Trip costs
How much does a road trip cost?
22 destinations · 37 routes priced · updated August 2026
A ten-day road trip for two costs roughly €2,400 ($2,600) in Italy in September, travelling in a mid-range way — about €120 per person per day. The same trip runs about €1,600 in South Africa and €3,900 in Iceland: where you go moves the number more than how far you drive.
Lodging is the biggest line on almost every trip — typically 38% of the total — which is also the line you have the most control over. Fuel, the cost people worry about first, is usually under 3%.
Every figure on this page is computed by the same model that prices trips inside the Stopful planner — not a cost-per-mile rule of thumb. Change the trip and the number changes.
About €120 per person per day · priced in Italy
- Stays€970$1,050
- Food & drink€850$920
- Getting around€240$260
- Things to do€360$390
See the Rome to Florence road trip on the map →
Free, no account. Opens a real trip in the planner, where you can drag the stops, change the nights and add your own — the estimate re-prices as you go, and the map adds fuel and tolls for the route you actually drive. Figures above cover what you spend on the ground: they exclude fuel, tolls and getting to the region.
What a night and a day actually cost
The four lines that make up almost every trip, at 22 destinations, travelling in a mid-range way in September. A night is one room for two people; the daily figures are per person, per day. Sorted cheapest first.
| Destination | A night for two |
Food pp/day |
Getting around pp/day |
Things to do pp/day |
10 days, two people |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South AfricaCape Town | €6772 | €3234 | €89 | €1213 | €1,300–€1,900$1,400–$2,050 |
| Greece | €9097 | €3234 | €910 | €1415 | €1,500–€2,200$1,650–$2,400 |
| Portugal | €93100 | €3234 | €1010 | €1516 | €1,550–€2,250$1,700–$2,450 |
| CzechiaPrague | €96104 | €3942 | €1011 | €1516 | €1,700–€2,500$1,850–$2,700 |
| Namibia | €101109 | €3942 | €1011 | €1516 | €1,700–€2,500$1,850–$2,700 |
| Spain | €104112 | €3740 | €1112 | €1618 | €1,750–€2,550$1,900–$2,750 |
| The US SouthwestLas Vegas | €100108 | €4448 | €1212 | €1718 | €1,850–€2,700$2,000–$2,950 |
| CroatiaDalmatian Coast | €107116 | €4347 | €1112 | €1718 | €1,900–€2,750$2,050–$3,000 |
| ScotlandScottish Highlands | €103111 | €4549 | €1213 | €1719 | €1,950–€2,800$2,100–$3,000 |
| Italy | €115124 | €4346 | €1213 | €1819 | €1,950–€2,850$2,150–$3,100 |
| Germany | €122132 | €5053 | €1314 | €1921 | €2,200–€3,200$2,350–$3,450 |
| Austria & the AlpsAustrian Alps | €113122 | €5358 | €1415 | €2022 | €2,250–€3,200$2,400–$3,500 |
| New ZealandQueenstown | €113122 | €5358 | €1415 | €2022 | €2,250–€3,200$2,400–$3,500 |
| AustraliaSydney | €118127 | €5660 | €1516 | €2123 | €2,300–€3,350$2,500–$3,600 |
| France | €129139 | €5559 | €1314 | €2022 | €2,350–€3,400$2,550–$3,700 |
| Ireland | €133144 | €5458 | €1415 | €2123 | €2,400–€3,450$2,550–$3,750 |
| Canadian Rockies | €124134 | €5963 | €1617 | €2224 | €2,450–€3,550$2,650–$3,800 |
| EnglandUnited Kingdom | €140151 | €5761 | €1516 | €2224 | €2,500–€3,650$2,700–$3,950 |
| NorwayNorwegian Fjords | €147159 | €6570 | €1718 | €2527 | €2,750–€4,000$3,000–$4,300 |
| United States | €177192 | €6469 | €1618 | €2527 | €2,950–€4,350$3,200–$4,700 |
| SwitzerlandSwiss Alps | €154166 | €7379 | €1921 | €2830 | €3,050–€4,400$3,300–$4,750 |
| Iceland | €157169 | €8390 | €1820 | €2629 | €3,150–€4,600$3,400–$4,950 |
Converted at €1 = $1.08, 25 August 2026. Rates last reviewed August 2026.
