance by 100 and multiply by the efficiency rating.
Formula: ((Distance / 100) * L per 100km) * Price per Liter = Total Cost

Tips to Improve Your Trip's Fuel Economy

If your calculated costs look a bit high, consider these strategies to stretch your fuel further:

  1. Maintain Steady Speeds: Rapid acceleration and heavy braking can lower your fuel economy by up to 30% on highways.
  2. Check Tire Pressure: Under-inflated tires create more rolling resistance, forcing the engine to work harder.
  3. Reduce Excess Weight: Remove heavy items from your trunk that aren't necessary for the trip. Every 100 pounds can reduce efficiency by 1%.
  4. Limit Roof Rack Use: Cargo boxes on the roof create aerodynamic drag. If possible, pack items inside the vehicle.

Example Calculation

If you are driving 500 miles in a car that gets 25 MPG, and gas is $3.80 per gallon:

  • 500 miles / 25 MPG = 20 Gallons needed.
  • 20 Gallons * $3.80 = $76.00 Total Cost.
function updateLabels() { var system = document.getElementById("unitSystem").value; var distLabel = document.getElementById("distLabel"); var effLabel = document.getElementById("efficiencyLabel"); var priceLabel = document.getElementById("priceLabel"); if (system === "imperial") { distLabel.innerText = "Trip Distance (Miles)"; effLabel.innerText = "Fuel Efficiency (MPG)"; priceLabel.innerText = "Gas Price (per Gallon)"; } else { distLabel.innerText = "Trip Distance (Kilometers)"; effLabel.innerText = "Fuel Efficiency (L/100km)"; priceLabel.innerText = "Gas Price (per Liter)"; } } function calculateFuelTrip() { var system = document.getElementById("unitSystem").value; var distance = parseFloat(document.getElementById("distance").value); var efficiency = parseFloat(document.getElementById("efficiency").value); var price = parseFloat(document.getElementById("fuelPrice").value); var resultArea = document.getElementById("resultArea"); var resFuel = document.getElementById("resFuel"); var resCost = document.getElementById("resCost"); if (isNaN(distance) || isNaN(efficiency) || isNaN(price) || efficiency <= 0) { alert("Please enter valid positive numbers for all fields."); return; } var totalFuel = 0; var totalCost = 0; var fuelUnit = ""; if (system === "imperial") { totalFuel = distance / efficiency; fuelUnit = " Gallons"; } else { totalFuel = (distance / 100) * efficiency; fuelUnit = " Liters"; } totalCost = totalFuel * price; resFuel.innerText = totalFuel.toFixed(2) + fuelUnit; resCost.innerText = "$" + totalCost.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}); resultArea.style.display = "block"; }

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