Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 390 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 | 24 | $93 | $110 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 35 | $136 | $159 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 43 | $166 | $195 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 49 | $186 | $219 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 56 | $213 | $251 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 49 | $284 | $334 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $120 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 |
| Charlotte, NC | $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 Charlotte, NC a one-day drive. The rental itself and any per-mile fees are charged separately from fuel.
Other moves
Going the other way? See Charlotte, NC 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 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 Charlotte
- New York to Charlotte
- Los Angeles to Charlotte
- Chicago to Charlotte
- Houston to Charlotte
- Phoenix to Charlotte
- Philadelphia to Charlotte
- San Diego to Charlotte
- Dallas to Charlotte
- Austin to Charlotte
- San Francisco to Charlotte
- Seattle to Charlotte
- Denver to Charlotte
- Nashville to Charlotte
- Atlanta to Charlotte
- Miami to Charlotte
- Boston to Charlotte
- Las Vegas to Charlotte
- Orlando to Charlotte
- Tampa to Charlotte
- Raleigh to Charlotte
- San Antonio to Charlotte
- Jacksonville to Charlotte
- Columbus to Charlotte
- Indianapolis to Charlotte
- Sacramento to Charlotte
- Oklahoma City to Charlotte
- Portland to Charlotte
- Louisville to Charlotte
- Memphis to Charlotte
- Baltimore to Charlotte
- Washington to Charlotte
- Milwaukee to Charlotte
- Albuquerque to Charlotte
- Tucson to Charlotte
- Kansas City to Charlotte
- Salt Lake City to Charlotte
- Minneapolis to Charlotte
- Detroit to Charlotte
- Cleveland to Charlotte
- Pittsburgh to Charlotte
- St. Louis to Charlotte
- Cincinnati to Charlotte
- New Orleans to Charlotte
- Boise to Charlotte
- Richmond to Charlotte
- Omaha to Charlotte
- Charleston to Charlotte
- El Paso to Charlotte