The same trip, month by month
"Travel in the off season" is useless advice until you know which months those are — and they are not the same months everywhere. Here is one identical ten-day trip for two, priced in all twelve months.
| Destination | Jan → Dec | Cheapest month |
Dearest month |
Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greece | €1,450$1,550February | €2,400$2,550August | 64% | |
| SwitzerlandSwiss Alps | €3,350$3,650November | €4,800$5,150January | 42% | |
| CzechiaPrague | €1,750$1,900February | €2,150$2,300May | 21% | |
| New ZealandQueenstown | €2,450$2,650November | €3,500$3,800January | 42% | |
| South AfricaCape Town | €1,500$1,600June | €2,050$2,200December | 37% |
Greece is cheapest in February and dearest in August; Switzerland is cheapest in November and dearest in January — the ski season, not the summer. A southern-hemisphere destination inverts the calendar entirely.
37 real road trips, priced
Every route in our route library, priced on its own stops, nights and driving distance — including fuel at 7 L/100 km and €1.7/L. Open any of them on the map and the planner re-prices it live as you change the trip.
| Route | Budget | Standard | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alps & Italy | ||||
| Munich to Venice road trip8 days · 580 km | €1,250–€1,800$1,350–$1,950 | €2,050–€2,900$2,200–$3,150 | €3,500–€5,050$3,800–$5,450 | Open on the map → |
| Rome to Florence road trip7 days · 350 km | €880–€1,250$950–$1,350 | €1,450–€2,050$1,550–$2,250 | €2,500–€3,600$2,700–$3,900 | Open on the map → |
| Nice to Milan road trip6 days · 330 km | €910–€1,300$980–$1,400 | €1,500–€2,150$1,600–$2,300 | €2,550–€3,700$2,800–$4,000 | Open on the map → |
| Naples to the Amalfi Coast road trip6 days · 120 km | €1,050–€1,500$1,150–$1,600 | €1,700–€2,450$1,850–$2,650 | €3,000–€4,300$3,250–$4,650 | Open on the map → |
| Zurich to Geneva road trip7 days · 420 km | €1,250–€1,850$1,350–$1,950 | €2,050–€2,950$2,200–$3,150 | €3,500–€5,050$3,800–$5,450 | Open on the map → |
| Spain & Portugal | ||||
| Lisbon to Porto road trip7 days · 400 km | €730–€1,050$780–$1,150 | €1,200–€1,700$1,250–$1,850 | €2,050–€2,950$2,200–$3,150 | Open on the map → |
| Madrid to Seville road trip7 days · 540 km | €810–€1,150$870–$1,250 | €1,300–€1,850$1,400–$2,000 | €2,250–€3,200$2,400–$3,500 | Open on the map → |
| France | ||||
| Paris to Nice road trip8 days · 950 km | €1,350–€1,950$1,450–$2,100 | €2,200–€3,150$2,350–$3,400 | €3,750–€5,400$4,050–$5,850 | Open on the map → |
| Central Europe | ||||
| Berlin to Prague road trip6 days · 350 km | €770–€1,100$830–$1,200 | €1,250–€1,800$1,350–$1,950 | €2,150–€3,100$2,300–$3,350 | Open on the map → |
| Prague to Vienna road trip5 days · 330 km | €590–€840$630–$910 | €930–€1,350$1,000–$1,450 | €1,600–€2,250$1,700–$2,450 | Open on the map → |
| The Romantic Road: Frankfurt to Füssen6 days · 460 km | €860–€1,250$920–$1,350 | €1,400–€2,000$1,500–$2,150 | €2,400–€3,400$2,550–$3,700 | Open on the map → |
| Amsterdam to Paris road trip7 days · 540 km | €1,150–€1,650$1,250–$1,800 | €1,850–€2,700$2,000–$2,900 | €3,250–€4,650$3,500–$5,050 | Open on the map → |
| Balkans & Greece | ||||
| Transylvania road trip: Bucharest to Cluj7 days · 520 km | €540–€780$590–$840 | €860–€1,250$930–$1,350 | €1,500–€2,150$1,600–$2,300 | Open on the map → |
| Zagreb to Dubrovnik road trip8 days · 600 km | €1,050–€1,500$1,100–$1,600 | €1,700–€2,400$1,800–$2,600 | €2,900–€4,150$3,150–$4,500 | Open on the map → |
| Athens to Meteora road trip5 days · 360 km | €490–€700$530–$760 | €790–€1,150$850–$1,200 | €1,350–€1,950$1,450–$2,100 | Open on the map → |
| Northern Europe | ||||
| Oslo to Bergen road trip7 days · 460 km | €1,250–€1,800$1,350–$1,900 | €2,000–€2,900$2,150–$3,100 | €3,450–€5,000$3,750–$5,400 | Open on the map → |
