Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 469 miles, a gas price of $3.822 and a diesel price of $5.822 a gallon. Towing a car on a trailer or dolly lowers fuel economy by about 15%.
| Truck | MPG | Gallons | Fuel cost | Towing a car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo van | 16 | 29 | $112 | $132 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 43 | $163 | $192 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 52 | $199 | $234 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 59 | $224 | $264 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 67 | $256 | $301 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 59 | $341 | $402 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $144 in fuel alone, so it pays to rent only as much truck as you need.
Fuel prices at each end of the move
| Where | Gas | Diesel | Price basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | $3.860 | $5.740 | Lower Atlantic average |
| New Orleans, LA | $3.784 | $5.903 | Gulf Coast average |
Prices at the two ends are within a few cents of each other, so where you fill up matters less than how fast you drive.
Weekly retail averages from the U.S. Energy Information Administration for the week of October 19, 2026. Prices along the way will vary. EIA source
Planning the drive
A loaded box truck is slower than a car on hills and safest at moderate speeds, and most drivers find 450 miles a comfortable day. That makes Atlanta, GA to New Orleans, LA a 2-day drive, so budget for hotel nights and meals on top of fuel. The rental itself and any per-mile fees are charged separately from fuel.
Other moves
Going the other way? See New Orleans, LA to Atlanta, GA.
More moves from Atlanta
- Atlanta to New York
- Atlanta to Los Angeles
- Atlanta to Chicago
- Atlanta to Houston
- Atlanta to Phoenix
- Atlanta to Philadelphia
- Atlanta to San Diego
- Atlanta to Dallas
- Atlanta to Austin
- Atlanta to Charlotte
- Atlanta to San Francisco
- Atlanta to Seattle
- Atlanta to Denver
- Atlanta to Nashville
- Atlanta to Miami
- Atlanta to Boston
- Atlanta to Las Vegas
- Atlanta to Orlando
- Atlanta to Tampa
- Atlanta to Raleigh
- Atlanta to San Antonio
- Atlanta to Jacksonville
- Atlanta to Columbus
- Atlanta to Indianapolis
- Atlanta to Sacramento
- Atlanta to Oklahoma City
- Atlanta to Portland
- Atlanta to Louisville
- Atlanta to Memphis
- Atlanta to Baltimore
- Atlanta to Washington
- Atlanta to Milwaukee
- Atlanta to Albuquerque
- Atlanta to Tucson
- Atlanta to Kansas City
- Atlanta to Salt Lake City
- Atlanta to Minneapolis
- Atlanta to Detroit
- Atlanta to Cleveland
- Atlanta to Pittsburgh
- Atlanta to St. Louis
- Atlanta to Cincinnati
- Atlanta to Boise
- Atlanta to Richmond
- Atlanta to Birmingham
- Atlanta to Omaha
- Atlanta to Charleston
- Atlanta to El Paso
More moves to New Orleans
- New York to New Orleans
- Los Angeles to New Orleans
- Chicago to New Orleans
- Houston to New Orleans
- Phoenix to New Orleans
- Philadelphia to New Orleans
- San Diego to New Orleans
- Dallas to New Orleans
- Austin to New Orleans
- Charlotte to New Orleans
- San Francisco to New Orleans
- Seattle to New Orleans
- Denver to New Orleans
- Nashville to New Orleans
- Miami to New Orleans
- Boston to New Orleans
- Las Vegas to New Orleans
- Orlando to New Orleans
- Tampa to New Orleans
- Raleigh to New Orleans
- San Antonio to New Orleans
- Jacksonville to New Orleans
- Columbus to New Orleans
- Indianapolis to New Orleans
- Sacramento to New Orleans
- Oklahoma City to New Orleans
- Portland to New Orleans
- Louisville to New Orleans
- Memphis to New Orleans
- Baltimore to New Orleans
- Washington to New Orleans
- Milwaukee to New Orleans
- Albuquerque to New Orleans
- Tucson to New Orleans
- Kansas City to New Orleans
- Salt Lake City to New Orleans
- Minneapolis to New Orleans
- Detroit to New Orleans
- Cleveland to New Orleans
- Pittsburgh to New Orleans
- St. Louis to New Orleans
- Cincinnati to New Orleans
- Boise to New Orleans
- Richmond to New Orleans
- Birmingham to New Orleans
- Omaha to New Orleans
- Charleston to New Orleans
- El Paso to New Orleans