RV Fuel Cost Calculator
Estimate your RV road trip fuel cost, driving distance, fuel required, MPG and total travel expenses before you hit the road.
RV Fuel Cost Calculator
Plan driving distance, fuel use and trip cost with a route or manual distance.
Add Other Trip Costs
How do you calculate RV fuel cost?
To estimate RV fuel cost, divide your total driving distance by your RV's miles per gallon (MPG) to determine how many gallons of fuel you'll need. Then multiply the gallons required by the current fuel price. For example, a 500-mile trip at 10 MPG requires about 50 gallons. At $3.50 per gallon, the estimated fuel cost is $175.
How to Use the RV Fuel Cost Calculator
Plan your RV fuel budget in a few simple steps.
Enter Your Route
Enter your starting location and destination to calculate the available driving route and distance.
Choose Your RV & MPG
Select your RV type or enter your vehicle's actual average MPG for a more personalized estimate.
Enter Fuel Price
Enter the estimated price per gallon you expect to pay during your trip.
Review Your Cost
See estimated fuel required, fuel cost, total distance and additional trip expenses.
How Is RV Fuel Cost Calculated?
The calculator combines your driving distance, fuel economy and fuel price to estimate how much fuel your RV trip may require.
RV Fuel Cost Example
Trip distance: 500 miles
Fuel economy: 10 MPG
Fuel price: $3.50 per gallon
500 ÷ 10 = 50 gallons
50 × $3.50 = $175 estimated fuel cost
What Is a Good MPG for an RV?
RV fuel economy varies by vehicle type, engine, weight, towing setup, driving speed, terrain and weather. For the most useful estimate, enter the average MPG you normally see from your own RV or tow vehicle.
Class A Motorhome
Large motorhomes generally consume more fuel because of their size, weight and larger engines.
Class B Campervan
Compact van-based RVs can often achieve better fuel economy than larger motorhomes.
Class C Motorhome
Mid-sized motorhomes commonly offer a balance between living space and fuel consumption.
Travel Trailer
Fuel economy depends on the tow vehicle, trailer size, weight and aerodynamic drag.
Fifth Wheel
Fifth-wheel fuel consumption depends heavily on the pickup truck, trailer weight and road conditions.
Truck Camper
Truck campers add weight and aerodynamic resistance, which can affect the truck's normal MPG.
One-Way vs. Round-Trip RV Fuel Cost
A one-way calculation estimates the main journey from your starting location to your destination. Round-trip mode also includes the return journey when calculating the route mileage.
| Trip Type | Destination Distance | Route Miles Used |
|---|---|---|
| One Way | 400 miles | 400 miles |
| Round Trip | 400 miles | 800 miles |
Additional driving miles can then be added separately to represent local travel during your RV trip.
Why Add Additional Driving Miles?
Your campground or RV park may be your main destination, but it probably won't be the only place you drive during your trip.
Additional mileage can help account for driving that isn't included in your main route, including:
- Grocery and supply trips
- Restaurants
- Fuel stations
- Visitor centers
- Nearby towns
- Scenic drives
- National and state park attractions
- Campground detours
- Dump stations
- Propane refill locations
For example, if your round-trip route is 800 miles and you expect about 100 miles of local driving, your estimated total driving distance becomes 900 miles.
Estimate Your Total RV Trip Cost
Fuel is only one part of an RV road-trip budget. The calculator can also help you estimate other common travel expenses.
- Campground nightly fees
- Food
- Road tolls
- Parking
- Propane
- Activities and attractions
- Other travel expenses
- Additional driving fuel
Campground Cost Example
Nightly campground rate: $55
Number of nights: 5
$55 × 5 nights = $275 estimated campground cost
What Can Affect RV Fuel Economy?
Your real-world MPG can change throughout a road trip. Several factors can increase or decrease fuel consumption.
- RV or trailer weight
- Towing configuration
- Driving speed
- Mountain roads and elevation
- Headwinds and weather
- Tire pressure
- Traffic conditions
- Engine condition
- Frequent acceleration and braking
- Road conditions
Consider using a conservative MPG estimate when traveling through mountainous areas, towing a heavy trailer, carrying additional weight or expecting difficult driving conditions.
Continue Your RV Route in Google Maps
After calculating your trip, you can use the calculator's Google Maps options to open your selected destination or continue reviewing the route in Google Maps.
This can be useful for checking roads, exploring stops, reviewing your destination and continuing navigation planning.
The mileage displayed by this calculator can differ slightly from another mapping or navigation service. Different routing systems may choose different roads, route endpoints or route preferences, so small mileage differences are normal.
RV Fuel Cost Calculator FAQ
Quick answers to common questions about RV mileage, MPG, fuel consumption and road-trip costs.
How do I calculate fuel cost for an RV trip?
Divide your total driving distance by your RV's MPG to estimate the gallons required. Multiply the required gallons by the fuel price to estimate your fuel cost.
How much fuel will my RV use?
Fuel consumption depends mainly on total mileage and average MPG. For example, a 600-mile trip at 10 MPG would require approximately 60 gallons of fuel.
Can I calculate a round-trip RV journey?
Yes. Enable Round Trip in the calculator to include the return portion of the main route in the mileage and fuel-cost estimate.
Can I enter my own RV MPG?
Yes. If you know your RV or tow vehicle's real-world average MPG, use that value for a more personalized fuel estimate.
Can I add extra driving miles?
Yes. Additional miles can represent sightseeing, grocery trips, campground detours, attractions, fuel stops and other local driving.
Can the calculator estimate campground costs?
Yes. You can include campground nightly rates and the number of nights along with other expenses such as food, tolls, parking, propane and activities.
Why is the distance slightly different from Google Maps?
Routing services can select different roads, destination coordinates and route preferences. Small differences in calculated mileage are therefore normal.
Is the calculated RV fuel cost exact?
No. The result is an estimate. Actual MPG, fuel prices, traffic, weather, road conditions, towing weight and driving behavior can change your final cost.
What fuel price should I use?
Use a recent fuel price for the region where you expect to travel. For long multi-state trips, using a slightly conservative average can help provide additional budget flexibility.
Can I save or share my RV trip estimate?
Use the available sharing option to share supported trip information, or download your estimate as a PDF when the PDF option is enabled.
Plan Your Next RV Road Trip
Use the RV Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate your driving distance, gallons required, fuel cost and additional travel expenses before you leave.