| Edinburgh to the Isle of Skye road trip7 days · 400 km | €900–€1,300$970–$1,400 | €1,450–€2,100$1,600–$2,250 | €2,500–€3,650$2,700–$3,900 | Open on the map → |
| Iceland south coast road trip: Reykjavík to Jökulsárlón6 days · 380 km | €1,200–€1,700$1,300–$1,850 | €1,950–€2,800$2,100–$3,050 | €3,350–€4,850$3,650–$5,200 | Open on the map → |
| London to Edinburgh road trip7 days · 750 km | €1,200–€1,700$1,250–$1,850 | €1,900–€2,750$2,050–$2,950 | €3,300–€4,750$3,550–$5,100 | Open on the map → |
| Dublin to Killarney road trip7 days · 360 km | €1,050–€1,500$1,150–$1,650 | €1,750–€2,500$1,850–$2,700 | €3,000–€4,350$3,250–$4,700 | Open on the map → |
| North America | ||||
| Pacific Coast Highway: San Francisco to Los Angeles8 days · 720 km | €1,550–€2,250$1,700–$2,450 | €2,550–€3,700$2,750–$4,000 | €4,500–€6,450$4,850–$6,950 | Open on the map → |
| Las Vegas national parks loop: Zion, Bryce & the Grand Canyon8 days · 1,100 km | €1,350–€1,900$1,450–$2,050 | €2,150–€3,100$2,300–$3,300 | €3,650–€5,300$3,950–$5,700 | Open on the map → |
| Miami to Key West road trip6 days · 270 km | €1,100–€1,600$1,200–$1,750 | €1,850–€2,650$2,000–$2,850 | €3,200–€4,650$3,450–$5,000 | Open on the map → |
| New England coast road trip: Boston to Bar Harbor7 days · 500 km | €1,300–€1,900$1,400–$2,050 | €2,150–€3,100$2,350–$3,350 | €3,800–€5,450$4,100–$5,850 | Open on the map → |
| Calgary to Vancouver road trip9 days · 1,050 km | €1,550–€2,250$1,700–$2,450 | €2,500–€3,650$2,700–$3,900 | €4,350–€6,250$4,700–$6,750 | Open on the map → |
| Further afield | ||||
| Great Ocean Road trip: Melbourne to Warrnambool6 days · 400 km | €840–€1,200$910–$1,300 | €1,350–€1,950$1,450–$2,100 | €2,300–€3,350$2,500–$3,600 | Open on the map → |
| Garden Route road trip: Cape Town to Storms River8 days · 600 km | €650–€930$700–$1,000 | €1,050–€1,500$1,100–$1,600 | €1,750–€2,500$1,900–$2,700 | Open on the map → |
| Queenstown to Christchurch road trip7 days · 480 km | €930–€1,350$1,000–$1,450 | €1,500–€2,150$1,600–$2,350 | €2,600–€3,700$2,800–$4,000 | Open on the map → |
| Sydney to Byron Bay road trip9 days · 858 km | €1,350–€1,900$1,450–$2,050 | €2,150–€3,050$2,300–$3,300 | €3,650–€5,250$3,950–$5,650 | Open on the map → |
| Red Centre road trip: Alice Springs to Uluru7 days · 665 km | €1,000–€1,450$1,100–$1,550 | €1,600–€2,300$1,750–$2,500 | €2,750–€3,950$3,000–$4,300 | Open on the map → |
| South West Edge: Perth to Esperance9 days · 1,116 km | €1,350–€1,900$1,450–$2,050 | €2,100–€3,050$2,300–$3,300 | €3,600–€5,200$3,900–$5,600 | Open on the map → |
| Tasmania east coast road trip: Hobart to Launceston8 days · 600 km | €1,150–€1,650$1,250–$1,750 | €1,850–€2,650$2,000–$2,850 | €3,150–€4,550$3,400–$4,900 | Open on the map → |
| New Zealand North Island road trip: Auckland to Wellington11 days · 740 km | €1,450–€2,050$1,550–$2,250 | €2,350–€3,350$2,500–$3,600 | €4,000–€5,750$4,300–$6,200 | Open on the map → |
| New Zealand West Coast road trip: Christchurch to the glaciers7 days · 405 km | €890–€1,300$970–$1,400 | €1,450–€2,100$1,550–$2,250 | €2,500–€3,550$2,700–$3,850 | Open on the map → |
| Panorama Route & Kruger road trip: Johannesburg to the park9 days · 585 km | €1,100–€1,550$1,150–$1,700 | €1,750–€2,500$1,900–$2,700 | €3,050–€4,400$3,300–$4,750 | Open on the map → |
| Namibia road trip: Windhoek, Sossusvlei & the Skeleton Coast8 days · 721 km | €920–€1,350$1,000–$1,450 | €1,500–€2,150$1,600–$2,300 | €2,550–€3,700$2,750–$4,000 | Open on the map → |
| Offbeat & themed | ||||
| Bone Chapels & Trick Fountains: an offbeat Central Europe road trip10 days · 900 km | €1,300–€1,900$1,400–$2,050 | €2,100–€3,000$2,250–$3,250 | €3,600–€5,150$3,850–$5,600 | Open on the map → |
Excludes distance-based motorway tolls, which need the actual routed motorways — the planner adds those when you open the trip. Getting to the start is excluded too; add a flight leg on the map and it gets priced.
