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Fuel Range and Stop Planner for Owner Operators

See how far your tank takes you, where you need to fuel on a trip, and whether to fill up here or wait for a cheaper stop.

Your truck

gal

Add both tanks if you have two. Look on the tank or in your spec sheet.

mpg

Use what you really get, not the sticker number.

% of the tank

Pick what feels safe to you. A higher number gives more room if a stop is closed or traffic backs up.

Your trip

mi
% full
$/gal
Fill in your tank size, miles per gallon and trip length to see your plan. Or press Try an example.

This is an estimate from the numbers you enter. Real fuel use changes with wind, hills, weight, speed and idling, so keep extra room. A full tank is heavy, so check your axle weights when you fill up. Your numbers stay in this browser only.

Numbers tight? Let a dispatcher find better loads.

This tool is free. If it shows you are leaving money on the road, Grow Trucking finds loads, negotiates rates and does the paperwork for owner-operators and small fleets.

Talk to a dispatcher Call (845) 400-9179

Also: About Grow Trucking · Refer a carrier · Trucking blog

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How far can a semi go on a tank of fuel?

A semi goes as far as its fuel and its miles per gallon allow: gallons in the tank times miles per gallon. Plan to stop before the tank drops to a safety level you choose, and fuel where the price is best when you can reach the pump safely.

  1. Add both tanks together for the gallons the truck holds, and use the miles per gallon you really get.
  2. Multiply them for the full range. Take away the safety level you want to keep for the safe range.
  3. Subtract the fuel you start with from the safety level to find how far the first leg goes. After a full tank, each leg is one safe range long.
  4. Divide the trip length by the safe range to see how many stops you need, and be at a pump before each mile marker.
  5. When a cheaper stop is ahead, compare the two prices. Buy only what you need to reach it safely, and fill up when the next stop costs more.
Worked example: 200 gallon tank, 7 mpg, start full, keep 20 percent, 1,600 mile trip at $6.00 a gallon
ItemAmount
Full range: 200 gallons x 7 mpg1,400 miles
Safe range: 160 usable gallons x 7 mpg1,120 miles
Fuel the trip uses: 1,600 miles / 7 mpg228.6 gallons, about $1,371
Least fuel to buy on the road68.6 gallons, about $411
Fuel stops needed1, by mile 1,120
Fill up here or wait: 40 percent full, next stop 300 miles away, $6.20 here and $5.80 thereBuy 2.9 gallons here. Saves $46.86 against filling up here

These are example numbers, not averages. Use your own tank size, miles per gallon and pump prices. The plan fills the tank at each stop and ignores station prices, IFTA tax and card discounts. Real fuel use changes with weight, wind, hills, speed and idling, so keep extra room.

Last reviewed September 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions - Fuel Range and Stop Planner

How far can a semi truck go on a tank of fuel?
Tank size times miles per gallon. Many sleeper trucks carry around 200 to 300 gallons across two tanks, and Class 8 trucks often get 6 to 8 miles per gallon. That works out to roughly 1,200 to 2,400 miles on a full tank. Your own number is what matters. Enter your tank size and your real miles per gallon, and the tool shows your full range and your safe range. In the example on this page, 200 gallons at 7 mpg goes 1,400 miles on a full tank.
How many gallons does a semi truck fuel tank hold?
It depends on the truck. Many trucks have two tanks of about 100 to 150 gallons each, so 200 to 300 gallons in total. Day cabs and some trucks carry less. Check the tank labels or your spec sheet, and add both tanks together before you enter the number.
How often do truck drivers fill up?
It depends on the tank, the route and the price. Many drivers fuel once a day or every day and a half. Some fuel more often to keep a full tank in winter or in remote areas. This tool tells you the latest mile marker you should be at a pump. Fuel before that if a good stop comes up sooner.
How do I plan fuel stops on a trip?
Work out your safe range first: your full range minus the fuel you never want to go below. Then find the latest mile marker for each stop and look for a truck stop with the right price before that mile. Do not wait until the last stop before the gauge gets low. The Toll Estimator's route map shows truck stops along a route, so you can pick where to fuel.
How much does it cost to fill up a semi truck?
Gallons times the price. A 200 gallon fill-up at $6.00 a gallon is $1,200, but you rarely buy a whole tank from empty. Enter your diesel price and the tool shows the cost of the fuel your trip uses and the fuel you must buy on the road. The current U.S. average is filled in from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and you can change it to your pump price.
Should I fill up here or wait for cheaper fuel?
If the next stop is cheaper and you can reach it with fuel to spare, buy only what you need to get there safely. If the next stop costs more, fill up here. The Fill up here or wait tab shows both plans side by side. In the example, buying just enough at $6.20 to reach a $5.80 stop 300 miles away saves about $47 over filling up here.
How low should I let my fuel tank get?
That is your call, and it depends on your route and your comfort. A higher safety level leaves room for a closed stop, a detour or a traffic jam. Running near empty risks a breakdown and a costly tow. You can set the level you want in the tool, and every answer respects it.
Does a heavy load or a headwind change how far I can go?
Yes. Weight, wind, hills, speed and idling all lower miles per gallon. If your real miles per gallon on this trip could be lower than usual, enter the lower number to see the effect. A one mile per gallon drop shortens the range on a 200 gallon tank by 200 miles at 7 mpg.
Are my numbers saved or shared?
No. What you type stays in your own browser on your own device. We never see it, and clearing your browser data removes it.

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Go Further With Fuel Range and Stop Planner

Guides, services and reference pages that go with this tool.