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Route 66 Fuel Calculator

The Mother Road is roughly 2,304 miles. Work out exactly how much fuel you will burn, what it will cost, and how many stops to plan for — before you ever pull onto the highway in Chicago.

Your bike's MPG (US)

mpg

A loaded Harley Road King touring averages ~40–50 mpg. Sport bikes 45–55.Tank range

miles

Distance on a full tank. Most big touring bikes: 140–190 miles.Fuel price (per US gallon)

USD

Varies $3.20–$5+ by state. California is the priciest.Extra miles (detours)

miles

Add side trips — Grand Canyon, Sedona, Santa Monica pier.

Total distance

2,304 mi

3,707 km

Fuel needed

51 gal

194 litres

Total fuel cost

$184

£146 approx

Fuel stops

~$0.08/mile

Andy's fuel rule

On Route 66 you do not wait for the fuel light. The gaps on the Oklahoma and Arizona stretches are longer than they look, and the desert eats your range. Fill up whenever you see a pump that is open — it is not caution, it is the routine.

By State

State	Miles	Gallons	Stops	What to expect
Illinois	300	6.7	2	Chicago to the Mississippi. Suburban traffic early, then open prairie.
Missouri	317	7.0	2	St Louis to the Kansas line. The Ozarks start to roll.
Kansas	13	0.3	1	The shortest slice — blink and you are through.
Oklahoma	400	8.9	3	Long, straight, hot. Fuel whenever you see a pump.
Texas	178	4.0	2	The Panhandle. Big sky, big trucks, crosswinds.
New Mexico	380	8.4	3	High desert and altitude. Range drops in the heat.
Arizona	402	8.9	3	The most iconic miles — and the hottest. Plan every stop.
California	314	7.0	2	Desert into the basin. Final push to the sea.