Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 1,331 miles, a gas price of $4.014 and a diesel price of $6.163 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 | 83 | $334 | $393 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 121 | $486 | $571 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 148 | $594 | $698 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 166 | $668 | $786 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 190 | $763 | $898 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 166 | $1,025 | $1,206 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $429 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO | $4.244 | $6.422 | Denver average |
| Birmingham, AL | $3.784 | $5.903 | Gulf Coast average |
Gas runs about $0.46 a gallon cheaper around Birmingham, AL. Most one-way rentals are returned near Birmingham, 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 Denver, CO to Birmingham, AL 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 Birmingham, AL to Denver, CO.
More moves from Denver
- Denver to New York
- Denver to Los Angeles
- Denver to Chicago
- Denver to Houston
- Denver to Phoenix
- Denver to Philadelphia
- Denver to San Diego
- Denver to Dallas
- Denver to Austin
- Denver to Charlotte
- Denver to San Francisco
- Denver to Seattle
- Denver to Nashville
- Denver to Atlanta
- Denver to Miami
- Denver to Boston
- Denver to Las Vegas
- Denver to Orlando
- Denver to Tampa
- Denver to Raleigh
- Denver to San Antonio
- Denver to Jacksonville
- Denver to Columbus
- Denver to Indianapolis
- Denver to Sacramento
- Denver to Oklahoma City
- Denver to Portland
- Denver to Louisville
- Denver to Memphis
- Denver to Baltimore
- Denver to Washington
- Denver to Milwaukee
- Denver to Albuquerque
- Denver to Tucson
- Denver to Kansas City
- Denver to Salt Lake City
- Denver to Minneapolis
- Denver to Detroit
- Denver to Cleveland
- Denver to Pittsburgh
- Denver to St. Louis
- Denver to Cincinnati
- Denver to New Orleans
- Denver to Boise
- Denver to Richmond
- Denver to Omaha
- Denver to Charleston
- Denver to El Paso
More moves to Birmingham
- New York to Birmingham
- Los Angeles to Birmingham
- Chicago to Birmingham
- Houston to Birmingham
- Phoenix to Birmingham
- Philadelphia to Birmingham
- San Diego to Birmingham
- Dallas to Birmingham
- Austin to Birmingham
- Charlotte to Birmingham
- San Francisco to Birmingham
- Seattle to Birmingham
- Nashville to Birmingham
- Atlanta to Birmingham
- Miami to Birmingham
- Boston to Birmingham
- Las Vegas to Birmingham
- Orlando to Birmingham
- Tampa to Birmingham
- Raleigh to Birmingham
- San Antonio to Birmingham
- Jacksonville to Birmingham
- Columbus to Birmingham
- Indianapolis to Birmingham
- Sacramento to Birmingham
- Oklahoma City to Birmingham
- Portland to Birmingham
- Louisville to Birmingham
- Memphis to Birmingham
- Baltimore to Birmingham
- Washington to Birmingham
- Milwaukee to Birmingham
- Albuquerque to Birmingham
- Tucson to Birmingham
- Kansas City to Birmingham
- Salt Lake City to Birmingham
- Minneapolis to Birmingham
- Detroit to Birmingham
- Cleveland to Birmingham
- Pittsburgh to Birmingham
- St. Louis to Birmingham
- Cincinnati to Birmingham
- New Orleans to Birmingham
- Boise to Birmingham
- Richmond to Birmingham
- Omaha to Birmingham
- Charleston to Birmingham
- El Paso to Birmingham