Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 604 miles, a gas price of $4.195 and a diesel price of $6.387 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 | 38 | $158 | $186 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 55 | $230 | $271 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 67 | $282 | $331 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 76 | $317 | $373 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 86 | $362 | $426 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 76 | $482 | $567 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $204 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 |
| Kansas City, 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 Denver, CO to Kansas City, MO 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 Kansas City, MO 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 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 Birmingham
- Denver to Omaha
- Denver to Charleston
- Denver to El Paso
More moves to Kansas City
- New York to Kansas City
- Los Angeles to Kansas City
- Chicago to Kansas City
- Houston to Kansas City
- Phoenix to Kansas City
- Philadelphia to Kansas City
- San Diego to Kansas City
- Dallas to Kansas City
- Austin to Kansas City
- Charlotte to Kansas City
- San Francisco to Kansas City
- Seattle to Kansas City
- Nashville to Kansas City
- Atlanta to Kansas City
- Miami to Kansas City
- Boston to Kansas City
- Las Vegas to Kansas City
- Orlando to Kansas City
- Tampa to Kansas City
- Raleigh to Kansas City
- San Antonio to Kansas City
- Jacksonville to Kansas City
- Columbus to Kansas City
- Indianapolis to Kansas City
- Sacramento to Kansas City
- Oklahoma City to Kansas City
- Portland to Kansas City
- Louisville to Kansas City
- Memphis to Kansas City
- Baltimore to Kansas City
- Washington to Kansas City
- Milwaukee to Kansas City
- Albuquerque to Kansas City
- Tucson to Kansas City
- Salt Lake City to Kansas City
- Minneapolis to Kansas City
- Detroit to Kansas City
- Cleveland to Kansas City
- Pittsburgh to Kansas City
- St. Louis to Kansas City
- Cincinnati to Kansas City
- New Orleans to Kansas City
- Boise to Kansas City
- Richmond to Kansas City
- Birmingham to Kansas City
- Omaha to Kansas City
- Charleston to Kansas City
- El Paso to Kansas City