Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 504 miles, a gas price of $3.744 and a diesel price of $5.903 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 | 32 | $118 | $139 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 46 | $172 | $202 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 56 | $210 | $247 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 63 | $236 | $277 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 72 | $270 | $317 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 63 | $372 | $438 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $152 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | $3.704 | $5.903 | Texas average |
| New Orleans, LA | $3.784 | $5.903 | Gulf Coast 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 Dallas, TX to New Orleans, LA 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 New Orleans, LA to Dallas, TX.
More moves from Dallas
- Dallas to New York
- Dallas to Los Angeles
- Dallas to Chicago
- Dallas to Houston
- Dallas to Phoenix
- Dallas to Philadelphia
- Dallas to San Diego
- Dallas to Austin
- Dallas to Charlotte
- Dallas to San Francisco
- Dallas to Seattle
- Dallas to Denver
- Dallas to Nashville
- Dallas to Atlanta
- Dallas to Miami
- Dallas to Boston
- Dallas to Las Vegas
- Dallas to Orlando
- Dallas to Tampa
- Dallas to Raleigh
- Dallas to San Antonio
- Dallas to Jacksonville
- Dallas to Columbus
- Dallas to Indianapolis
- Dallas to Sacramento
- Dallas to Oklahoma City
- Dallas to Portland
- Dallas to Louisville
- Dallas to Memphis
- Dallas to Baltimore
- Dallas to Washington
- Dallas to Milwaukee
- Dallas to Albuquerque
- Dallas to Tucson
- Dallas to Kansas City
- Dallas to Salt Lake City
- Dallas to Minneapolis
- Dallas to Detroit
- Dallas to Cleveland
- Dallas to Pittsburgh
- Dallas to St. Louis
- Dallas to Cincinnati
- Dallas to Boise
- Dallas to Richmond
- Dallas to Birmingham
- Dallas to Omaha
- Dallas to Charleston
- Dallas to El Paso
More moves to New Orleans
- New York to New Orleans
- Los Angeles to New Orleans
- Chicago to New Orleans
- Houston to New Orleans
- Phoenix to New Orleans
- Philadelphia to New Orleans
- San Diego to New Orleans
- Austin to New Orleans
- Charlotte to New Orleans
- San Francisco to New Orleans
- Seattle to New Orleans
- Denver to New Orleans
- Nashville to New Orleans
- Atlanta to New Orleans
- Miami to New Orleans
- Boston to New Orleans
- Las Vegas to New Orleans
- Orlando to New Orleans
- Tampa to New Orleans
- Raleigh to New Orleans
- San Antonio to New Orleans
- Jacksonville to New Orleans
- Columbus to New Orleans
- Indianapolis to New Orleans
- Sacramento to New Orleans
- Oklahoma City to New Orleans
- Portland to New Orleans
- Louisville to New Orleans
- Memphis to New Orleans
- Baltimore to New Orleans
- Washington to New Orleans
- Milwaukee to New Orleans
- Albuquerque to New Orleans
- Tucson to New Orleans
- Kansas City to New Orleans
- Salt Lake City to New Orleans
- Minneapolis to New Orleans
- Detroit to New Orleans
- Cleveland to New Orleans
- Pittsburgh to New Orleans
- St. Louis to New Orleans
- Cincinnati to New Orleans
- Boise to New Orleans
- Richmond to New Orleans
- Birmingham to New Orleans
- Omaha to New Orleans
- Charleston to New Orleans
- El Paso to New Orleans