How to Calculate Fuel Cost for Road Trips in India

Planning a road trip? Here is how to estimate fuel cost accurately — including highway vs city mileage, toll charges, and current petrol/diesel prices.

1.The basic fuel cost formula

Fuel cost = (Distance in km ÷ Mileage in km/l) × Fuel price per litre. Example: Delhi to Jaipur road trip. Distance: 280 km one way (560 km round trip). Car mileage: 15 km/l (highway). Petrol price: ₹104.95/l (Delhi, April 2026). Fuel cost: 560 ÷ 15 × ₹104.95 = **₹3,918**. Add 10% buffer for traffic, detours, and AC usage: **₹4,310**.

2.Highway vs city mileage

Most cars give **30-50% better mileage on highways** than in cities. A car rated 12 km/l in the city typically does 16-18 km/l on the highway. Use highway mileage for intercity trips and city mileage for local commuting. Diesel cars generally give 25-30% better mileage than petrol equivalents. SUVs give 20-30% worse mileage than sedans. AC reduces mileage by 10-15% — factor this for summer trips.

3.Don't forget toll charges

Toll charges on Indian highways: ₹1.5-3 per km (varies by highway and vehicle type). Delhi to Jaipur tolls: approximately ₹800-1,000 one way (car/SUV). Mumbai to Pune expressway: ₹375 one way. Bangalore to Mysuru: ₹185 one way. Check **NHAI TollMitra app** or **Google Maps** for current toll estimates. For a round trip, tolls can add 20-40% to your fuel cost. Total trip cost = fuel + tolls + 1 meal stop per 300 km.

4.Key takeaway

A road trip typically costs ₹3-5 per km for a sedan (fuel only) and ₹5-8 per km including tolls and stops. For a family of 4, a 500 km road trip costs approximately ₹6,000-8,000 total — often cheaper than 4 train tickets and far cheaper than 4 flights. Use our fuel cost calculator to get precise estimates for your car and route.