Use Google Maps, Apple Maps, or your car's navigation to find the driving distance. Add 5-10% for detours, wrong turns, and stops.

Check your owner's manual for EPA estimates, or calculate your actual MPG by tracking fill-ups. Real-world MPG is often 10-15% lower than EPA ratings, especially for highway trips with A/C.

Use GasBuddy or AAA to find current prices along your route. Prices vary significantly by state and region—plan fuel stops in cheaper areas when possible.

Divide distance by MPG to get gallons needed, then multiply by gas price. Example: 500 miles ÷ 25 MPG = 20 gallons × $3.50 = $70 fuel cost.

Highway driving is typically 20-30% more fuel-efficient than city driving. Mountain routes with elevation changes use significantly more fuel than flat terrain.

Stop-and-go traffic can reduce fuel economy by 20-40%. Add extra budget for trips through major metro areas during rush hour.

Fuel economy drops above 50 mph. Driving 75 mph instead of 65 mph can reduce MPG by 10-15%. Highway speed limits vary by state.

Each 100 lbs of extra weight reduces MPG by about 1%. Roof racks and cargo boxes increase aerodynamic drag, reducing highway MPG by 2-8%.

Cold weather reduces MPG 10-20%. Hot weather with A/C use can reduce MPG 5-25%. Headwinds increase fuel consumption on long trips.

Under-inflated tires, dirty air filters, and deferred maintenance all reduce fuel economy. A well-maintained vehicle delivers better MPG.

Maintaining 65 mph vs. 75 mph can improve fuel economy by 10-15%. Use cruise control for consistent speed. This alone can save $50+ on a long trip.

Avoid major cities during rush hour. Choose routes with fewer stops and hills. Sometimes a longer highway route is more fuel-efficient than a shorter route with traffic.

Gas prices vary by $0.50-$1.50 per gallon between states. On a road trip, fill up before entering expensive states like California or before crossing into major cities.

Every 100 lbs costs about 1% in fuel economy. Leave unnecessary items at home. Use a cargo box only when needed—remove it when empty.

At low speeds, open windows. At highway speeds, use A/C (it's more efficient than drag from open windows above 45 mph). Park in shade to start cooler.

Splitting costs among passengers is the easiest way to reduce per-person fuel expenses. A car with 4 passengers uses similar fuel but divides the cost by 4.

Driving is usually cheaper for trips under 300 miles. Beyond that, compare gas + time costs against airfare. Factor in car rental, parking, and airport transportation for flights.

Driving becomes competitive up to 500-600 miles. The break-even point shifts when you factor in two plane tickets vs. one tank of gas.

Driving is almost always cheaper for families. Four plane tickets often cost $1,200-$2,000+, while fuel for a 1,000-mile trip might only be $150-$200.

Flying: Baggage fees, airport parking, car rental, rideshares. Driving: Tolls, wear and tear (~$0.20/mile), meals, lodging for multi-day trips.

Burning one gallon of gasoline produces about 19.6 pounds (8.9 kg) of CO₂. A 500-mile trip in a 25 MPG car creates roughly 392 lbs of CO₂.

Per passenger-mile, flying produces similar or slightly lower emissions than solo driving. But a full car with 4 passengers beats flying by 2-3x in efficiency.

Carpool to reduce per-person emissions. Drive efficiently to maximize MPG. Consider hybrid or electric for future vehicle purchases. Offset trips through verified carbon programs.

EVs have no direct emissions. Even accounting for power grid emissions, EVs typically produce 50-70% less CO₂ per mile than gas vehicles.