Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 987 miles, a gas price of $3.782 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 | 62 | $233 | $274 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 90 | $339 | $399 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 110 | $415 | $488 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 123 | $467 | $549 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 141 | $533 | $627 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 123 | $718 | $845 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $300 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 |
| San Antonio, TX | $3.704 | $5.903 | Texas average |
Gas runs about $0.16 a gallon cheaper around San Antonio, TX. Most one-way rentals are returned near San Antonio, so that’s the cheaper place to top the tank back up to the level you picked it up at.
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 San Antonio, TX a 3-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 San Antonio, TX 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 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 New Orleans
- Atlanta to Boise
- Atlanta to Richmond
- Atlanta to Birmingham
- Atlanta to Omaha
- Atlanta to Charleston
- Atlanta to El Paso
More moves to San Antonio
- New York to San Antonio
- Los Angeles to San Antonio
- Chicago to San Antonio
- Houston to San Antonio
- Phoenix to San Antonio
- Philadelphia to San Antonio
- San Diego to San Antonio
- Dallas to San Antonio
- Austin to San Antonio
- Charlotte to San Antonio
- San Francisco to San Antonio
- Seattle to San Antonio
- Denver to San Antonio
- Nashville to San Antonio
- Miami to San Antonio
- Boston to San Antonio
- Las Vegas to San Antonio
- Orlando to San Antonio
- Tampa to San Antonio
- Raleigh to San Antonio
- Jacksonville to San Antonio
- Columbus to San Antonio
- Indianapolis to San Antonio
- Sacramento to San Antonio
- Oklahoma City to San Antonio
- Portland to San Antonio
- Louisville to San Antonio
- Memphis to San Antonio
- Baltimore to San Antonio
- Washington to San Antonio
- Milwaukee to San Antonio
- Albuquerque to San Antonio
- Tucson to San Antonio
- Kansas City to San Antonio
- Salt Lake City to San Antonio
- Minneapolis to San Antonio
- Detroit to San Antonio
- Cleveland to San Antonio
- Pittsburgh to San Antonio
- St. Louis to San Antonio
- Cincinnati to San Antonio
- New Orleans to San Antonio
- Boise to San Antonio
- Richmond to San Antonio
- Birmingham to San Antonio
- Omaha to San Antonio
- Charleston to San Antonio
- El Paso to San Antonio