Moving truck gas cost from Birmingham, AL to Raleigh, NC

The drive is about 552 miles. In a 15 to 17 ft rental truck getting around 9 MPG, fuel comes to roughly $234 at this week’s prices.

miles
Trip
$/ gallon

Average of Gulf Coast and Lower Atlantic prices from EIA for the week of October 19, 2026.

More options: MPG, towing
MPG

Loaded rental trucks usually get 6 to 12 MPG. If the rental paperwork lists a figure for your truck, use that.

Fuel cost$234Likely $213 to $260

Compare

  • 10 to 12 ft truck$192save $43
  • 20 to 22 ft truck$264+$29
  • Towing a car$276+$41
  • Round trip$469+$234

552 miles at 9 MPG: 61.3 gallons, $0.42 a mile. The likely range allows for fuel economy 10% better or worse.

BirminghamRaleigh

Routes from OSRM using© OpenStreetMap contributors data

Distance
552 miles
Driving days
2 at 450 mi a day
Behind the wheel
About 11 hours
Gas price used
$3.822 a gallon

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%.

TruckMPGGallonsFuel costTowing a car
Cargo van1635$132$155
10 to 12 ft truck1150$192$226
15 to 17 ft truck961$234$276
20 to 22 ft truck869$264$310
26 ft truck779$301$355
26 ft truck (diesel)869$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

WhereGasDieselPrice basis
Birmingham, AL$3.784$5.903Gulf Coast average
Raleigh, NC$3.860$5.740Lower 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.