The Cost of Driving From Austin, Texas to Los Angeles, California

If you're planning a road trip from Austin, Texas to Los Angeles, California, it's important to know how much it will cost you. Taking a road trip across the country can be an amazing experience, but it's also important to make sure you're budgeting correctly, so you don't break the bank. In this blog post, we'll break down the cost of driving from Austin, Texas to Los Angeles, California, based on current gas prices.

Route 1: I-10 W

The first and most direct route from Austin to LA is taking I-10 W. This route covers approximately 1,400 miles and takes roughly 21 hours without stopping. According to gas prices' national average, the cost for regular gasoline is $3.15 per gallon. From Austin, TX to Los Angeles, CA, It’ll cost about $210 to fill up your gas tank if you get 10 miles per gallon. There are no tolls on this route, which means no additional cost, but you may want to budget for the food, accommodations, and any extracurricular activities that you will need along the way.

Route 2: I-40 W

The second route is taking I-40 W, which will take you approximately 1,500 miles and will take approximately 23 hours to complete without stopping. The gasoline cost will be the same on this route, $3.15 per gallon. It will cost about $225 to fill up your gas tank if you get 10 miles per gallon. However, there is a mandatory toll will cost about $50 for large truck classification fees. This should be considered as additional cost on top of your gasoline expenses. After considering the toll fee and gas cost, you may have to pay additional expenses for food and hotel stays along the way.

Route 3: I-10 W, I-210 W

The third route is taking I-10 W toward Los Angeles, but taking a slight detour for the I-210 W freeway when reaching San Bernardino, CA with a total distance of 1,430 miles. This route takes about 21 hours 30minutes and approximately around $215 in gas cost when you get 10 miles per gallon. Just like Route 1, there are no tolls to be paid using this route. It is advisable to prepare an estimate of the amount needed for food and lodging during the travel as well.

Final Thoughts

When planning a road trip, it's important to consider the costs. Travel expenses depend on several factors such as the duration of your trip, the route you take, your vehicle's fuel consumption, and the cost of gas and tolls. To summarize, the cost of driving from Austin, Texas, to Los Angeles, California, taking the I-10W route is around $210 without tolls, with an additional $50-75 for the i-40W route, and $215 for the I-10W, I-210W route. Make sure you budget wisely and have plenty of fluid stops, snacks, and music playlists to make your road trip an enjoyable and memorable one.