Gas price estimation help please?

Question

Can You help me estimate how much this is going to cost: friends and I will be taking a trip across the U.S. and we will be traveling approximately 6,234 miles(I plotted the points of destinations on Google) to the east coast and back. I know that doesn't include hotels, food, side driving, etc..

How much will the price of gas be added up all together for the 6,234 miles? I'm assuming gas price will be at least 5.00$ to the gallon next Year.

We're taking the trip next summer.

Thanks, I appreciate it.

Answer 1

It depends what kind of car you have (i.e. what kind of mileage you get), how you drive, what percentage of the road is highway, etc. etc.

Answer 2

Analysts predict gas prices to be steady and not increase significantly. Various Asian countries have increased gas prices and gas producing nations have pledged to increase gas production. I don't think gas will be $5.00 for next year, so let's just use gas for $4.50 as an estimate.

I think your value of mpg might be a bit over optimistic. Most cars rarely get their "stated" mpg rating and a car's mpg usually decreases over time.  As a driver of a 98' Honda Accord, (which gets ~30 highway, 25 local), even relatively good mileage will be pricey. So let's say your mpg average is ~28-30.

Low estimate

6234 / 30 ~ 208 gallons

208 * $4.50 ~ $935

=$935

Medium estimate

6234 / 28 ~ 223 gallons

223 * $4.50  ~ $1002

=$1002

High estimate

6234 / 28 ~ 223 gallons

223 * $5.00 ~ $1113

=$1113

So the gas will be around $900 ~ $1200

Add perhaps 100 miles for getting lost, finding your destination, backtracking, etc which is approximately another $20 worth of gas.

That's my estimation for your gasoline fees, not taking into considering food, hotels, side driving, etc