How Much Does it Cost to Travel from Calabasas, California to New York, New York?

If you're planning a trip from Calabasas, California to New York, New York, you're in for an adventure. Whether it be for business, vacation, or visiting friends and family, there are a number of routes you can take. Some are more scenic than others, while some may save you a few dollars on gas. In this article, we’ll compare the different possible routes, calculate the cost of gas, and recommend the best route to take.

Route Options

The Northern Route

One option is to take the northern route, which is the quickest and most direct route. Simply follow I-40 East until you reach I-44 East to St. Louis. After St. Louis, continue on I-70 East into Ohio, and then take I-71 South all the way to Kentucky, before entering West Virginia. From there, you’ll simply need to travel through Virginia and enter North Carolina. Finally, take I-95 North to New York. This is a total of a 2,795-mile trip.

The Southern Route

Another option is to take the southern route, which is more scenic and allows you to visit a few landmarks along the way. Starting from Calabasas, take I-10 East and drive through the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico until you reach San Antonio, Texas. From there, take I-35 North through Dallas, and then continue on I-45 North through Houston and Louisiana. After Louisiana, follow I-10 East again until you reach the Florida panhandle. Finally, take I-75 North through Georgia to reach I-95. This is a total of a 3,422-mile trip.

The Middle Route

The last option is to take the middle route, which follows the historic Route 66. Though this route is shorter, it is more scenic and filled with interesting attractions. Starting at Calabasas, you’ll begin on I-15 North and go through Las Vegas, Nevada, until you reach I-40 East. After that, you’ll pass through Albuquerque, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey to land in New York. This trip is a total of 2,744 miles.

Mapping the Route

To determine the cost of the trip along each route, we will use the average gas prices across the United States as of May 2021. As per GasBuddy, the national average per gallon of gas was $2.96. Using this average, we can calculate the cost of driving each mile by multiplying the cost per gallon by the average miles per gallon of a family car, which is around 21.5 MPG. So, the cost of driving per mile would be $0.1376.

The Northern Route

To travel on the northern route of 2,795 miles, it would cost a total of $384.68. This route is more direct, which means you won’t spend extra on gas, but the cost of tolls can hurt your wallet.

The Southern Route

The 3,422-mile southern route is longer than the northern route, but it takes you through some beautiful landscapes and allows for an experience of scenic drives. The cost of driving the southern route would be $471.03.

The Middle Route

The shortest of all, the middle route of 2,744-mile total cost to drive would be $376.90. It's important to note that the savings made with this route are not much in comparison to the gasoline cost savings, but the scenic views make up for it.

Recommendations

While the northern and middle routes are less expensive, our recommendation is the southern route. The southern route’s longer distance may mean higher fuel costs, but the costs of tolls and the experiences of the scenic views along the way make up for it.

The southern route also offers a variety of tourist destinations that make for a lovely road trip experience. Among these noteworthy landmarks are the Grand Canyon, the Texas State Capitol, the French Quarter of New Orleans, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Conclusion

A trip from Calabasas, California, to New York, New York, can be a daunting task, but the right route can make all the difference. Our analysis showed that the southern route was the best option in the balance of the costs and attractions. The cost of the southern route may be higher, but you will save up on the costs of tolls while getting an experience of some of the world's best scenic views. Irrespective of which route you take, with the right planning, the drive is worth it. On average, it would take you around 45 hours to 50 hours to arrive in New York at a moderate pace.