Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 552 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 | 35 | $132 | $155 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 50 | $192 | $226 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 61 | $234 | $276 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 69 | $264 | $310 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 79 | $301 | $355 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 69 | $402 | $473 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $170 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 |
| Raleigh, 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 Raleigh, NC 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 Raleigh, 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 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 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 Raleigh
- New York to Raleigh
- Los Angeles to Raleigh
- Chicago to Raleigh
- Houston to Raleigh
- Phoenix to Raleigh
- Philadelphia to Raleigh
- San Diego to Raleigh
- Dallas to Raleigh
- Austin to Raleigh
- Charlotte to Raleigh
- San Francisco to Raleigh
- Seattle to Raleigh
- Denver to Raleigh
- Nashville to Raleigh
- Atlanta to Raleigh
- Miami to Raleigh
- Boston to Raleigh
- Las Vegas to Raleigh
- Orlando to Raleigh
- Tampa to Raleigh
- San Antonio to Raleigh
- Jacksonville to Raleigh
- Columbus to Raleigh
- Indianapolis to Raleigh
- Sacramento to Raleigh
- Oklahoma City to Raleigh
- Portland to Raleigh
- Louisville to Raleigh
- Memphis to Raleigh
- Baltimore to Raleigh
- Washington to Raleigh
- Milwaukee to Raleigh
- Albuquerque to Raleigh
- Tucson to Raleigh
- Kansas City to Raleigh
- Salt Lake City to Raleigh
- Minneapolis to Raleigh
- Detroit to Raleigh
- Cleveland to Raleigh
- Pittsburgh to Raleigh
- St. Louis to Raleigh
- Cincinnati to Raleigh
- New Orleans to Raleigh
- Boise to Raleigh
- Richmond to Raleigh
- Omaha to Raleigh
- Charleston to Raleigh
- El Paso to Raleigh