Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 640 miles, a gas price of $5.235 and a diesel price of $7.332 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 | 40 | $209 | $246 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 58 | $305 | $358 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 71 | $372 | $438 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 80 | $419 | $493 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 91 | $479 | $563 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 80 | $587 | $690 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $269 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise, ID | $4.468 | $6.422 | Rocky Mountain average |
| San Francisco, CA | $6.001 | $8.242 | San Francisco average |
Gas runs about $1.53 a gallon cheaper around Boise, ID. Fill the tank before you leave Boise and stretch it as far as you safely can.
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 Boise, ID to San Francisco, CA 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 San Francisco, CA to Boise, ID.
More moves from Boise
- Boise to New York
- Boise to Los Angeles
- Boise to Chicago
- Boise to Houston
- Boise to Phoenix
- Boise to Philadelphia
- Boise to San Diego
- Boise to Dallas
- Boise to Austin
- Boise to Charlotte
- Boise to Seattle
- Boise to Denver
- Boise to Nashville
- Boise to Atlanta
- Boise to Miami
- Boise to Boston
- Boise to Las Vegas
- Boise to Orlando
- Boise to Tampa
- Boise to Raleigh
- Boise to San Antonio
- Boise to Jacksonville
- Boise to Columbus
- Boise to Indianapolis
- Boise to Sacramento
- Boise to Oklahoma City
- Boise to Portland
- Boise to Louisville
- Boise to Memphis
- Boise to Baltimore
- Boise to Washington
- Boise to Milwaukee
- Boise to Albuquerque
- Boise to Tucson
- Boise to Kansas City
- Boise to Salt Lake City
- Boise to Minneapolis
- Boise to Detroit
- Boise to Cleveland
- Boise to Pittsburgh
- Boise to St. Louis
- Boise to Cincinnati
- Boise to New Orleans
- Boise to Richmond
- Boise to Birmingham
- Boise to Omaha
- Boise to Charleston
- Boise to El Paso
More moves to San Francisco
- New York to San Francisco
- Los Angeles to San Francisco
- Chicago to San Francisco
- Houston to San Francisco
- Phoenix to San Francisco
- Philadelphia to San Francisco
- San Diego to San Francisco
- Dallas to San Francisco
- Austin to San Francisco
- Charlotte to San Francisco
- Seattle to San Francisco
- Denver to San Francisco
- Nashville to San Francisco
- Atlanta to San Francisco
- Miami to San Francisco
- Boston to San Francisco
- Las Vegas to San Francisco
- Orlando to San Francisco
- Tampa to San Francisco
- Raleigh to San Francisco
- San Antonio to San Francisco
- Jacksonville to San Francisco
- Columbus to San Francisco
- Indianapolis to San Francisco
- Sacramento to San Francisco
- Oklahoma City to San Francisco
- Portland to San Francisco
- Louisville to San Francisco
- Memphis to San Francisco
- Baltimore to San Francisco
- Washington to San Francisco
- Milwaukee to San Francisco
- Albuquerque to San Francisco
- Tucson to San Francisco
- Kansas City to San Francisco
- Salt Lake City to San Francisco
- Minneapolis to San Francisco
- Detroit to San Francisco
- Cleveland to San Francisco
- Pittsburgh to San Francisco
- St. Louis to San Francisco
- Cincinnati to San Francisco
- New Orleans to San Francisco
- Richmond to San Francisco
- Birmingham to San Francisco
- Omaha to San Francisco
- Charleston to San Francisco
- El Paso to San Francisco