Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 707 miles, a gas price of $4.197 and a diesel price of $6.411 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 | 44 | $185 | $218 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 64 | $270 | $317 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 79 | $330 | $388 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 88 | $371 | $436 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 101 | $424 | $499 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 88 | $567 | $667 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $238 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | $4.249 | $6.470 | Boston average |
| Detroit, MI | $4.145 | $6.352 | Midwest 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 Boston, MA to Detroit, MI 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 Detroit, MI to Boston, MA.
More moves from Boston
- Boston to New York
- Boston to Los Angeles
- Boston to Chicago
- Boston to Houston
- Boston to Phoenix
- Boston to Philadelphia
- Boston to San Diego
- Boston to Dallas
- Boston to Austin
- Boston to Charlotte
- Boston to San Francisco
- Boston to Seattle
- Boston to Denver
- Boston to Nashville
- Boston to Atlanta
- Boston to Miami
- Boston to Las Vegas
- Boston to Orlando
- Boston to Tampa
- Boston to Raleigh
- Boston to San Antonio
- Boston to Jacksonville
- Boston to Columbus
- Boston to Indianapolis
- Boston to Sacramento
- Boston to Oklahoma City
- Boston to Portland
- Boston to Louisville
- Boston to Memphis
- Boston to Baltimore
- Boston to Washington
- Boston to Milwaukee
- Boston to Albuquerque
- Boston to Tucson
- Boston to Kansas City
- Boston to Salt Lake City
- Boston to Minneapolis
- Boston to Cleveland
- Boston to Pittsburgh
- Boston to St. Louis
- Boston to Cincinnati
- Boston to New Orleans
- Boston to Boise
- Boston to Richmond
- Boston to Birmingham
- Boston to Omaha
- Boston to Charleston
- Boston to El Paso
More moves to Detroit
- New York to Detroit
- Los Angeles to Detroit
- Chicago to Detroit
- Houston to Detroit
- Phoenix to Detroit
- Philadelphia to Detroit
- San Diego to Detroit
- Dallas to Detroit
- Austin to Detroit
- Charlotte to Detroit
- San Francisco to Detroit
- Seattle to Detroit
- Denver to Detroit
- Nashville to Detroit
- Atlanta to Detroit
- Miami to Detroit
- Las Vegas to Detroit
- Orlando to Detroit
- Tampa to Detroit
- Raleigh to Detroit
- San Antonio to Detroit
- Jacksonville to Detroit
- Columbus to Detroit
- Indianapolis to Detroit
- Sacramento to Detroit
- Oklahoma City to Detroit
- Portland to Detroit
- Louisville to Detroit
- Memphis to Detroit
- Baltimore to Detroit
- Washington to Detroit
- Milwaukee to Detroit
- Albuquerque to Detroit
- Tucson to Detroit
- Kansas City to Detroit
- Salt Lake City to Detroit
- Minneapolis to Detroit
- Cleveland to Detroit
- Pittsburgh to Detroit
- St. Louis to Detroit
- Cincinnati to Detroit
- New Orleans to Detroit
- Boise to Detroit
- Richmond to Detroit
- Birmingham to Detroit
- Omaha to Detroit
- Charleston to Detroit
- El Paso to Detroit