Moving truck gas cost from Boston, MA to Washington, DC

The drive is about 438 miles. In a 15 to 17 ft rental truck getting around 9 MPG, fuel comes to roughly $208 at this week’s prices.

miles
Trip
$/ gallon

Average of Boston and Central 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$208Likely $189 to $231

Compare

  • 10 to 12 ft truck$170save $38
  • 20 to 22 ft truck$234+$26
  • Towing a car$245+$37
  • Round trip$417+$208

438 miles at 9 MPG: 48.7 gallons, $0.48 a mile. The likely range allows for fuel economy 10% better or worse.

BostonWashington

Routes from OSRM using© OpenStreetMap contributors data

Distance
438 miles
Driving days
1 at 450 mi a day
Behind the wheel
About 9 hours
Gas price used
$4.281 a gallon

Fuel cost by truck size

Based on 438 miles, a gas price of $4.281 and a diesel price of $6.489 a gallon. Towing a car on a trailer or dolly lowers fuel economy by about 15%.

TruckMPGGallonsFuel costTowing a car
Cargo van1627$117$138
10 to 12 ft truck1140$170$201
15 to 17 ft truck949$208$245
20 to 22 ft truck855$234$276
26 ft truck763$268$315
26 ft truck (diesel)855$355$418

The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $151 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
Washington, DC$4.312$6.508Central 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 Boston, MA to Washington, DC a one-day drive. The rental itself and any per-mile fees are charged separately from fuel.

Other moves

Going the other way? See Washington, DC to Boston, MA.