Your trip
20 pre-set US road-trip routes with verified miles and flight averages — or pick “Custom” and enter your own.
Round trip is calculated automatically.
13 vehicles — cars, hybrids, SUVs, vans, trucks, EVs.
Most trips over 600 miles need at least one overnight stop each way.
$35/bag each way, average 2026.
Fill in your trip — we'll run the drive vs. fly numbers side by side.
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How we got these numbers
Gas price uses the AAA national average for May 2026 ($3.10/gal). MPG is the EPA combined rating by class. Wear & tear uses $0.10/mi — a conservative subset of AAA's full $0.45/mi non-fuel ownership cost, stripping out fixed costs you'd pay whether you drove or not. Midway hotel rates average $145 from STR/Smith Travel data. Bag and rental car fees are 2026 industry averages.
Road Trip vs. Flying — Common Questions
Is it cheaper to drive or fly?
It depends on distance, number of travelers, and vehicle. Driving is usually cheaper for trips under 500 miles or with 3+ people sharing costs. Flying wins on long hauls when you account for wear, hotels, and food on the road. The calculator runs both sides with 2026 data and tells you the real winner for your route.
What costs does this road trip calculator include?
Gas at 2026 AAA national average prices, vehicle wear and tear ($0.10/mile), midway hotel nights if needed, and food on the road. On the flying side: airfare, baggage fees, airport transfers, and any rental car you'd need at the destination.
How accurate is the IRS mileage rate for road trip cost?
The IRS rate ($0.67/mile in 2026) is a blended cost covering gas, wear, insurance, and depreciation. This calculator uses a lower wear-only rate ($0.10/mile) since fixed costs like insurance apply whether you drive or not — giving a fairer apples-to-apples comparison against flying.
Does driving or flying have a bigger carbon footprint?
For a solo driver in an average gas car, flying is usually greener per mile. With 3–4 passengers, driving emits less CO2 per person than a commercial flight. EVs and hybrids shift the math further toward driving. The calculator focuses on dollar cost, but the passenger count factor applies to both.