Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 776 miles, a gas price of $3.744 and a diesel price of $5.903 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 | 49 | $182 | $214 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 71 | $264 | $311 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 86 | $323 | $380 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 97 | $363 | $427 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 111 | $415 | $488 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 97 | $573 | $674 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $233 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | $3.784 | $5.903 | Gulf Coast average |
| Austin, TX | $3.704 | $5.903 | Texas 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 Birmingham, AL to Austin, TX 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 Austin, TX to Birmingham, AL.
More moves from Birmingham
- Birmingham to New York
- Birmingham to Los Angeles
- Birmingham to Chicago
- Birmingham to Houston
- Birmingham to Phoenix
- Birmingham to Philadelphia
- Birmingham to San Diego
- Birmingham to Dallas
- Birmingham to Charlotte
- Birmingham to San Francisco
- Birmingham to Seattle
- Birmingham to Denver
- Birmingham to Nashville
- Birmingham to Atlanta
- Birmingham to Miami
- Birmingham to Boston
- Birmingham to Las Vegas
- Birmingham to Orlando
- Birmingham to Tampa
- Birmingham to Raleigh
- Birmingham to San Antonio
- Birmingham to Jacksonville
- Birmingham to Columbus
- Birmingham to Indianapolis
- Birmingham to Sacramento
- Birmingham to Oklahoma City
- Birmingham to Portland
- Birmingham to Louisville
- Birmingham to Memphis
- Birmingham to Baltimore
- Birmingham to Washington
- Birmingham to Milwaukee
- Birmingham to Albuquerque
- Birmingham to Tucson
- Birmingham to Kansas City
- Birmingham to Salt Lake City
- Birmingham to Minneapolis
- Birmingham to Detroit
- Birmingham to Cleveland
- Birmingham to Pittsburgh
- Birmingham to St. Louis
- Birmingham to Cincinnati
- Birmingham to New Orleans
- Birmingham to Boise
- Birmingham to Richmond
- Birmingham to Omaha
- Birmingham to Charleston
- Birmingham to El Paso
More moves to Austin
- New York to Austin
- Los Angeles to Austin
- Chicago to Austin
- Houston to Austin
- Phoenix to Austin
- Philadelphia to Austin
- San Diego to Austin
- Dallas to Austin
- Charlotte to Austin
- San Francisco to Austin
- Seattle to Austin
- Denver to Austin
- Nashville to Austin
- Atlanta to Austin
- Miami to Austin
- Boston to Austin
- Las Vegas to Austin
- Orlando to Austin
- Tampa to Austin
- Raleigh to Austin
- San Antonio to Austin
- Jacksonville to Austin
- Columbus to Austin
- Indianapolis to Austin
- Sacramento to Austin
- Oklahoma City to Austin
- Portland to Austin
- Louisville to Austin
- Memphis to Austin
- Baltimore to Austin
- Washington to Austin
- Milwaukee to Austin
- Albuquerque to Austin
- Tucson to Austin
- Kansas City to Austin
- Salt Lake City to Austin
- Minneapolis to Austin
- Detroit to Austin
- Cleveland to Austin
- Pittsburgh to Austin
- St. Louis to Austin
- Cincinnati to Austin
- New Orleans to Austin
- Boise to Austin
- Richmond to Austin
- Omaha to Austin
- Charleston to Austin
- El Paso to Austin