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How much does it cost to drive 50 miles?
What does it cost in gas to drive 50 miles? It comes down to your car's fuel economy and the price of gas — here's the range, plus a calculator for your exact car.
Short answer
Driving 50 miles costs about $6.73 in gas for a typical 26-MPG car at $3.50 a gallon (50 miles ÷ 26 MPG × $3.50). A thirstier 15-MPG truck is about $11.67; an efficient 40-MPG car about $4.38.
Total gas cost
$6.73
- Fuel used
- 1.92 gallons
- Cost per mile
- $0.13
About the how much does it cost to drive 50 miles?
Fuel cost for a set distance depends only on your MPG and the gas price: gallons = miles ÷ MPG, cost = gallons × price. The table below shows 50 miles across common fuel economies. Use the calculator to plug in your car's real MPG, today's price, and whether it's a round trip.
Cost to drive 50 miles by MPG (at $3.50/gal)
| Fuel economy | Gas cost for 50 miles |
|---|---|
| 15 MPG | $11.67 |
| 20 MPG | $8.75 |
| 25 MPG | $7.00 |
| 30 MPG | $5.83 |
| 35 MPG | $5.00 |
| 40 MPG | $4.38 |
Cost = (miles ÷ MPG) × price per gallon, at $3.50/gal. A more efficient car cuts the cost proportionally.
Gas cost per mile by MPG and gas price
| MPG | $3.00/gal | $3.50/gal | $4.00/gal | $4.50/gal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 MPG | $0.20 | $0.23 | $0.27 | $0.30 |
| 20 MPG | $0.15 | $0.18 | $0.20 | $0.23 |
| 25 MPG | $0.12 | $0.14 | $0.16 | $0.18 |
| 30 MPG | $0.10 | $0.12 | $0.13 | $0.15 |
| 35 MPG | $0.09 | $0.10 | $0.11 | $0.13 |
| 40 MPG | $0.08 | $0.09 | $0.10 | $0.11 |
Cost per mile = price per gallon ÷ MPG. A more efficient car cuts fuel cost proportionally at every gas price. Example rows use the U.S.-average ~$3.50/gal as the middle column.
How we calculate this
This calculator uses the standard fuel-cost formula, in US or metric units:
- Fuel used. gallons = distance ÷ MPG (US), or litres = distance ÷ 100 × L/100km (metric). Round trip simply doubles the distance first.
- Total cost. fuel used × price per gallon (or per litre). That's the pump cost of the drive.
- Per person & per mile. the total is divided by the number of passengers for each person's share, and by the distance for the cost per mile (or per km).
Assumptions
- Steady-state fuel economy — real MPG drops in city traffic, cold weather, at high speed, and with a loaded car or AC.
- The gas price you enter is constant for the whole trip.
- L/100km is the inverse of MPG; the calculator converts correctly when you switch units.
Sources
Last reviewed: July 18, 2026
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate the gas cost of a trip?+
Divide the trip distance by your vehicle's fuel efficiency to get the fuel used, then multiply by the price of gas. In US units: gallons = miles ÷ MPG, and cost = gallons × price per gallon. For a 300-mile trip in a 25-MPG car at $3.50 a gallon that's 12 gallons and $42. This calculator does it for you and can double the distance for a round trip and split the cost between passengers.
How much does gas cost per mile?+
Cost per mile = price per gallon ÷ MPG. At $3.50 a gallon, a 25-MPG car costs about 14 cents a mile, a 35-MPG car about 10 cents, and a 15-MPG truck about 23 cents. Fuel efficiency matters as much as the pump price — the calculator shows your exact cost per mile for the numbers you enter.
How do I estimate my monthly commute gas cost?+
Switch to commute mode and enter the round-trip distance you drive on a commuting day, how many days a week you commute, your MPG, and the gas price. The tool multiplies daily fuel cost by your days per week, then by 52 weeks, and shows the weekly, monthly, and annual totals. A 40-mile round-trip commute five days a week in a 25-MPG car at $3.50 runs about $1,456 a year.
Does the calculator work in kilometres and litres?+
Yes. Switch the units to Metric and enter distance in kilometres, fuel economy as litres per 100 km (L/100km), and price per litre. Note that L/100km is the inverse of MPG — a lower L/100km means a more efficient car — so the calculator converts your figures correctly when you toggle between US and Metric.
Why is my real gas cost higher than the estimate?+
This tool uses steady-state fuel economy. Real-world MPG drops with city stop-and-go driving, high speeds, cold weather, roof racks, a heavily loaded car, running the AC, and idling. If you want a safety margin, use an MPG a few points below your car's rating, or round the result up. The estimate is meant to be close, not exact to the cent.
How much is a full tank of gas?+
Multiply your tank size in gallons by the price per gallon. A 12-gallon tank at $3.50 is $42; a 16-gallon tank is $56; a 24-gallon truck tank is $84. The per-gallon pages on this site show the cost of common amounts — from 1 to 50 gallons — at today's typical prices.
Also try the Gas Cost Calculator.