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There are tons of them out there that will calculate the cost based on your expected MPG. A quick Google search for "trip cost calculator" returned at least a dozen sites with different style calculators.
Trip length / average MPG of vehicle to be used x current cost per gallon of gas = estimated trip cost.
Or is there more to it than that?
EDIT-I just tried the AAA trip calculator, using a trip I make every year. It returned an MPG of less than 18 for my car, and I've gotten 23-25 on each of my trips. Just an FYI.
Trip length / average MPG of vehicle to be used x current cost per gallon of gas = estimated trip cost.
Or is there more to it than that?
Yeah, there's food and lodging costs too, which don't vary that much across the country, as gas prices do.
It's really not too hard to figure out. You should know how many MPG you car gets, you know what you eat and you know what you like in a motel room. Toss in a few souveniers and attractions and it's just basic math. Website un-necessary.
Yeah, there's food and lodging costs too, which don't vary that much across the country, as gas prices do.
It's really not too hard to figure out. You should know how many MPG you car gets, you know what you eat and you know what you like in a motel room. Toss in a few souveniers and attractions and it's just basic math. Website un-necessary.
I know about food and lodging, but I assumed the trip calculators only dealt with fuel costs. That's exactly what the AAA site did.
I agree that it's pretty simple to figure out what a trip will cost, using the formula you gave.
There are tons of them out there that will calculate the cost based on your expected MPG. A quick Google search for "trip cost calculator" returned at least a dozen sites with different style calculators.
Do you have any recommendations on the ones that came up through the search?
Do you have any recommendations on the ones that came up through the search?
No, I usually just figure it out myself, as it is pretty simple math. Total miles to drive divided by expected MPG times average cost of gas = cost of fuel.
Check your route and see if there are any toll roads/bridges and add in the cost of tolls.
If you are going to be staying overnight, plan the stop ahead of time and check hotel rates in the area.
Meals should be pretty easy, you know what you eat. Plan $15 per person for breakfast/lunch and snacks on the road and $20 for dinner, about $35 total, more if you eat at fancier places.
Take your total and add 20% for incidentals. If you have don't have a credit card make sure you have at least $500-$1,000 in cash available on your debit card in case of a breakdown. Also, if using a debit card for motel stays, double the cost and make sure you have that much extra available to handle the hold they will place on your account.
Those all appear to be fuel cost calculators. As stated several times previously, that is a 10 second calculation you can make if you know the MPG of your car, the length of the trip, and an average cost for fuel. No website is needed.
The necessary info to determine a ballpark estimate for the other trip costs has also been explained. Make a list, get out a calculator. Take control.
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