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%.
| Truck | MPG | Gallons | Fuel cost | Towing a car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo van | 16 | 44 | $185 | $218 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 64 | $270 | $317 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 79 | $330 | $388 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 88 | $371 | $436 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 101 | $424 | $499 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 88 | $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
| Where | Gas | Diesel | Price basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | $4.145 | $6.352 | Midwest average |
| Boston, MA | $4.249 | $6.470 | Boston 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.
More moves from Detroit
- Detroit to New York
- Detroit to Los Angeles
- Detroit to Chicago
- Detroit to Houston
- Detroit to Phoenix
- Detroit to Philadelphia
- Detroit to San Diego
- Detroit to Dallas
- Detroit to Austin
- Detroit to Charlotte
- Detroit to San Francisco
- Detroit to Seattle
- Detroit to Denver
- Detroit to Nashville
- Detroit to Atlanta
- Detroit to Miami
- Detroit to Las Vegas
- Detroit to Orlando
- Detroit to Tampa
- Detroit to Raleigh
- Detroit to San Antonio
- Detroit to Jacksonville
- Detroit to Columbus
- Detroit to Indianapolis
- Detroit to Sacramento
- Detroit to Oklahoma City
- Detroit to Portland
- Detroit to Louisville
- Detroit to Memphis
- Detroit to Baltimore
- Detroit to Washington
- Detroit to Milwaukee
- Detroit to Albuquerque
- Detroit to Tucson
- Detroit to Kansas City
- Detroit to Salt Lake City
- Detroit to Minneapolis
- Detroit to Cleveland
- Detroit to Pittsburgh
- Detroit to St. Louis
- Detroit to Cincinnati
- Detroit to New Orleans
- Detroit to Boise
- Detroit to Richmond
- Detroit to Birmingham
- Detroit to Omaha
- Detroit to Charleston
- Detroit to El Paso
More moves to Boston
- New York to Boston
- Los Angeles to Boston
- Chicago to Boston
- Houston to Boston
- Phoenix to Boston
- Philadelphia to Boston
- San Diego to Boston
- Dallas to Boston
- Austin to Boston
- Charlotte to Boston
- San Francisco to Boston
- Seattle to Boston
- Denver to Boston
- Nashville to Boston
- Atlanta to Boston
- Miami to Boston
- Las Vegas to Boston
- Orlando to Boston
- Tampa to Boston
- Raleigh to Boston
- San Antonio to Boston
- Jacksonville to Boston
- Columbus to Boston
- Indianapolis to Boston
- Sacramento to Boston
- Oklahoma City to Boston
- Portland to Boston
- Louisville to Boston
- Memphis to Boston
- Baltimore to Boston
- Washington to Boston
- Milwaukee to Boston
- Albuquerque to Boston
- Tucson to Boston
- Kansas City to Boston
- Salt Lake City to Boston
- Minneapolis to Boston
- Cleveland to Boston
- Pittsburgh to Boston
- St. Louis to Boston
- Cincinnati to Boston
- New Orleans to Boston
- Boise to Boston
- Richmond to Boston
- Birmingham to Boston
- Omaha to Boston
- Charleston to Boston
- El Paso to Boston