Fuel Cost Calculator
Estimate your trip's fuel cost with real vehicle data. Accounts for elevation changes, driving style, weather, and traffic.
About This Calculator
Fuel costs depend on more than just distance and MPG. This calculator blends city/highway fuel economy based on your route type, then adjusts for elevation gain, driving style, A/C usage, passenger load, and traffic conditions. Vehicle data comes from the EPA's FuelEconomy.gov database.
Fuel Cost per Mile by Vehicle Type
Estimated fuel cost per mile at $3.50/gallon for gas and $0.14/kWh for electric.
| Vehicle Type | Typical MPG / MPGe | Cost per Mile | 100-mile Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large truck / SUV | 15–18 MPG | $0.19–$0.23 | $19–$23 |
| Midsize sedan (gas) | 28–32 MPG | $0.11–$0.13 | $11–$13 |
| Compact car | 35–40 MPG | $0.09–$0.10 | $9–$10 |
| Hybrid (Toyota Prius) | 50–58 MPG | $0.06–$0.07 | $6–$7 |
| Electric (Tesla Model 3) | ~130 MPGe | $0.05–$0.06 | $5–$6 |
| Plug-in hybrid | 40–55 MPG | $0.06–$0.09 | $6–$9 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How accurate is this fuel cost calculator?
- This calculator uses EPA fuel economy data for your specific vehicle and applies adjustment factors for elevation gain, driving style (easy/normal/aggressive), A/C usage, and passenger load. Real-world results can vary ±10-15% depending on traffic, vehicle condition, tire pressure, and individual driving habits.
- How does elevation affect fuel economy?
- Climbing elevation requires significantly more engine work and burns more fuel. For every 1,000 feet of net elevation gain, expect roughly 5-8% more fuel consumption. Mountain routes can cut effective MPG by 20-30% compared to flat highway driving. The descent partially recovers this with engine braking and gravity, but the net effect is almost always negative.
- What is the difference between city and highway MPG?
- Highway MPG is typically 20-30% higher than city MPG because highway driving avoids the stop-and-go acceleration that wastes fuel. City driving also means more idling and more frequent braking, which converts kinetic energy to heat. Hybrid vehicles close this gap significantly since they recover braking energy.
- How much does aggressive driving affect fuel costs?
- Aggressive driving — hard acceleration, high speeds, late braking — reduces fuel economy by 15-30% on the highway and up to 40% in city driving, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Driving at 75 mph instead of 65 mph increases fuel consumption by about 13%.
- Where does the gas price data come from?
- Real-time gas prices come from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) API, which publishes weekly average retail gasoline prices by state. Prices are fetched for the destination state of your route.
- Where does the vehicle MPG data come from?
- Vehicle fuel economy data is sourced from the EPA's FuelEconomy.gov database, which contains official MPG ratings for every vehicle sold in the United States since 1984. The EPA tests city and highway cycles separately; combined MPG is typically a 55/45 city/highway weighted blend.