RV Fuel Cost Per Mile: How to Calculate It
Fuel cost per mile is a more useful planning number than MPG alone because it turns fuel economy and pump price into a direct route cost.
The formula is simple
At $3.60 per gallon and 9 MPG, fuel costs about $0.40 per mile. At 12 MPG, the same fuel costs about $0.30 per mile. That ten-cent gap becomes $200 across a 2,000-mile trip.
Loaded MPG is the useful input
Wind, terrain, speed, trailer frontal area and vehicle load can change fuel economy substantially. Use an average from several real travel days rather than a single downhill segment or empty-vehicle estimate.
Route distance can matter more than campground price
A detour of several hundred miles can erase savings from a cheaper campground or fuel stop. Add mileage cost to the route comparison rather than optimizing only nightly rates.
Use the trip-cost calculator for the full budget
Fuel is only one variable. Campgrounds, tolls, parking and activity costs should be added to compare the total economics of alternate trips.