How to plan a road trip fuel budget

A fuel budget is one of the easiest parts of a road trip to plan. You only need three numbers: how far you are going, how much fuel your vehicle uses, and what fuel costs along the way.

Find your distance

Use any map app to get the driving distance. Add a little extra for detours, city driving and getting lost.

Use real fuel economy

The rating on the window sticker is a starting point. Highway driving with a loaded car, roof box or trailer will use more fuel.

Pick a realistic price

Prices vary by province, so use an average for the regions you will drive through rather than the price at home.

Run the numbers

Our gas calculator does the math for one-way or round trips and can split the cost between passengers.