Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 446 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 | 28 | $107 | $125 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 41 | $155 | $182 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 50 | $189 | $223 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 56 | $213 | $251 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 64 | $244 | $286 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 56 | $325 | $382 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $137 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 |
| Charleston, SC | $3.860 | $5.740 | Lower Atlantic 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 Charleston, SC a one-day drive. The rental itself and any per-mile fees are charged separately from fuel.
Other moves
Going the other way? See Charleston, SC 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 Austin
- 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 El Paso
More moves to Charleston
- New York to Charleston
- Los Angeles to Charleston
- Chicago to Charleston
- Houston to Charleston
- Phoenix to Charleston
- Philadelphia to Charleston
- San Diego to Charleston
- Dallas to Charleston
- Austin to Charleston
- Charlotte to Charleston
- San Francisco to Charleston
- Seattle to Charleston
- Denver to Charleston
- Nashville to Charleston
- Atlanta to Charleston
- Miami to Charleston
- Boston to Charleston
- Las Vegas to Charleston
- Orlando to Charleston
- Tampa to Charleston
- Raleigh to Charleston
- San Antonio to Charleston
- Jacksonville to Charleston
- Columbus to Charleston
- Indianapolis to Charleston
- Sacramento to Charleston
- Oklahoma City to Charleston
- Portland to Charleston
- Louisville to Charleston
- Memphis to Charleston
- Baltimore to Charleston
- Washington to Charleston
- Milwaukee to Charleston
- Albuquerque to Charleston
- Tucson to Charleston
- Kansas City to Charleston
- Salt Lake City to Charleston
- Minneapolis to Charleston
- Detroit to Charleston
- Cleveland to Charleston
- Pittsburgh to Charleston
- St. Louis to Charleston
- Cincinnati to Charleston
- New Orleans to Charleston
- Boise to Charleston
- Richmond to Charleston
- Omaha to Charleston
- El Paso to Charleston