Fuel & Economy

Gas Station Detour Calculator

Is it worth driving out of your way for cheaper gas? Calculate actual savings after accounting for the extra fuel burned.

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Enter prices and detour info to see if it's worth it

The Math

Driving out of your way burns extra fuel. Unless the price difference is significant or you're filling a large tank, the detour often costs more than it saves.

How to Use

Enter the nearby station's price
Enter the cheaper station's price
Estimate the extra round-trip miles
Enter your MPG and tank size

FAQs

What about my time?

This calculator only covers fuel costs. A 20-minute detour to save $2 values your time at $6/hour. Consider if that's worth it to you.

When is the detour always worth it?

When you're already going that direction, or when filling a very large tank (trucks, SUVs with 20+ gallon tanks). The more gallons, the more savings.

What's a typical break-even?

For a $0.20/gallon savings and 25 MPG, you break even around 6-8 gallons per mile of detour. Below that, you're losing money.

Should I use GasBuddy?

Apps like GasBuddy are great for finding cheap gas on your existing route. The best savings come from cheap stations you pass anyway.

Limitations

Does not factor time value
Assumes constant MPG
Traffic conditions not considered
Vehicle wear not included

Gas Station Detour Calculator

Gas Prices

Detour & Fill-Up

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