Moving truck gas cost from Detroit, MI to Boston, MA

The drive is about 707 miles. In a 15 to 17 ft rental truck getting around 9 MPG, fuel comes to roughly $330 at this week’s prices.

miles
Trip
$/ gallon

Average of Midwest and Boston prices from EIA for the week of October 19, 2026.

More options: MPG, towing
MPG

Loaded rental trucks usually get 6 to 12 MPG. If the rental paperwork lists a figure for your truck, use that.

Fuel cost$330Likely $300 to $366

Compare

  • 10 to 12 ft truck$270save $60
  • 20 to 22 ft truck$371+$41
  • Towing a car$388+$58
  • Round trip$659+$330

707 miles at 9 MPG: 78.6 gallons, $0.47 a mile. The likely range allows for fuel economy 10% better or worse.

DetroitBoston

Routes from OSRM using© OpenStreetMap contributors data

Distance
707 miles
Driving days
2 at 450 mi a day
Behind the wheel
About 14 hours
Gas price used
$4.197 a gallon

Fuel cost by truck size

Based on 707 miles, a gas price of $4.197 and a diesel price of $6.411 a gallon. Towing a car on a trailer or dolly lowers fuel economy by about 15%.

TruckMPGGallonsFuel costTowing a car
Cargo van1644$185$218
10 to 12 ft truck1164$270$317
15 to 17 ft truck979$330$388
20 to 22 ft truck888$371$436
26 ft truck7101$424$499
26 ft truck (diesel)888$567$667

The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $238 in fuel alone, so it pays to rent only as much truck as you need.

Fuel prices at each end of the move

WhereGasDieselPrice basis
Detroit, MI$4.145$6.352Midwest average
Boston, MA$4.249$6.470Boston 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 Detroit, MI to Boston, MA 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 Boston, MA to Detroit, MI.