Moving truck gas cost from Charlotte, NC to Birmingham, AL

The drive is about 390 miles. In a 15 to 17 ft rental truck getting around 9 MPG, fuel comes to roughly $166 at this week’s prices.

miles
Trip
$/ gallon

Average of Lower Atlantic and Gulf Coast 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$166Likely $151 to $184

Compare

  • 10 to 12 ft truck$136save $30
  • 20 to 22 ft truck$186+$21
  • Towing a car$195+$29
  • Round trip$331+$166

390 miles at 9 MPG: 43.3 gallons, $0.42 a mile. The likely range allows for fuel economy 10% better or worse.

CharlotteBirmingham

Routes from OSRM using© OpenStreetMap contributors data

Distance
390 miles
Driving days
1 at 450 mi a day
Behind the wheel
About 7 hours
Gas price used
$3.822 a gallon

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%.

TruckMPGGallonsFuel costTowing a car
Cargo van1624$93$110
10 to 12 ft truck1135$136$159
15 to 17 ft truck943$166$195
20 to 22 ft truck849$186$219
26 ft truck756$213$251
26 ft truck (diesel)849$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

WhereGasDieselPrice basis
Charlotte, NC$3.860$5.740Lower Atlantic average
Birmingham, AL$3.784$5.903Gulf 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.