The Cost of Driving from Cardiff to Peterborough: Gas Prices and Routes

Planning a road trip is always exciting, but it can be challenging to decide on the best route and how much it will cost. If you're thinking about driving from Cardiff to Peterborough, you're in luck: we've gathered all the information you need to make an informed decision. In this post, we'll take a look at different routes, distances, times, and costs, based on current gas prices.

Route 1 - M4 and M1 (via London)

This is the most direct route if you're driving from Cardiff to Peterborough. You'll take the M4 east until you reach London, and then switch to the M1 northbound until you get to Peterborough. The journey is approximately 180 miles, and it should take around 3 hours and 30 minutes, depending on traffic.

Assuming your car averages 35 miles per gallon, you will need around 5.14 gallons of gas for this route. Based on the current average gas price in the UK of £1.27 per liter, you'll spend approximately £29.57 on gas one-way. Additionally, you'll need to pay the M4 toll, which is currently £6.70. Therefore your total one-way cost for this route would be £36.27.

Route 2 - A48 and M5 (via Birmingham)

For a more scenic route, you can take the A48 and M5, bypassing the busy M4 and M1. You'll end up driving through the beautiful Cotswolds region, and also Cornwall and Devon. This route is longer, at approximately 230 miles, and can take around 4 hours and 30 minutes, depending on traffic.

Assuming your car averages 35 miles per gallon, you will need around 6.57 gallons of gas for this route. Based on the current average gas price in the UK of £1.27 per liter, you'll spend approximately £39.24 on gas one-way. There are no tolls on this route, so your total one-way cost for this route would be £39.24.

Route 3 - A44 and M40 (via Oxford)

If you want to avoid motorways as well as toll roads, you can take the A44 and M40 from Cardiff to Peterborough. Although it is longer than the M4 and M1 route, this route is still very manageable. The distance is about 185 miles, and it should take around 4 hours, depending on traffic.

Assuming your car averages 35 miles per gallon, you will need around 5.28 gallons of gas for this route. Based on the current average gas price in the UK of £1.27 per liter, you'll spend approximately £31.09 on gas one-way. There are no tolls on this route, so your total one-way cost for this route would be £31.09.

Conclusion

After analyzing the three routes, Route 1 is the cheapest with a total one-way cost of £36.27, including tolls. Route 2 offers a more scenic drive but is costlier with a total one-way cost of £39.24. Route 3, on the other hand, is the second-lowest in cost, with a total one-way cost of £31.09. By deciding which route to take, you can not only save money on gas, but you can also make the driving part of your journey more enjoyable. It's always good to know your options before you hit the road!