Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 343 miles, a gas price of $3.784 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 | 21 | $81 | $95 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 31 | $118 | $139 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 38 | $144 | $170 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 43 | $162 | $191 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 49 | $185 | $218 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 43 | $253 | $298 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $104 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 |
| New Orleans, LA | $3.784 | $5.903 | Gulf Coast 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 New Orleans, LA a one-day drive. The rental itself and any per-mile fees are charged separately from fuel.
Other moves
Going the other way? See New Orleans, LA 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 Boise
- Birmingham to Richmond
- Birmingham to Omaha
- Birmingham to Charleston
- Birmingham to El Paso
More moves to New Orleans
- New York to New Orleans
- Los Angeles to New Orleans
- Chicago to New Orleans
- Houston to New Orleans
- Phoenix to New Orleans
- Philadelphia to New Orleans
- San Diego to New Orleans
- Dallas to New Orleans
- Austin to New Orleans
- Charlotte to New Orleans
- San Francisco to New Orleans
- Seattle to New Orleans
- Denver to New Orleans
- Nashville to New Orleans
- Atlanta to New Orleans
- Miami to New Orleans
- Boston to New Orleans
- Las Vegas to New Orleans
- Orlando to New Orleans
- Tampa to New Orleans
- Raleigh to New Orleans
- San Antonio to New Orleans
- Jacksonville to New Orleans
- Columbus to New Orleans
- Indianapolis to New Orleans
- Sacramento to New Orleans
- Oklahoma City to New Orleans
- Portland to New Orleans
- Louisville to New Orleans
- Memphis to New Orleans
- Baltimore to New Orleans
- Washington to New Orleans
- Milwaukee to New Orleans
- Albuquerque to New Orleans
- Tucson to New Orleans
- Kansas City to New Orleans
- Salt Lake City to New Orleans
- Minneapolis to New Orleans
- Detroit to New Orleans
- Cleveland to New Orleans
- Pittsburgh to New Orleans
- St. Louis to New Orleans
- Cincinnati to New Orleans
- Boise to New Orleans
- Richmond to New Orleans
- Omaha to New Orleans
- Charleston to New Orleans
- El Paso to New Orleans