Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 838 miles, a gas price of $4.229 and a diesel price of $6.430 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 | 52 | $221 | $261 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 76 | $322 | $379 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 93 | $394 | $463 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 105 | $443 | $521 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 120 | $506 | $596 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 105 | $674 | $792 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $285 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore, MD | $4.312 | $6.508 | Central Atlantic average |
| St. Louis, MO | $4.145 | $6.352 | Midwest average |
Gas runs about $0.17 a gallon cheaper around St. Louis, MO. Most one-way rentals are returned near St. Louis, 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 Baltimore, MD to St. Louis, MO 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 St. Louis, MO to Baltimore, MD.
More moves from Baltimore
- Baltimore to New York
- Baltimore to Los Angeles
- Baltimore to Chicago
- Baltimore to Houston
- Baltimore to Phoenix
- Baltimore to Philadelphia
- Baltimore to San Diego
- Baltimore to Dallas
- Baltimore to Austin
- Baltimore to Charlotte
- Baltimore to San Francisco
- Baltimore to Seattle
- Baltimore to Denver
- Baltimore to Nashville
- Baltimore to Atlanta
- Baltimore to Miami
- Baltimore to Boston
- Baltimore to Las Vegas
- Baltimore to Orlando
- Baltimore to Tampa
- Baltimore to Raleigh
- Baltimore to San Antonio
- Baltimore to Jacksonville
- Baltimore to Columbus
- Baltimore to Indianapolis
- Baltimore to Sacramento
- Baltimore to Oklahoma City
- Baltimore to Portland
- Baltimore to Louisville
- Baltimore to Memphis
- Baltimore to Washington
- Baltimore to Milwaukee
- Baltimore to Albuquerque
- Baltimore to Tucson
- Baltimore to Kansas City
- Baltimore to Salt Lake City
- Baltimore to Minneapolis
- Baltimore to Detroit
- Baltimore to Cleveland
- Baltimore to Pittsburgh
- Baltimore to Cincinnati
- Baltimore to New Orleans
- Baltimore to Boise
- Baltimore to Richmond
- Baltimore to Birmingham
- Baltimore to Omaha
- Baltimore to Charleston
- Baltimore to El Paso
More moves to St. Louis
- New York to St. Louis
- Los Angeles to St. Louis
- Chicago to St. Louis
- Houston to St. Louis
- Phoenix to St. Louis
- Philadelphia to St. Louis
- San Diego to St. Louis
- Dallas to St. Louis
- Austin to St. Louis
- Charlotte to St. Louis
- San Francisco to St. Louis
- Seattle to St. Louis
- Denver to St. Louis
- Nashville to St. Louis
- Atlanta to St. Louis
- Miami to St. Louis
- Boston to St. Louis
- Las Vegas to St. Louis
- Orlando to St. Louis
- Tampa to St. Louis
- Raleigh to St. Louis
- San Antonio to St. Louis
- Jacksonville to St. Louis
- Columbus to St. Louis
- Indianapolis to St. Louis
- Sacramento to St. Louis
- Oklahoma City to St. Louis
- Portland to St. Louis
- Louisville to St. Louis
- Memphis to St. Louis
- Washington to St. Louis
- Milwaukee to St. Louis
- Albuquerque to St. Louis
- Tucson to St. Louis
- Kansas City to St. Louis
- Salt Lake City to St. Louis
- Minneapolis to St. Louis
- Detroit to St. Louis
- Cleveland to St. Louis
- Pittsburgh to St. Louis
- Cincinnati to St. Louis
- New Orleans to St. Louis
- Boise to St. Louis
- Richmond to St. Louis
- Birmingham to St. Louis
- Omaha to St. Louis
- Charleston to St. Louis
- El Paso to St. Louis