Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 1,040 miles, a gas price of $3.877 and a diesel price of $6.127 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 | 65 | $252 | $296 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 95 | $367 | $431 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 116 | $448 | $527 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 130 | $504 | $593 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 149 | $576 | $678 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 130 | $797 | $937 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $324 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | $4.049 | $6.352 | Ohio average |
| Dallas, TX | $3.704 | $5.903 | Texas average |
Gas runs about $0.35 a gallon cheaper around Dallas, TX. Most one-way rentals are returned near Dallas, so that’s the cheaper place to top the tank back up to the level you picked it up at.
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 Columbus, OH to Dallas, TX a 3-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 Dallas, TX to Columbus, OH.
More moves from Columbus
- Columbus to New York
- Columbus to Los Angeles
- Columbus to Chicago
- Columbus to Houston
- Columbus to Phoenix
- Columbus to Philadelphia
- Columbus to San Diego
- Columbus to Austin
- Columbus to Charlotte
- Columbus to San Francisco
- Columbus to Seattle
- Columbus to Denver
- Columbus to Nashville
- Columbus to Atlanta
- Columbus to Miami
- Columbus to Boston
- Columbus to Las Vegas
- Columbus to Orlando
- Columbus to Tampa
- Columbus to Raleigh
- Columbus to San Antonio
- Columbus to Jacksonville
- Columbus to Indianapolis
- Columbus to Sacramento
- Columbus to Oklahoma City
- Columbus to Portland
- Columbus to Louisville
- Columbus to Memphis
- Columbus to Baltimore
- Columbus to Washington
- Columbus to Milwaukee
- Columbus to Albuquerque
- Columbus to Tucson
- Columbus to Kansas City
- Columbus to Salt Lake City
- Columbus to Minneapolis
- Columbus to Detroit
- Columbus to Cleveland
- Columbus to Pittsburgh
- Columbus to St. Louis
- Columbus to Cincinnati
- Columbus to New Orleans
- Columbus to Boise
- Columbus to Richmond
- Columbus to Birmingham
- Columbus to Omaha
- Columbus to Charleston
- Columbus to El Paso
More moves to Dallas
- New York to Dallas
- Los Angeles to Dallas
- Chicago to Dallas
- Houston to Dallas
- Phoenix to Dallas
- Philadelphia to Dallas
- San Diego to Dallas
- Austin to Dallas
- Charlotte to Dallas
- San Francisco to Dallas
- Seattle to Dallas
- Denver to Dallas
- Nashville to Dallas
- Atlanta to Dallas
- Miami to Dallas
- Boston to Dallas
- Las Vegas to Dallas
- Orlando to Dallas
- Tampa to Dallas
- Raleigh to Dallas
- San Antonio to Dallas
- Jacksonville to Dallas
- Indianapolis to Dallas
- Sacramento to Dallas
- Oklahoma City to Dallas
- Portland to Dallas
- Louisville to Dallas
- Memphis to Dallas
- Baltimore to Dallas
- Washington to Dallas
- Milwaukee to Dallas
- Albuquerque to Dallas
- Tucson to Dallas
- Kansas City to Dallas
- Salt Lake City to Dallas
- Minneapolis to Dallas
- Detroit to Dallas
- Cleveland to Dallas
- Pittsburgh to Dallas
- St. Louis to Dallas
- Cincinnati to Dallas
- New Orleans to Dallas
- Boise to Dallas
- Richmond to Dallas
- Birmingham to Dallas
- Omaha to Dallas
- Charleston to Dallas
- El Paso to Dallas