Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 615 miles, a gas price of $4.197 and a diesel price of $6.430 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 | 38 | $161 | $190 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 56 | $235 | $276 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 68 | $287 | $337 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 77 | $323 | $380 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 88 | $369 | $434 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 77 | $494 | $582 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $207 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 |
| New York, NY | $4.249 | $6.508 | New York 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 New York, NY 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 New York, NY to Detroit, MI.
More moves from Detroit
- 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 Boston
- 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 New York
- Los Angeles to New York
- Chicago to New York
- Houston to New York
- Phoenix to New York
- Philadelphia to New York
- San Diego to New York
- Dallas to New York
- Austin to New York
- Charlotte to New York
- San Francisco to New York
- Seattle to New York
- Denver to New York
- Nashville to New York
- Atlanta to New York
- Miami to New York
- Boston to New York
- Las Vegas to New York
- Orlando to New York
- Tampa to New York
- Raleigh to New York
- San Antonio to New York
- Jacksonville to New York
- Columbus to New York
- Indianapolis to New York
- Sacramento to New York
- Oklahoma City to New York
- Portland to New York
- Louisville to New York
- Memphis to New York
- Baltimore to New York
- Washington to New York
- Milwaukee to New York
- Albuquerque to New York
- Tucson to New York
- Kansas City to New York
- Salt Lake City to New York
- Minneapolis to New York
- Cleveland to New York
- Pittsburgh to New York
- St. Louis to New York
- Cincinnati to New York
- New Orleans to New York
- Boise to New York
- Richmond to New York
- Birmingham to New York
- Omaha to New York
- Charleston to New York
- El Paso to New York