Football fans face almost £140 petrol bill on Britain’s longest away days
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Sunderland fans travelling to Bournemouth face an estimated £136 petrol bill for a 688-mile round trip
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Cardiff supporters heading to Middlesbrough could spend around £112 on petrol
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UK petrol averages 174.4p a litre, with diesel at 199.4p
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The AA urges fans to share journeys where possible, check fuel prices before setting off and make every drop matter
Football fans face a hefty hit at the pumps this weekend, with some supporters spending well over £100 on petrol just to follow their team away from home.
AA analysis of the latest Fuel Finder data shows the UK average price of petrol is 174.4p a litre, while diesel averages 199.4p a litre.
That means filling a typical 55-litre tank costs around £96 for petrol and £110 for diesel.
For fans clocking up hundreds of miles, the cost quickly adds up.
The AA has compared some of the weekend’s longest away journeys using approximate ground-to-ground road distances between the clubs’ stadiums, with return mileage used to calculate the estimated fuel cost.
Sunderland supporters travelling to Bournemouth face the biggest hit in The AA’s analysis, with a 688-mile round trip costing an estimated £136 in petrol for a car averaging 40mpg.
Cardiff City fans heading to Middlesbrough face around 566 miles on the road and an estimated petrol bill of £112.
Fans further down the pyramid hit too
It is not just Premier League supporters facing eye-watering journeys.
Truro City fans travelling to Sutton United in the FA Cup face a 526-mile return trip, costing an estimated £104.26 in petrol.
Exeter City supporters making the trip to Colchester United face around 494 miles return, with an estimated petrol bill of £98, while Gillingham fans travelling to Accrington Stanley face around 490 miles and £97 in petrol.
Ross County supporters heading to Queen of the South face around 478 miles return, costing approximately £95.
Ten of the weekend’s longest away journeys
| Rank | Away journey | Competition | Approx. return distance | Estimated petrol cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunderland → Bournemouth | Premier League | 688 miles | £136.38 |
| 2 | Cardiff City → Middlesbrough | Championship | 566 miles | £112.19 |
| 3 | Truro City → Sutton United | FA Cup | 526 miles | £104.26 |
| 4 | Exeter City → Colchester United | League Two | 494 miles | £97.92 |
| 5 | Gillingham → Accrington Stanley | League Two | 490 miles | £97.13 |
| 6 | Ross County → Queen of the South | Scottish League One | 478 miles | £94.75 |
| 7 | Guiseley → Leiston | FA Cup | 458 miles | £90.79 |
| 8 | Gloucester City → Barrow | FA Cup | 446 miles | £88.41 |
| 9 | Chertsey Town → Plymouth Parkway | FA Cup | 430 miles | £85.23 |
| 10 | Tamworth → Carlisle United | FA Cup | 390 miles | £77.31 |
Share the car, split the bill
Fans travelling together can take some of the sting out of the cost by sharing the journey.
Four Sunderland supporters splitting the estimated £136.38 petrol bill would pay around £34.10 each, while four Truro fans sharing the drive to Sutton would pay around £26.07 each.
For supporters further down the football pyramid, where long-distance public transport can be less practical, travelling by car is often an important part of the away day.
Shop around before setting off
The AA is urging supporters to plan where they fill up rather than automatically stopping at the nearest forecourt or motorway service area.
Fans can use the AA app to compare fuel prices near them and along their journey before setting off.
Edmund King, AA president, said: “Football fans will go a long way to follow their team, quite literally, and some are facing a painful bill at the pumps this weekend.
“Fuel prices have been edging down, but petrol at around £1.74 a litre and diesel close to £2 still make these long journeys expensive. Sunderland fans heading to Bournemouth could spend more than £136 on petrol alone.
“And it isn’t just Premier League supporters. Fans right across the football pyramid are clocking up hundreds of miles.
“Sharing the car and splitting the fuel bill can make a big difference. It is also worth checking pump prices before setting off and along the route, as the AA app can help drivers avoid paying more than they need to.”
Make every drop matter
Lee Morley, AA expert patrol, said: “On a journey of several hundred miles, small changes can make a real difference to how much fuel you use.
“Check your tyre pressures, take out any unnecessary weight and drive smoothly, avoiding harsh acceleration and braking where possible.
“Planning where you are going to stop for fuel can also save money. And if several fans are travelling from the same area, sharing one car can bring the cost down for everyone.”
Pump prices have been falling gradually in recent days, but for supporters facing journeys of 400, 500 or even nearly 700 miles, the cost of getting to the match remains significant.
Fuel costs are estimates based on the latest UK average E10 petrol price of 174.4p a litre and a petrol vehicle averaging 40 miles per gallon.
Costco sites and sites which haven’t updated prices within the last 30 days have been excluded from The AA’s latest fuel price analysis of the Government’s Fuel Finder data on 15 October 2026.
Journey figures are based on approximate ground-to-ground road distances between the away club’s stadium and the home club’s stadium, doubled to represent a return journey. Actual mileage will vary depending on the route taken, traffic, diversions and the supporter’s individual starting point.
A 55-litre tank is used to illustrate typical fill-up costs.
Questions and Answers
How much could Sunderland fans spend on petrol travelling to Bournemouth?
Sunderland supporters making the approximately 688-mile return journey to Bournemouth could spend around £136 on petrol, based on a car averaging 40mpg.
What is the current average price of petrol in the UK?
AA analysis of the latest Fuel Finder data shows the UK average price of petrol is 174.4p a litre.
What is the current average price of diesel in the UK?
The UK average price of diesel is 199.4p a litre.
How much does it cost to fill a typical 55-litre tank?
At current average prices, a typical 55-litre fill costs around £96 for petrol and £110 for diesel.
Which supporters face the longest away journey in The AA’s analysis?
Sunderland fans travelling to Bournemouth face the longest journey in the analysis, at approximately 688 miles return.
How much could Cardiff City fans spend travelling to Middlesbrough?
Cardiff supporters face a return journey of around 566 miles, with an estimated petrol cost of about £112.
Which lower-league and FA Cup fans face some of the longest journeys?
Truro City fans travelling to Sutton United face around 526 miles return, Exeter City supporters heading to Colchester United around 494 miles, and Gillingham fans travelling to Accrington Stanley around 490 miles.
Can football fans reduce the cost by car sharing?
Yes. Four Sunderland supporters splitting the estimated £136 petrol cost would pay around £34 each, while four Truro fans sharing the drive to Sutton would pay around £26 each.
How can supporters find cheaper fuel on the way to a match?
Fans can use the AA app to compare fuel prices near them and along their route before setting off, helping them avoid paying more than they need to.
What can drivers do to use less fuel on a long away journey?
The AA advises drivers to check tyre pressures, remove unnecessary weight, drive smoothly, avoid harsh acceleration and braking, and plan where they will stop for fuel before setting off.
