1. Distance of the trip: Determine the distance between Los Angeles and Chicago. You can use Google Maps or a similar tool to find the exact distance of the route you plan to take.
2. Fuel efficiency of your car: Look up the fuel efficiency of your car, which is usually expressed in miles per gallon (mpg). This information is available in your car's owner's manual or online.
3. Cost of gas: Find the current average price of gas per gallon in the areas you will be driving through. You can use a website like GasBuddy or AAA to obtain this information.
4. Estimated fuel consumption: Multiply the distance of the trip by the inverse of your car's fuel efficiency to estimate the total gallons of gas you will need. For example, if the distance is 2,000 miles and your car gets 30 mpg, you would need approximately 2,000 / 30 = 66.67 gallons of gas.
5. Total cost: Multiply the estimated fuel consumption by the current cost of gas per gallon to calculate the total money you will spend on gas for the trip. For instance, if you need 66.67 gallons of gas and the cost of gas is $3.50 per gallon, the total cost would be 66.67 x $3.50 = $233.35.
Remember that the actual fuel consumption and cost may vary depending on the specific route, driving conditions, and fluctuations in gas prices. It's always a good idea to have a buffer in your budget to account for any unexpected expenses along the way.
