There is a particular kind of stress that comes with watching your fuel gauge drop on a long stretch of highway, unsure whether the next roadhouse is 20 kilometres away or 200. Anyone who has driven the Stuart Highway or crossed the Nullarbor knows the feeling. A bit of planning turns that anxiety into a non-issue — and saves you real money along the way.
Australia is a country built for road trips, but fuel costs on a multi-day trip add up fast, especially in remote areas where prices can be 40 to 60 cents per litre higher than in capital cities. The Department of Infrastructure's travel-safety advice is blunt about it: note where the fuel stations are on your route before you leave, and be realistic about how far you can drive in a day.
Plan Your Fuel Stops Before You Leave
The single most effective way to save money on fuel during a road trip is to plan your fill-up locations in advance. Use FueVolt or similar tools to check prices along your route before departure. Identify the cheapest towns and plan to fill up there rather than wherever your tank happens to run low.
In general, fuel is cheapest in large regional centres like Dubbo, Toowoomba, Ballarat or Geraldton. It is most expensive in very small towns between major centres and at highway service stations near capital cities.
Fill Up Before Leaving the City
Capital city prices are almost always lower than regional prices. Top up your tank completely before hitting the highway. The difference between city and outback prices can easily be 30 cents per litre, which on a 60-litre tank saves $18 per fill.
Carry Extra Range for Remote Sections
On routes like the Stuart Highway through central Australia or the road from Perth to Kalgoorlie, distances between fuel stations can exceed 200 kilometres. Know your car's range and carry a jerry can if you are venturing into very remote areas. Running out of fuel in the outback is dangerous and expensive — roadside assistance callouts to remote locations can cost hundreds of dollars. Formal rest areas are typically spaced 80 to 120 kilometres apart on main roads, so plan fuel and fatigue stops together rather than pushing on to save time.
Drive Efficiently
At highway speeds, aerodynamic drag increases with the square of velocity. The Department of Infrastructure's fuel-saving tips recommend reducing speed, avoiding over-revving and keeping loads down. Dropping from 110 km/h to 100 km/h can improve fuel economy by 10 to 15 per cent. On a 2,000 kilometre trip in a car that uses 8 litres per 100 km, that speed reduction saves roughly 25 litres — about $42 at current prices.
Other efficiency tips include maintaining correct tyre pressure (under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance), removing roof racks or cargo boxes when not needed, using cruise control on flat highways, and avoiding sudden acceleration and braking.
Time Your Departure Around Price Cycles
If you are leaving from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, check the fuel price cycle. Departing when prices are at the bottom of the cycle means your first fill-up is at the cheapest point. This applies to your return journey too — if possible, time your final city fill-up for a low-price day.
Consider Your Fuel Type
If your car accepts E10, it is usually three to five cents cheaper per litre than U91. Over a long trip, this adds up. However, E10 has slightly lower energy content, so your fuel economy will be about three per cent worse. The net saving is still positive in most cases.
For diesel vehicles, regional diesel prices vary significantly. Some country towns price diesel competitively to attract truck traffic, while others mark it up heavily. Checking ahead pays off.
Use Multiple Price Comparison Tools
Government fuel price APIs cover NSW, VIC, QLD and WA comprehensively. For SA, NT and Tasmania, data is less complete. Cross-reference multiple sources when planning stops in states without government price data.
Pack Food and Water
This is not strictly a fuel tip, but roadhouse meals and drinks are expensive. Packing a cooler with food and water means fewer unnecessary stops at overpriced highway service centres, keeping you focused on planned fuel stops at cheaper locations.
A well-planned road trip is not just more affordable — it is more enjoyable. Less stress about fuel means more time enjoying the scenery.