What to Expect: The Cost of Driving from Alabama to California

Are you planning a cross-country road trip from Alabama to California? Embarking on an adventure like this can be an exciting experience, but it's important to know how much it's going to cost you before you go. This blog post will walk you through the cost of driving from Alabama to California based on current gas prices.

The Southern Route

The southern route will take you through states like Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. This route is about 2,000 miles long, and it will take you approximately 30 hours to get from Alabama to California.

Gas prices as of this writing are $2.57 per gallon. For a car that gets an average of 28 miles per gallon, you'll need to budget for approximately 72 gallons of gas for the trip. At a cost of $2.57 per gallon, that comes to $184.44 in gas costs.

Additionally, there are tolls to consider. The total toll cost is about $58.75. Factoring in tolls and gas, the total cost of this route is approximately $243.19.

The Northern Route

The northern route will take you through states like Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado. This route is approximately 2,300 miles long, and it will take you around 35 hours of driving to get from Alabama to California.

Gas prices as of this writing are $2.57 per gallon. With a car that gets an average of 28 miles per gallon, you'll need to budget for approximately 82 gallons of gas for the trip. That comes to $210.74 in gas costs.

Like the southern route, there are tolls to consider. The total toll cost is approximately $30.10. Factoring in tolls and gas, the total cost of this route is approximately $240.84.

The Middle Route

The middle route will take you through states like Oklahoma, Kansas, and Colorado. This route is approximately 1,800 miles long, and it will take you around 27 hours to get from Alabama to California.

Gas prices as of this writing are $2.57 per gallon. With a car that gets an average of 28 miles per gallon, you'll need to budget for approximately 64 gallons of gas for the trip. That comes to $164.48 in gas costs.

There are tolls to consider. The total toll cost is about $18.50. Factoring in tolls and gas, the total cost of this route is approximately $182.98.

Conclusion

As you plan your cross-country road trip from Alabama to California, keep in mind the distance, time, and prices associated with each route. The southern route is the most direct, but it also has the highest tolls. The northern route is longer and has slightly higher gas costs, but fewer tolls. The middle route is the shortest and most economical, but keep in mind that it will take you through fewer states.

Whatever route you choose, keep in mind the cost of gas and tolls. These can add up quickly and increase the overall cost of your trip. Safe travels!