Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 589 miles, a gas price of $4.097 and a diesel price of $6.352 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 | 37 | $151 | $177 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 54 | $219 | $258 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 65 | $268 | $315 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 74 | $302 | $355 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 84 | $345 | $406 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 74 | $468 | $550 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $194 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH | $4.049 | $6.352 | Ohio average |
| Kansas City, MO | $4.145 | $6.352 | Midwest 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 Cincinnati, OH to Kansas City, MO 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 Kansas City, MO to Cincinnati, OH.
More moves from Cincinnati
- Cincinnati to New York
- Cincinnati to Los Angeles
- Cincinnati to Chicago
- Cincinnati to Houston
- Cincinnati to Phoenix
- Cincinnati to Philadelphia
- Cincinnati to San Diego
- Cincinnati to Dallas
- Cincinnati to Austin
- Cincinnati to Charlotte
- Cincinnati to San Francisco
- Cincinnati to Seattle
- Cincinnati to Denver
- Cincinnati to Nashville
- Cincinnati to Atlanta
- Cincinnati to Miami
- Cincinnati to Boston
- Cincinnati to Las Vegas
- Cincinnati to Orlando
- Cincinnati to Tampa
- Cincinnati to Raleigh
- Cincinnati to San Antonio
- Cincinnati to Jacksonville
- Cincinnati to Columbus
- Cincinnati to Indianapolis
- Cincinnati to Sacramento
- Cincinnati to Oklahoma City
- Cincinnati to Portland
- Cincinnati to Louisville
- Cincinnati to Memphis
- Cincinnati to Baltimore
- Cincinnati to Washington
- Cincinnati to Milwaukee
- Cincinnati to Albuquerque
- Cincinnati to Tucson
- Cincinnati to Salt Lake City
- Cincinnati to Minneapolis
- Cincinnati to Detroit
- Cincinnati to Cleveland
- Cincinnati to Pittsburgh
- Cincinnati to St. Louis
- Cincinnati to New Orleans
- Cincinnati to Boise
- Cincinnati to Richmond
- Cincinnati to Birmingham
- Cincinnati to Omaha
- Cincinnati to Charleston
- Cincinnati to El Paso
More moves to Kansas City
- New York to Kansas City
- Los Angeles to Kansas City
- Chicago to Kansas City
- Houston to Kansas City
- Phoenix to Kansas City
- Philadelphia to Kansas City
- San Diego to Kansas City
- Dallas to Kansas City
- Austin to Kansas City
- Charlotte to Kansas City
- San Francisco to Kansas City
- Seattle to Kansas City
- Denver to Kansas City
- Nashville to Kansas City
- Atlanta to Kansas City
- Miami to Kansas City
- Boston to Kansas City
- Las Vegas to Kansas City
- Orlando to Kansas City
- Tampa to Kansas City
- Raleigh to Kansas City
- San Antonio to Kansas City
- Jacksonville to Kansas City
- Columbus to Kansas City
- Indianapolis to Kansas City
- Sacramento to Kansas City
- Oklahoma City to Kansas City
- Portland to Kansas City
- Louisville to Kansas City
- Memphis to Kansas City
- Baltimore to Kansas City
- Washington to Kansas City
- Milwaukee to Kansas City
- Albuquerque to Kansas City
- Tucson to Kansas City
- Salt Lake City to Kansas City
- Minneapolis to Kansas City
- Detroit to Kansas City
- Cleveland to Kansas City
- Pittsburgh to Kansas City
- St. Louis to Kansas City
- New Orleans to Kansas City
- Boise to Kansas City
- Richmond to Kansas City
- Birmingham to Kansas City
- Omaha to Kansas City
- Charleston to Kansas City
- El Paso to Kansas City