Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 945 miles, a gas price of $4.147 and a diesel price of $6.124 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 | 59 | $245 | $288 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 86 | $356 | $419 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 105 | $435 | $512 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 118 | $490 | $576 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 135 | $560 | $659 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 118 | $723 | $851 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $315 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 |
| Tampa, FL | $3.981 | $5.740 | Florida average |
Gas runs about $0.33 a gallon cheaper around Tampa, FL. Most one-way rentals are returned near Tampa, 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 Tampa, FL 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 Tampa, FL 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 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 St. Louis
- 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 Tampa
- New York to Tampa
- Los Angeles to Tampa
- Chicago to Tampa
- Houston to Tampa
- Phoenix to Tampa
- Philadelphia to Tampa
- San Diego to Tampa
- Dallas to Tampa
- Austin to Tampa
- Charlotte to Tampa
- San Francisco to Tampa
- Seattle to Tampa
- Denver to Tampa
- Nashville to Tampa
- Atlanta to Tampa
- Miami to Tampa
- Boston to Tampa
- Las Vegas to Tampa
- Orlando to Tampa
- Raleigh to Tampa
- San Antonio to Tampa
- Jacksonville to Tampa
- Columbus to Tampa
- Indianapolis to Tampa
- Sacramento to Tampa
- Oklahoma City to Tampa
- Portland to Tampa
- Louisville to Tampa
- Memphis to Tampa
- Washington to Tampa
- Milwaukee to Tampa
- Albuquerque to Tampa
- Tucson to Tampa
- Kansas City to Tampa
- Salt Lake City to Tampa
- Minneapolis to Tampa
- Detroit to Tampa
- Cleveland to Tampa
- Pittsburgh to Tampa
- St. Louis to Tampa
- Cincinnati to Tampa
- New Orleans to Tampa
- Boise to Tampa
- Richmond to Tampa
- Birmingham to Tampa
- Omaha to Tampa
- Charleston to Tampa
- El Paso to Tampa