Trip Cost Calculator
Estimate the fuel cost of a road trip from the distance, your car's fuel economy and the price of fuel per litre.
Your results
Calculation breakdown
- Fuel used
- Litres = (distance / 100) × L/100km
- Cost
- Cost = litres × fuel price
Worked example
A 400km trip at 7.5L/100km and $1.85/L uses 30L, costing about $55.50.
Assumptions
- Excludes tolls, parking and accommodation.
- Uses a single average fuel economy figure for the whole trip.
How this calculator works
Enter your trip distance, your vehicle's fuel economy in litres per 100km and the current fuel price to estimate the total fuel cost for the journey. Useful for budgeting a road trip or comparing driving against other travel options.
Calculate fuel cost for an Australian road trip
Fuel used equals trip distance divided by vehicle efficiency in kilometres per litre. Multiply the litres required by the expected price per litre, then add accommodation, food, tolls, parking and other travel costs.
If the distance entered is one way, include the return journey unless the calculator option or your itinerary already does so. A route change, traffic, towing, air conditioning and road conditions can all affect real fuel use.
- Use your vehicle's recent real-world fuel consumption
- Allow for regional fuel-price differences
- Keep tolls, parking and overnight stops in the same estimate
Compare the estimate with flying or public transport
For a fair comparison, include the whole door-to-door cost rather than fuel alone. A driving total can include vehicle hire, extra kilometres, parking and travel time, while an airfare comparison can include baggage, airport transfers and local transport.
Run a low and high scenario before booking. The range is more useful than a single precise-looking number when fuel prices and accommodation charges can change.
Frequently asked questions
Does this include tolls or parking?
No, this covers fuel only; add tolls, parking and accommodation separately for a full trip budget.
What fuel economy figure should I use?
Use your own recent L/100km figure from the Fuel Economy calculator for the most accurate trip estimate, since real-world use often differs from the sticker figure.
Can I use this for a return trip?
Yes, enter the total return distance, or calculate one way and double the result.
Editorial review and responsibility
Reviewed by the CalcAussie editorial team on 21 September 2026. Review scope: Method, Australian terminology, material assumptions, source links and user-facing limitations.
Calculator results remain estimates based on the figures entered. Check material decisions against current official information and report a suspected error so it can be reproduced and corrected.