PumpTally

Moving truck gas cost from Boston, MA to San Francisco, CA

The drive is about 3,112 miles. In a 15 to 17 ft rental truck getting around 9 MPG, fuel comes to roughly $1,772 at this week’s prices.

BostonSan Francisco

Routes from OSRM using© OpenStreetMap contributors data

Driving distance
3,112 miles
Time behind the wheel
About 55 hours at car speeds
Driving days in a truck
7 days at 450 miles a day
Gas price used
$5.125 a gallon

Adjust the numbers for your move

miles
Trip
MPG

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

$/ gallon

Starts halfway between Boston and San Francisco prices from EIA for the week of October 19, 2026. Change it to what you pay.

Fuel cost$1,772.11
Gallons345.8
Per mile$0.57

3,112 miles at 9 MPG

Fuel cost by truck size

Based on 3,112 miles, a gas price of $5.125 and a diesel price of $7.356 a gallon. Towing a car on a trailer or dolly lowers fuel economy by about 15%.

TruckMPGGallonsFuel costTowing a car
Cargo van16195$997$1,173
10 to 12 ft truck11283$1,450$1,706
15 to 17 ft truck9346$1,772$2,085
20 to 22 ft truck8389$1,994$2,345
26 ft truck7445$2,278$2,681
26 ft truck (diesel)8389$2,861$3,366

The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $1,282 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
Boston, MA$4.249$6.470Boston average
San Francisco, CA$6.001$8.242San Francisco average

Gas runs about $1.75 a gallon cheaper around Boston, MA. Fill the tank before you leave Boston 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 Boston, MA to San Francisco, CA a 7-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 Boston, MA.