Norfolk Coast fuel cost.
Budget the A149 coastal drive from King's Lynn to Cromer — or on to Great Yarmouth. See live Norfolk petrol and diesel prices on the map, then calculate your cost and see why the flat East Anglian terrain gives you some of the best real-world fuel economy of any UK scenic route.
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Quick answer: Driving the 45-mile A149 from King's Lynn to Cromer costs roughly £7 to £9 in fuel — the exceptionally flat Norfolk terrain lets vehicles hit near-optimal MPG, unlike the steep coastal routes of Wales or Scotland. The only drag is slow agricultural traffic and summer caravans causing minor stop-start delays. Extend to Great Yarmouth for an 85-mile trip. Use the live map above to find the cheapest station before you set off.
How much does it cost to drive the Norfolk Coast?
Driving the 45-mile stretch from King's Lynn to Cromer on the A149 costs roughly £7 to £9 in fuel — the exceptionally flat terrain allows vehicles to achieve near-optimal fuel economy.
This is Norfolk's quiet advantage. Where Wales and Scotland destroy fuel economy with cliffs and hairpins, the A149 stays level, so you can cruise efficiently and hit close to your car's combined MPG. Extend the route east to Great Yarmouth and it becomes an 85-mile trip. Enter your own MPG and today's live price in the calculator below for a precise figure.
Is the A149 good for fuel efficiency?
Yes — the lack of elevation on the Norfolk Coast lets cars cruise highly efficiently without the high-RPM, low-gear driving found on other UK coastal routes.
That "Norfolk MPG advantage" is real: on a flat, steady route your engine spends most of its time in top gear at low load, which is exactly where it sips fuel. It makes the A149 one of the cheapest scenic coastal drives per mile in the country — the polar opposite of a mountain pass. Fill up cheaply in King's Lynn before you start; supermarket forecourts there beat the small coastal-village stations.
What slows traffic down on the Norfolk Coast?
Despite the flat roads, drivers must anticipate slow-moving agricultural vehicles and heavy summer caravan traffic, which cause minor stop-start delays that slightly dent otherwise excellent fuel economy.
The A149 also behaves more like a winding B-road than a fast arterial route in places, so overtaking is limited. It's rarely a big fuel penalty — nothing like a mountain climb — but tick the traffic box in the calculator if you're travelling at peak summer times. Search a postcode like NR27 (Cromer) or PE31 (Hunstanton) on the map above and sort by cheapest.
Calculate your Norfolk Coast fuel cost
Enter your car's MPG, the distance (45 miles King's Lynn to Cromer, or 85 to Great Yarmouth) and today's live price from the map. Tick the box to add a small allowance for summer agricultural and caravan traffic.
Formula: (miles ÷ MPG) × 4.546 × (price ÷ 100) — 4.546 is litres per imperial gallon.
Covering Norfolk for work in your own car? Claim the HMRC Approved Mileage Allowance Payment: 45p per mile for the first 10,000 business miles, 25p thereafter — see GOV.UK simplified expenses.
Which fuel does your vehicle need? A plain-English guide
The live map above covers all six fuel grades tracked under the GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme. Here's what each one means — and how to choose at the pump before you set off.
The default pump for most petrol cars. Contains up to 10% ethanol. A small number of older or classic cars require E5 — check your handbook before filling.
Higher octane (97–99 RON) and cleaner-burning. Typically 10–20p/litre more expensive. The protected grade for older engines not approved for E10 — and popular with performance cars.
The default diesel pump. Contains up to 7% biodiesel. Suitable for all diesel passenger cars, vans and most HGVs. Generally 2–8p/litre cheaper than premium diesel at the same station.
Includes detergent and cetane-boosting additives. Sold as BP Ultimate Diesel, Shell V-Power Diesel and similar. Use the Premium Diesel toggle to compare the price gap near you.
Contains up to 10% FAME biodiesel — higher renewable content than B7. Only suitable for vehicles whose manufacturer explicitly approves B10. Always check your handbook first.
Drop-in renewable diesel with up to 90% lower lifecycle carbon than fossil diesel. Compatible with most modern diesels — check your handbook. Use the HVO filter above to find nearby stations.
Where should you refuel on the Norfolk Coast?
Fuel is easy to find at the larger towns, and thanks to the flat roads you'll use very little of it. Here are the reliable stops along the A149.
Cheapest supermarket fuel on the route and the gateway from the A47 — fill up before you head east.
Handy forecourts near Sandringham and the north-coast beaches; limited in the smaller villages.
Fuel at the eastern end of the classic route before it turns south toward the Broads.
Plenty of supermarket forecourts if you continue the A149 south to the 85-mile finish.
The fact most guides miss, answered here: the flat A149 lets vehicles achieve near-optimal MPG, making it one of the cheapest scenic coastal drives in Britain — unlike the steep routes of Wales or Scotland — with only slow agricultural and caravan traffic causing minor delays. For live prices across East Anglia, this page shares the GOV.UK dataset behind our UK-wide fuel map.
Norfolk Coast fuel questions
Related tools & routes
Planning fuel for another coastal drive, or the wider cost of your trip? These help.
Data & estimate disclaimer: Live fuel prices are sourced from the GOV.UK Fuel Finder API under the Motor Fuel Price (Open Data) Regulations 2025. While every forecourt is legally required to report price changes within 30 minutes, CalculatorDashboard.com does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of third-party data — always verify the displayed price at the pump before fuelling. Journey fuel-cost figures are estimates only: real-world consumption varies with driving style, load, weather and traffic, and quoted route distances and MPG penalties are approximate. HMRC advisory rates are shown for guidance and change quarterly — check the official rate before submitting a claim. Not financial or tax advice. CalculatorDashboard.com is not affiliated with any fuel retailer, supplier or government body.