Try it on your own trip
Free · no account · drop your stops on the map and the Estimate view prices the whole trip before you book any of it — then tracks what you actually spend once you do.
How this is worked out
The model prices four things on the ground — where you sleep, what you eat, how you get around locally, and what you pay to get in — then adds the driving. Four inputs move it:
- Where. 158 priced regions and cities, each with its own cost index against a global base. The smallest area containing a stop wins, so Sardinia is priced as Sardinia rather than as Italy, and the Swiss Alps never get priced as France.
- When. A month-by-month curve per region, damped per category — a peak-season room doubles, a peak-season plate of pasta does not.
- Who. Rooms are priced by occupancy rather than headcount: a child of twelve or over takes an adult's place, a younger one needs a cheaper extra bed, an under-two sleeps in a cot for free. Friday and Saturday nights carry a premium, and longer stays cost a little less per night.
- How. Budget, Standard or Comfort, with per-category multipliers — lodging spans an order of magnitude between them, local transport barely moves.
Every figure is a range rather than a single number, and the ranges combine statistically (in quadrature) rather than stacking, with a floor of ±18% because every line at one stop shares that region's index. Rates are bundled and curated, last reviewed August 2026 — this is a planning range, not a quote, and a specific hotel on a specific night can sit well outside it.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a road trip cost?
A ten-day road trip for two in September costs roughly €2,400 in Italy, €1,600 in South Africa and €3,900 in Iceland, travelling in a mid-range way — three-star hotels, restaurant meals, a few paid sights. Where you go moves the total more than how far you drive: lodging is typically 38% of a trip and fuel usually under 3%. The tables on this page price 22 destinations and 37 real routes from the same model.
How do I calculate the cost of a road trip?
Work in four lines rather than one. Lodging: a nightly rate for the region times the nights, priced by how many people are actually in the room rather than by headcount. Daily spend: food and local transport per person per day, which runs for the nights plus the day you leave. Activities: what you'll actually pay to get in. Driving: distance ÷ 100 × litres per 100 km × fuel price, plus tolls or vignettes. Stopful's Estimate view does all four from your itinerary automatically, and this page's calculator does the first three for a destination.
Is there a free road trip cost calculator?
Yes — the calculator on this page is free and needs no account, and it uses the same pricing model as the Stopful planner rather than a generic cost-per-mile rule. Open a trip on the map and the full version prices your real itinerary: every stop in its own region and month, with fuel and tolls from the route you actually drive.
What is the biggest cost on a road trip?
Lodging, on almost every trip — around 38% of the total in these figures, and the line with the widest range: a hostel dorm and a five-star room differ by more than ten times, where a metro ticket costs what it costs. Food is the second line and the one most people underestimate, because it runs every single day. Fuel is usually under 3% of a road trip, which is why cutting a few hundred kilometres saves far less than moving one night or one destination.
Which month is cheapest for a road trip?
It depends entirely on where. Greece is cheapest in February and dearest in August; Switzerland is cheapest in November and dearest in January — the ski season, not the summer. That is why a single "summer is expensive" rule is wrong in both directions, and why every figure here is priced against the month you actually travel.
How accurate are these estimates?
They are planning ranges, not quotes — the model targets roughly ±25–40%, and every figure here is printed as a band rather than a single number for that reason. Rates are bundled and curated (last reviewed August 2026), not live prices, so a specific hotel on a specific night can sit well outside the range. They are accurate enough to answer "can I afford this" and "is Portugal cheaper than Italy", which is what they are for.
Does the cost per person go down with more people?
Per person, yes, and mostly through the room. Lodging is priced by occupancy, so a couple splits one room where a solo traveller pays for it alone, and a child of twelve or over takes an adult's place while an under-two sleeps in a cot for nothing. Food, local transport and tickets barely share at all — they scale close to per head, with younger children counting as a fraction of an adult.