Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 419 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 | 26 | $107 | $126 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 38 | $156 | $184 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 47 | $191 | $224 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 52 | $215 | $252 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 60 | $245 | $289 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 52 | $333 | $391 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $138 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 |
| St. Louis, 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 Columbus, OH to St. Louis, MO a one-day drive. The rental itself and any per-mile fees are charged separately from fuel.
Other moves
Going the other way? See St. Louis, MO 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 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 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 St. Louis
- New York to St. Louis
- Los Angeles to St. Louis
- Chicago to St. Louis
- Houston to St. Louis
- Phoenix to St. Louis
- Philadelphia to St. Louis
- San Diego to St. Louis
- Dallas to St. Louis
- Austin to St. Louis
- Charlotte to St. Louis
- San Francisco to St. Louis
- Seattle to St. Louis
- Denver to St. Louis
- Nashville to St. Louis
- Atlanta to St. Louis
- Miami to St. Louis
- Boston to St. Louis
- Las Vegas to St. Louis
- Orlando to St. Louis
- Tampa to St. Louis
- Raleigh to St. Louis
- San Antonio to St. Louis
- Jacksonville to St. Louis
- Indianapolis to St. Louis
- Sacramento to St. Louis
- Oklahoma City to St. Louis
- Portland to St. Louis
- Louisville to St. Louis
- Memphis to St. Louis
- Baltimore to St. Louis
- Washington to St. Louis
- Milwaukee to St. Louis
- Albuquerque to St. Louis
- Tucson to St. Louis
- Kansas City to St. Louis
- Salt Lake City to St. Louis
- Minneapolis to St. Louis
- Detroit to St. Louis
- Cleveland to St. Louis
- Pittsburgh to St. Louis
- Cincinnati to St. Louis
- New Orleans to St. Louis
- Boise to St. Louis
- Richmond to St. Louis
- Birmingham to St. Louis
- Omaha to St. Louis
- Charleston to St. Louis
- El Paso to St. Louis