Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 1,452 miles, a gas price of $4.278 and a diesel price of $6.465 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 | 91 | $388 | $457 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 132 | $565 | $664 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 161 | $690 | $812 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 182 | $776 | $913 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 207 | $887 | $1,044 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 182 | $1,173 | $1,380 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $499 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 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $4.312 | $6.508 | Central Atlantic 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 Pittsburgh, PA a 4-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 Pittsburgh, PA 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 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 Pittsburgh
- New York to Pittsburgh
- Los Angeles to Pittsburgh
- Chicago to Pittsburgh
- Houston to Pittsburgh
- Phoenix to Pittsburgh
- Philadelphia to Pittsburgh
- San Diego to Pittsburgh
- Dallas to Pittsburgh
- Austin to Pittsburgh
- Charlotte to Pittsburgh
- San Francisco to Pittsburgh
- Seattle to Pittsburgh
- Nashville to Pittsburgh
- Atlanta to Pittsburgh
- Miami to Pittsburgh
- Boston to Pittsburgh
- Las Vegas to Pittsburgh
- Orlando to Pittsburgh
- Tampa to Pittsburgh
- Raleigh to Pittsburgh
- San Antonio to Pittsburgh
- Jacksonville to Pittsburgh
- Columbus to Pittsburgh
- Indianapolis to Pittsburgh
- Sacramento to Pittsburgh
- Oklahoma City to Pittsburgh
- Portland to Pittsburgh
- Louisville to Pittsburgh
- Memphis to Pittsburgh
- Baltimore to Pittsburgh
- Washington to Pittsburgh
- Milwaukee to Pittsburgh
- Albuquerque to Pittsburgh
- Tucson to Pittsburgh
- Kansas City to Pittsburgh
- Salt Lake City to Pittsburgh
- Minneapolis to Pittsburgh
- Detroit to Pittsburgh
- Cleveland to Pittsburgh
- St. Louis to Pittsburgh
- Cincinnati to Pittsburgh
- New Orleans to Pittsburgh
- Boise to Pittsburgh
- Richmond to Pittsburgh
- Birmingham to Pittsburgh
- Omaha to Pittsburgh
- Charleston to Pittsburgh
- El Paso to Pittsburgh