Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 207 miles, a gas price of $3.860 and a diesel price of $5.740 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 | 13 | $50 | $59 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 19 | $73 | $85 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 23 | $89 | $104 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 26 | $100 | $118 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 30 | $114 | $134 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 26 | $149 | $175 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $64 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 |
| Charleston, SC | $3.860 | $5.740 | Lower 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 Charlotte, NC to Charleston, SC a one-day drive. The rental itself and any per-mile fees are charged separately from fuel.
Other moves
Going the other way? See Charleston, SC 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 Birmingham
- Charlotte to Omaha
- Charlotte to El Paso
More moves to Charleston
- New York to Charleston
- Los Angeles to Charleston
- Chicago to Charleston
- Houston to Charleston
- Phoenix to Charleston
- Philadelphia to Charleston
- San Diego to Charleston
- Dallas to Charleston
- Austin to Charleston
- San Francisco to Charleston
- Seattle to Charleston
- Denver to Charleston
- Nashville to Charleston
- Atlanta to Charleston
- Miami to Charleston
- Boston to Charleston
- Las Vegas to Charleston
- Orlando to Charleston
- Tampa to Charleston
- Raleigh to Charleston
- San Antonio to Charleston
- Jacksonville to Charleston
- Columbus to Charleston
- Indianapolis to Charleston
- Sacramento to Charleston
- Oklahoma City to Charleston
- Portland to Charleston
- Louisville to Charleston
- Memphis to Charleston
- Baltimore to Charleston
- Washington to Charleston
- Milwaukee to Charleston
- Albuquerque to Charleston
- Tucson to Charleston
- Kansas City to Charleston
- Salt Lake City to Charleston
- Minneapolis to Charleston
- Detroit to Charleston
- Cleveland to Charleston
- Pittsburgh to Charleston
- St. Louis to Charleston
- Cincinnati to Charleston
- New Orleans to Charleston
- Boise to Charleston
- Richmond to Charleston
- Birmingham to Charleston
- Omaha to Charleston
- El Paso to Charleston