Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 579 miles, a gas price of $3.920 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 | 36 | $142 | $167 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 53 | $206 | $243 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 64 | $252 | $297 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 72 | $284 | $334 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 83 | $324 | $381 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 72 | $415 | $489 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $182 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 |
| Tampa, FL | $3.981 | $5.740 | Florida 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 Tampa, FL 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 Tampa, FL 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 Raleigh
More moves to Tampa
- New York to Tampa
- Los Angeles to Tampa
- Chicago to Tampa
- Houston to Tampa
- Phoenix to Tampa
- Philadelphia to Tampa
- San Diego to Tampa
- Dallas to Tampa
- Austin to Tampa
- San Francisco to Tampa
- Seattle to Tampa
- Denver to Tampa
- Nashville to Tampa
- Atlanta to Tampa
- Miami to Tampa
- Boston to Tampa
- Las Vegas to Tampa
- Orlando to Tampa
- Raleigh to Tampa