Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 469 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 | $169 | $198 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 52 | $206 | $242 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 59 | $232 | $273 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 67 | $265 | $312 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 59 | $354 | $417 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | $4.049 | $6.352 | Ohio average |
| Raleigh, NC | $3.860 | $5.740 | Lower Atlantic average |
Gas runs about $0.19 a gallon cheaper around Raleigh, NC. Most one-way rentals are returned near Raleigh, 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 Raleigh, NC 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 Raleigh, NC 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 Dallas
- 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 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 Raleigh
- New York to Raleigh
- Los Angeles to Raleigh
- Chicago to Raleigh
- Houston to Raleigh
- Phoenix to Raleigh
- Philadelphia to Raleigh
- San Diego to Raleigh
- Dallas to Raleigh
- Austin to Raleigh
- Charlotte to Raleigh
- San Francisco to Raleigh
- Seattle to Raleigh
- Denver to Raleigh
- Nashville to Raleigh
- Atlanta to Raleigh
- Miami to Raleigh
- Boston to Raleigh
- Las Vegas to Raleigh
- Orlando to Raleigh
- Tampa to Raleigh
- San Antonio to Raleigh
- Jacksonville to Raleigh
- Indianapolis to Raleigh
- Sacramento to Raleigh
- Oklahoma City to Raleigh
- Portland to Raleigh
- Louisville to Raleigh
- Memphis to Raleigh
- Baltimore to Raleigh
- Washington to Raleigh
- Milwaukee to Raleigh
- Albuquerque to Raleigh
- Tucson to Raleigh
- Kansas City to Raleigh
- Salt Lake City to Raleigh
- Minneapolis to Raleigh
- Detroit to Raleigh
- Cleveland to Raleigh
- Pittsburgh to Raleigh
- St. Louis to Raleigh
- Cincinnati to Raleigh
- New Orleans to Raleigh
- Boise to Raleigh
- Richmond to Raleigh
- Birmingham to Raleigh
- Omaha to Raleigh
- Charleston to Raleigh
- El Paso to Raleigh