Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 390 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%.
| Truck | MPG | Gallons | Fuel cost | Towing a car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo van | 16 | 24 | $93 | $110 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 35 | $136 | $159 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 43 | $166 | $195 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 49 | $186 | $219 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 56 | $213 | $251 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 49 | $284 | $334 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $120 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | $3.860 | $5.740 | Lower Atlantic average |
| Birmingham, AL | $3.784 | $5.903 | Gulf Coast 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 Charlotte, NC to Birmingham, AL a one-day drive. The rental itself and any per-mile fees are charged separately from fuel.
Other moves
Going the other way? See Birmingham, AL to Charlotte, NC.
More moves from Charlotte
- Charlotte to New York
- Charlotte to Los Angeles
- Charlotte to Chicago
- Charlotte to Houston
- Charlotte to Phoenix
- Charlotte to Philadelphia
- Charlotte to San Diego
- Charlotte to Dallas
- Charlotte to Austin
- Charlotte to San Francisco
- Charlotte to Seattle
- Charlotte to Denver
- Charlotte to Nashville
- Charlotte to Atlanta
- Charlotte to Miami
- Charlotte to Boston
- Charlotte to Las Vegas
- Charlotte to Orlando
- Charlotte to Tampa
- Charlotte to Raleigh
- Charlotte to San Antonio
- Charlotte to Jacksonville
- Charlotte to Columbus
- Charlotte to Indianapolis
- Charlotte to Sacramento
- Charlotte to Oklahoma City
- Charlotte to Portland
- Charlotte to Louisville
- Charlotte to Memphis
- Charlotte to Baltimore
- Charlotte to Washington
- Charlotte to Milwaukee
- Charlotte to Albuquerque
- Charlotte to Tucson
- Charlotte to Kansas City
- Charlotte to Salt Lake City
- Charlotte to Minneapolis
- Charlotte to Detroit
- Charlotte to Cleveland
- Charlotte to Pittsburgh
- Charlotte to St. Louis
- Charlotte to Cincinnati
- Charlotte to New Orleans
- Charlotte to Boise
- Charlotte to Richmond
- Charlotte to Omaha
- Charlotte to Charleston
- Charlotte to El Paso
More moves to Birmingham
- New York to Birmingham
- Los Angeles to Birmingham
- Chicago to Birmingham
- Houston to Birmingham
- Phoenix to Birmingham
- Philadelphia to Birmingham
- San Diego to Birmingham
- Dallas to Birmingham
- Austin to Birmingham
- San Francisco to Birmingham
- Seattle to Birmingham
- Denver to Birmingham
- Nashville to Birmingham
- Atlanta to Birmingham
- Miami to Birmingham
- Boston to Birmingham
- Las Vegas to Birmingham
- Orlando to Birmingham
- Tampa to Birmingham
- Raleigh to Birmingham
- San Antonio to Birmingham
- Jacksonville to Birmingham
- Columbus to Birmingham
- Indianapolis to Birmingham
- Sacramento to Birmingham
- Oklahoma City to Birmingham
- Portland to Birmingham
- Louisville to Birmingham
- Memphis to Birmingham
- Baltimore to Birmingham
- Washington to Birmingham
- Milwaukee to Birmingham
- Albuquerque to Birmingham
- Tucson to Birmingham
- Kansas City to Birmingham
- Salt Lake City to Birmingham
- Minneapolis to Birmingham
- Detroit to Birmingham
- Cleveland to Birmingham
- Pittsburgh to Birmingham
- St. Louis to Birmingham
- Cincinnati to Birmingham
- New Orleans to Birmingham
- Boise to Birmingham
- Richmond to Birmingham
- Omaha to Birmingham
- Charleston to Birmingham
- El Paso to Birmingham