How do you calculate gas cost to a destination?
Divide the total round-trip miles by your vehicle's miles per gallon, then multiply by the current price per gallon. That single formula gives the fuel figure you add to a package price to know what a drive-to trip really costs. Because our vacation packages are flat-rate and often cheap, fuel is frequently the second-largest line after lodging for a road trip — and unlike airfare, it does not multiply by the number of passengers.
Drive-to markets dominate our cheapest inventory. Branson averages $177 a package, Gatlinburg $141, and Myrtle Beach $177, so for many families the fuel to get there is a modest add-on to an already-low price.
The fuel cost formula
- Round-trip miles = one-way distance × 2.
- Gallons needed = round-trip miles ÷ vehicle mpg.
- Fuel cost = gallons needed × price per gallon.
- Per-person fuel = fuel cost ÷ passengers (this is where driving beats flying).
Worked examples at $3.40 per gallon
| One-way distance | Round trip | At 20 mpg | At 25 mpg | At 32 mpg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 150 mi | 300 mi | $51 | $41 | $32 |
| 300 mi | 600 mi | $102 | $82 | $64 |
| 500 mi | 1,000 mi | $170 | $136 | $106 |
Reference table: fuel cost by pump price (25 mpg)
| Round trip ↓ / Price → | $3.00 | $3.50 | $4.25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400 mi | $48 | $56 | $68 |
| 800 mi | $96 | $112 | $136 |
| 1,200 mi | $144 | $168 | $204 |
Add the fuel figure to your package price for the true cost of a drive-to trip, then compare against flying with the family road trip cost calculator. Fold the number into your transport envelope using the budget split calculator, check live prices in the rate recap, and browse drive-to deals in Branson, Gatlinburg, and beyond.
https://vacationdeals.to/gas-cost-to-destination-calculator