Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 894 miles, a gas price of $4.626 and a diesel price of $6.541 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 | 56 | $258 | $304 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 81 | $376 | $442 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 99 | $460 | $541 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 112 | $517 | $608 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 128 | $591 | $695 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 112 | $731 | $860 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $332 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 |
| Tucson, AZ | $5.007 | $6.659 | West Coast (excluding California) average |
Gas runs about $0.76 a gallon cheaper around Denver, CO. Fill the tank before you leave Denver and stretch it as far as you safely can.
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 Tucson, AZ 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 Tucson, AZ 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 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 Tucson
- New York to Tucson
- Los Angeles to Tucson
- Chicago to Tucson
- Houston to Tucson
- Phoenix to Tucson
- Philadelphia to Tucson
- San Diego to Tucson
- Dallas to Tucson
- Austin to Tucson
- Charlotte to Tucson
- San Francisco to Tucson
- Seattle to Tucson
- Nashville to Tucson
- Atlanta to Tucson
- Miami to Tucson
- Boston to Tucson
- Las Vegas to Tucson
- Orlando to Tucson
- Tampa to Tucson
- Raleigh to Tucson
- San Antonio to Tucson
- Jacksonville to Tucson
- Columbus to Tucson
- Indianapolis to Tucson
- Sacramento to Tucson
- Oklahoma City to Tucson
- Portland to Tucson
- Louisville to Tucson
- Memphis to Tucson
- Baltimore to Tucson
- Washington to Tucson
- Milwaukee to Tucson
- Albuquerque to Tucson
- Kansas City to Tucson
- Salt Lake City to Tucson
- Minneapolis to Tucson
- Detroit to Tucson
- Cleveland to Tucson
- Pittsburgh to Tucson
- St. Louis to Tucson
- Cincinnati to Tucson
- New Orleans to Tucson
- Boise to Tucson
- Richmond to Tucson
- Birmingham to Tucson
- Omaha to Tucson
- Charleston to Tucson
- El Paso to Tucson