One of the things I thought about a lot before riding across Mongolia was fuel.
You look at the map, see huge empty areas, and start wondering:
what if I just… run out of fuel in the middle of nowhere?
In reality, it’s not as extreme as it looks. But it’s also not something you can ignore.
Distances Between Fuel Stops
Outside larger towns, petrol stations are not always available.
In many regions you should expect:
- long distances between villages
- basic fuel availability in small towns
- occasional roadside fuel sales from locals
- limited opening hours
This does not mean fuel is impossible to find, but it does mean you cannot assume you will find it exactly when you want. Planning realistic daily distances and refuelling whenever possible is a smart move.
On my trip, I found that even smaller towns often had some form of fuel available, but reaching them sometimes required adjusting the route or riding further than expected.
How Far Can You Ride?
On my Shineray 150cc, I could do roughly:
- ~230 km on a full tank in normal conditions
- less when riding in sand, mud or rough terrain
And that difference matters….
Because in Mongolia, a “short” route on the map can turn into a long day very quickly.
The Reality: It’s Not Just Distance
Fuel planning isn’t just about kilometres.
Things that affected my range:
- soft sand
- river crossings
- bad tracks
- getting lost (this happens)
- detours you didn’t plan
Sometimes I’d expect a relatively easy ride… and end up using way more fuel than I thought. In the Orkhon Valley, I rode for quite a long time without seeing any fuel.
At some point I genuinely started thinking: I might not make it. There were no clear roads, just tracks, and progress was slow. In the end, I made it. But it taught me not to rely too much on optimistic estimates.
Carrying Extra Fuel (or not)
I actually didn’t carry extra fuel on my trip. And honestly, most of the time, that was fine. But… If you’re going into more remote areas, bringing something simple like a 3–5L bottle or small jerrycan, can give you a lot more freedom.
There was one time where I didn’t take extra fuel, and I had to turn back earlier than I wanted. That’s the trade-off.
How I Approached Fuel
I didn’t overplan it. Mostly I just had a rough idea of distances and went with the flow.
But I did follow one simple rule: Always refuel when you pass a station, especially before heading off-road
Quick Fuel Tips
- Refuel whenever you can
- Don’t fully trust map distances
- Terrain can increase fuel use a lot
- Consider carrying 3–5L extra in remote areas
- Don’t start long stretches late in the day
Related posts
- Navigating Mongolia by Motorbike
- Budget for a Mongolia Motorbike Trip
- Motorbike Choice for Mongolia
- Mistakes I Made Riding Across Mongolia
Want to know more?
In my full Mongolia Motorbike Guide, I explain:
- how far I could realistically ride per tank
- where I refuelled along my route
- when carrying extra fuel makes sense
- how to reduce stress on long riding days
- and much more
If you are preparing for your own Mongolia trip, this guide can help you plan with more confidence and save you a lot of research time.
👉 Explore the Mongolia Motorbike Guide
