The Cost of a Trip from Carlisle, Iowa to Traverse City, Michigan

Are you planning a road trip from Carlisle, Iowa to Traverse City, Michigan? Before embarking on the journey, it's important to have an understanding of the cost that you can expect. Here's a breakdown of the cost of the trip based on current gas prices, distance, and routes.

Routes and Distances

There are multiple routes that you can take to travel from Carlisle, Iowa to Traverse City, Michigan. Each route has its own length and cost based on gas prices. Some of the routes include:

Route 1: Via I-80 and I-90

This route covers the longest distance from Carlisle to Traverse City, but it's also the most direct. Starting from Carlisle, Iowa, you'll drive along I-80 East until you reach I-90 East. You'll then continue driving on I-90 East until you reach Traverse City, Michigan. This route covers approximately 800 miles and should take around 12 hours to travel.

Route 2: Via I-35 and I-94

This route covers a slightly shorter distance from Carlisle to Traverse City than the first route, but it still takes a significant amount of time to travel. Starting from Carlisle, Iowa, you'll take I-35 North until you reach I-94 East. You'll then continue driving on I-94 East until you reach Traverse City, Michigan. This route covers around 730 miles and should take around 11 hours to travel.

Route 3: Via US-131

This route covers the shortest distance from Carlisle to Traverse City but is also the most time-consuming. Starting from Carlisle, Iowa, you'll take I-35 North and then exit onto US-131 North. You'll continue driving on US-131 North until you reach Traverse City, Michigan. This route covers around 680 miles and should take around 12 hours to travel.

Gas Prices and Costs

The cost of the trip from Carlisle, Iowa to Traverse City, Michigan depends on the prevailing gas prices at the time of travel and the distance you'll cover. Based on the current average gas price for regular unleaded gasoline in the US, which is around $2.68 per gallon, here's an estimate of how much it will cost to travel each route:

Route 1

At a distance of around 800 miles, driving a car with a fuel efficiency of 25 miles per gallon, the total cost of gas for the trip will be around $171, assuming gas prices remain constant. This estimate is based on the assumption that you'll use approximately 32 gallons of gas for the trip.

Route 2

At a distance of around 730 miles, driving a car with a fuel efficiency of 25 miles per gallon, the total cost of gas for the trip will be around $157, assuming gas prices remain constant. This estimate is based on the assumption that you'll use approximately 29.2 gallons of gas for the trip.

Route 3

At a distance of around 680 miles, driving a car with a fuel efficiency of 25 miles per gallon, the total cost of gas for the trip will be around $145, assuming gas prices remain constant. This estimate is based on the assumption that you'll use approximately 27.2 gallons of gas for the trip.

Recommendations

Based on the routes and costs associated with each, the best route to travel from Carlisle, Iowa to Traverse City, Michigan would be route 2. This route covers a shorter distance than the first route but is more direct than the third route, which covers the shortest distance. Additionally, the cost associated with route 2 is approximately $14 less than the cost associated with route 1.

Conclusion

In summary, understand the cost associated with a trip from Carlisle, Iowa to Traverse City, Michigan is essential for budgeting purposes. While there are multiple routes to choose from, varying in distance and cost, choosing the shorter but more direct route is recommended. With gas prices remaining steady, traveling through route 2 would set travelers back approximately $157 and should take around 11 hours to travel.