Planning a road trip across South Africa to get to your holiday destination? Instead of thinking of it as a necessary evil that has to be endured with caffeine and energy drinks, you could consider it an exciting opportunity. After all, with the breathtaking scenery and delicious treats you can pick up from the myriad of padstals popping up across the country, your road trip has the potential to be a special part of your holiday.  

All it requires is a little planning, starting with a travel budget. In order for your road trip to be all that it can be, treats and all, it’s essential to budget properly so that you can avoid surprises along the way. Specifically, it’s best to make sure that you have what you need to pay for fuel. With fuel prices fluctuating, knowing exactly how much your journey will cost should help you stay within your travel budget.  

We recommend using a trip fuel cost calculator to make sure that you’re financially prepared for the adventure ahead. 

What Are We Dealing With? 

Fuel prices in South Africa are regulated and adjusted monthly by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy. In case you’re wondering, factors like the exchange rate, crude oil prices, and government levies directly impact the cost per litre.  

As of 2024, petrol prices have hovered somewhere between R22 and R25 per litre, while diesel has danced up and down between R20 and R23 per litre (depending on location). Let’s not forget, prices can vary between coastal and inland regions, with inland areas paying more due to transportation costs. 

While the higher cost of fuel is certainly upsetting, the real point of this information is that when you have the accurate prices, you can work out an estimated total cost of the fuel it will take to get you to your destination.  

A Reliable Fuel Cost Calculator 

One of the first tools that we developed was the fuel cost calculator so that more South Africans can easily estimate the total fuel cost for their trips – whether it’s for your daily commute or a holiday road trip.  

The way it works is that you enter the current fuel price (choose between inland and coastal rates to reflect local fuel prices accurately) and the total kilometres for your round trip. You’ll also fill in your vehicle’s fuel consumption, which is measured in litres per 100 km. If you don’t know this, you can easily find it in your vehicle manual or on fuel economy sites. 

Let’s use an example calculation, from Johannesburg to Durban. 

The distance from Johannesburg to Durban is about 600 km. If your vehicle consumes eight litres per 100 km and the current inland petrol price is R24 per litre, here’s how the calculation would work: 

• Fuel needed: (600 km ÷ 100) × 8 L = 48 L 

• Cost of fuel: 48 L × R24 = R1,152 for a one-way trip 

• Round-trip cost: R1,152 × 2 = R2,304 

As you can see, using our trip fuel cost calculator, you’ll know upfront that you need over R2,300 for the return trip. 

Account For The Extra Costs 

Beyond fuel, there are other expenses to factor into your trip budget. The main additional cost is the toll fees, like the N3 toll road between Johannesburg and Durban. These fees could cost you approximately R286 one way.  

Other costs include things like refreshments, potential oil top-ups along the way, possible medical costs, souvenirs, and anything else you might need to spend your money on while on the road. 

Tips For Saving On Fuel Costs 

It’s one thing to know the cost, it’s quite another to have the money ready. Before the trip, make sure that you keep your travel costs under control by setting a budget for things like food and drinks, emergencies, and fuel. More than that, there are also things you can do to reduce your fuel consumption.  

Here are a few practical steps you can take: 

1. Aggressive acceleration and braking can increase fuel consumption by up to 33% on highways, so drive at a steady speed. 

2. Under-inflated tyres can increase fuel consumption by 3-5%, so check them before your trip. 

3. Limit the use of air conditioning by opening windows at lower speeds to save fuel. 

Feeling informed?  

Whether you’re simply meandering through the Midlands, taking a trip to our beloved mountain in the Cape, or exploring scenic stops along the way to the family reunion, it really helps to know your fuel costs ahead of time.  

Our hope is that our tools, like our fuel cost calculator, will empower you to stay in control of your budget, so you can focus on enjoying your road trip without worrying about unexpected expenses. Don’t forget about our other affordability tools, including our fuel consumption calculator, car affordability calculator, and even our monthly personal budget calculator.