Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 626 miles, a gas price of $4.002 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 | 39 | $157 | $184 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 57 | $228 | $268 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 70 | $278 | $327 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 78 | $313 | $368 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 89 | $358 | $421 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 78 | $473 | $557 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $201 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 |
| Memphis, TN | $4.145 | $6.352 | Midwest average |
Gas runs about $0.28 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 Memphis, TN 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 Memphis, TN 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 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 Charleston
- Charlotte to El Paso
More moves to Memphis
- New York to Memphis
- Los Angeles to Memphis
- Chicago to Memphis
- Houston to Memphis
- Phoenix to Memphis
- Philadelphia to Memphis
- San Diego to Memphis
- Dallas to Memphis
- Austin to Memphis
- San Francisco to Memphis
- Seattle to Memphis
- Denver to Memphis
- Nashville to Memphis
- Atlanta to Memphis
- Miami to Memphis
- Boston to Memphis
- Las Vegas to Memphis
- Orlando to Memphis
- Tampa to Memphis
- Raleigh to Memphis
- San Antonio to Memphis
- Jacksonville to Memphis
- Columbus to Memphis
- Indianapolis to Memphis
- Sacramento to Memphis
- Oklahoma City to Memphis
- Portland to Memphis
- Louisville to Memphis
- Baltimore to Memphis
- Washington to Memphis
- Milwaukee to Memphis
- Albuquerque to Memphis
- Tucson to Memphis
- Kansas City to Memphis
- Salt Lake City to Memphis
- Minneapolis to Memphis
- Detroit to Memphis
- Cleveland to Memphis
- Pittsburgh to Memphis
- St. Louis to Memphis
- Cincinnati to Memphis
- New Orleans to Memphis
- Boise to Memphis
- Richmond to Memphis
- Birmingham to Memphis
- Omaha to Memphis
- Charleston to Memphis
- El Paso to Memphis