Fuel cost calculator
Get gallons, price per mile and cost per person from your own numbers.
Open calculator →CALCULATORS / ECONOMICS
What does one mile cost in gas?
Turn miles per gallon into dollars per mile, then multiply by the distance you drive.
Cost per mile
FREE · NO ACCOUNTDefault gas price $3.995/gal (EIA Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update, U.S. regular, week of Nov 9, 2026); other defaults are illustrative. Confirm local fuel and electricity rates before planning.
Cost per mile formula
Gas cost per mile = price per gallon ÷ MPG. Example: $3.995/gal (EIA Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update, U.S. regular, week of Nov 9, 2026) ÷ 25 MPG = $0.1598 per mile (15.98 cents); the calculator result rounds this to $0.16. This is fuel-only, not the full cost of owning a vehicle.
How to interpret the result
Fuel expense rises with gas price and falls as MPG improves. Compare vehicles at the same fuel price to isolate the efficiency difference.
Worked example: Denver to Salt Lake City, hybrid vs pickup
RoadCost's Google Maps route lookup (November 13, 2026) measures Denver, CO to Salt Lake City, UT at 518.9 miles, about 7 h 55 min of driving. Colorado and Utah are both in the EIA's Rocky Mountain region (PADD 4), where regular gasoline averaged $3.946 per gallon in the week of November 9, 2026 (EIA Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update).
Cost per mile = price per gallon ÷ MPG. For a 2026 Toyota RAV4 AWD SE & LE (hybrid) at its EPA highway rating of 39 MPG (fueleconomy.gov): $3.946 ÷ 39 = $0.1012 per mile, or 10.1 cents. Multiply by the distance: 518.9 mi × $3.946 ÷ 39 = $52.50 for the one-way drive.
Swap in a 2026 Ford F-150 2WD 2.7L at 25 MPG highway and the rate rises to 15.8 cents per mile, or $81.90 for the same road: $29.40 more, purely from fuel economy. Cost per mile is the easiest way to compare vehicles because it does not depend on how far you go.
| Vehicle and EPA rating | Midwest $3.868 | Rocky Mountain $3.946 | U.S. average $3.995 | California $5.562 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F-150 2.7L combined (21 MPG) | 18.4¢ | 18.8¢ | 19.0¢ | 26.5¢ |
| F-150 2.7L highway (25 MPG) | 15.5¢ | 15.8¢ | 16.0¢ | 22.2¢ |
| Accord 1.5T highway (37 MPG) | 10.5¢ | 10.7¢ | 10.8¢ | 15.0¢ |
| RAV4 hybrid highway (39 MPG) | 9.9¢ | 10.1¢ | 10.2¢ | 14.3¢ |
| RAV4 hybrid combined (42 MPG) | 9.2¢ | 9.4¢ | 9.5¢ | 13.2¢ |
Reading across a row shows how much location matters: the same hybrid costs 9.9 cents a mile at the Midwest average and 14.3 cents at the California average. Reading down a column shows the effect of the vehicle. Once you know your rate, the gallons calculator tells you how much fuel the trip needs, Compare cars runs three vehicles over one distance, and EV vs gas does the same comparison against an electric car.
Frequently asked questions
Is cost per mile the same as IRS mileage rate?
No. This calculator covers gas, while an official mileage reimbursement rate may account for multiple ownership and operating costs.
What does gas cost per mile from Denver to Salt Lake City in a hybrid?
About 10.1 cents per mile, or $52.50 for the 518.9-mile drive, for a 2026 Toyota RAV4 AWD SE/LE hybrid at 39 MPG highway and the Rocky Mountain average of $3.946 per gallon (EIA, week of November 9, 2026).
How do I turn cents per mile into a trip total?
Multiply the rate by the miles you will drive, and keep the unrounded rate for long trips. In the Denver example that is 518.9 × ($3.946 ÷ 39) = $52.50; rounding the rate to 10.1 cents first would give $52.41. For a round trip, double the miles.
How much does a $1 change in gas price change my cost per mile?
Divide $1 by your MPG. At 25 MPG each extra dollar per gallon adds 4.0 cents per mile; at 39 MPG it adds 2.6 cents.
Which gas price should I use?
Use the price where you will actually fill up. The EIA publishes U.S., regional and selected state and city averages every week; the release used here came out on November 10, 2026, and the next one is scheduled for November 17, 2026.
Keep exploring
Compare cars on the same road
One distance. One fuel price. Three efficiency scenarios. See which choice uses less money.
Open calculator →How to calculate a road trip cost
Start with the numbers that matter, and separate known expenses from estimates.
Open guide →