Gas Cost: Pennsylvania to Texas — The $135 Baseline

Back-of-napkin math for a 1,300-mile trip:

• Vehicle: 30 MPG combined.
• Fuel needed: 1,300 ÷ 30 ≈ 43 gallons.
• Gas price: $3.15/gal (Sep 2021 avg—check current).
• Estimate: 43 × $3.15 ≈ $135.

Real variables: your actual MPG (SUV = 20 MPG → $200+), route (I-76/I-70/I-40 vs. I-80/I-76), state price spreads (PA $3.80, TX $3.10), traffic, AC use. Use GasBuddy + Google Maps "fuel cost" tool for live numbers. Budget $150–250 to be safe.