Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 1,096 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 | 69 | $287 | $338 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 100 | $418 | $492 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 122 | $511 | $601 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 137 | $575 | $676 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 157 | $657 | $773 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 137 | $875 | $1,029 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $369 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 |
| Memphis, TN | $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 Memphis, TN 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 Memphis, TN 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 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 Birmingham
- Denver to Omaha
- Denver to Charleston
- Denver to El Paso
More moves to Memphis
- New York to Memphis
- Los Angeles to Memphis
- Chicago to Memphis
- Houston to Memphis
- Phoenix to Memphis
- Philadelphia to Memphis
- San Diego to Memphis
- Dallas to Memphis
- Austin to Memphis
- Charlotte to Memphis
- San Francisco to Memphis
- Seattle to Memphis
- Nashville to Memphis
- Atlanta to Memphis
- Miami to Memphis
- Boston to Memphis
- Las Vegas to Memphis
- Orlando to Memphis
- Tampa to Memphis
- Raleigh to Memphis
- San Antonio to Memphis
- Jacksonville to Memphis
- Columbus to Memphis
- Indianapolis to Memphis
- Sacramento to Memphis
- Oklahoma City to Memphis
- Portland to Memphis
- Louisville to Memphis
- Baltimore to Memphis
- Washington to Memphis
- Milwaukee to Memphis
- Albuquerque to Memphis
- Tucson to Memphis
- Kansas City to Memphis
- Salt Lake City to Memphis
- Minneapolis to Memphis
- Detroit to Memphis
- Cleveland to Memphis
- Pittsburgh to Memphis
- St. Louis to Memphis
- Cincinnati to Memphis
- New Orleans to Memphis
- Boise to Memphis
- Richmond to Memphis
- Birmingham to Memphis
- Omaha to Memphis
- Charleston to Memphis
- El Paso to Memphis