Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 468 miles, a gas price of $3.955 and a diesel price of $6.046 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 | 29 | $116 | $136 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 43 | $168 | $198 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 52 | $206 | $242 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 59 | $231 | $272 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 67 | $264 | $311 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 59 | $354 | $416 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $149 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 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $4.049 | $6.352 | Ohio average |
Gas runs about $0.19 a gallon cheaper around Charlotte, NC. Fill the tank before you leave Charlotte 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 Charlotte, NC to Cincinnati, OH a 2-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 Cincinnati, OH 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 New Orleans
- Charlotte to Boise
- Charlotte to Richmond
- Charlotte to Birmingham
- Charlotte to Omaha
- Charlotte to Charleston
- Charlotte to El Paso
More moves to Cincinnati
- New York to Cincinnati
- Los Angeles to Cincinnati
- Chicago to Cincinnati
- Houston to Cincinnati
- Phoenix to Cincinnati
- Philadelphia to Cincinnati
- San Diego to Cincinnati
- Dallas to Cincinnati
- Austin to Cincinnati
- San Francisco to Cincinnati
- Seattle to Cincinnati
- Denver to Cincinnati
- Nashville to Cincinnati
- Atlanta to Cincinnati
- Miami to Cincinnati
- Boston to Cincinnati
- Las Vegas to Cincinnati
- Orlando to Cincinnati
- Tampa to Cincinnati
- Raleigh to Cincinnati
- San Antonio to Cincinnati
- Jacksonville to Cincinnati
- Columbus to Cincinnati
- Indianapolis to Cincinnati
- Sacramento to Cincinnati
- Oklahoma City to Cincinnati
- Portland to Cincinnati
- Louisville to Cincinnati
- Memphis to Cincinnati
- Baltimore to Cincinnati
- Washington to Cincinnati
- Milwaukee to Cincinnati
- Albuquerque to Cincinnati
- Tucson to Cincinnati
- Kansas City to Cincinnati
- Salt Lake City to Cincinnati
- Minneapolis to Cincinnati
- Detroit to Cincinnati
- Cleveland to Cincinnati
- Pittsburgh to Cincinnati
- St. Louis to Cincinnati
- New Orleans to Cincinnati
- Boise to Cincinnati
- Richmond to Cincinnati
- Birmingham to Cincinnati
- Omaha to Cincinnati
- Charleston to Cincinnati
- El Paso to Cincinnati