Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 667 miles, a gas price of $3.747 and a diesel price of $5.903 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 | 42 | $156 | $184 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 61 | $227 | $267 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 74 | $278 | $327 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 83 | $312 | $368 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 95 | $357 | $420 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 83 | $492 | $579 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $201 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX | $3.710 | $5.903 | Houston average |
| Birmingham, AL | $3.784 | $5.903 | Gulf Coast 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 Houston, TX to Birmingham, AL 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 Birmingham, AL to Houston, TX.
More moves from Houston
- Houston to New York
- Houston to Los Angeles
- Houston to Chicago
- Houston to Phoenix
- Houston to Philadelphia
- Houston to San Diego
- Houston to Dallas
- Houston to Austin
- Houston to Charlotte
- Houston to San Francisco
- Houston to Seattle
- Houston to Denver
- Houston to Nashville
- Houston to Atlanta
- Houston to Miami
- Houston to Boston
- Houston to Las Vegas
- Houston to Orlando
- Houston to Tampa
- Houston to Raleigh
- Houston to San Antonio
- Houston to Jacksonville
- Houston to Columbus
- Houston to Indianapolis
- Houston to Sacramento
- Houston to Oklahoma City
- Houston to Portland
- Houston to Louisville
- Houston to Memphis
- Houston to Baltimore
- Houston to Washington
- Houston to Milwaukee
- Houston to Albuquerque
- Houston to Tucson
- Houston to Kansas City
- Houston to Salt Lake City
- Houston to Minneapolis
- Houston to Detroit
- Houston to Cleveland
- Houston to Pittsburgh
- Houston to St. Louis
- Houston to Cincinnati
- Houston to New Orleans
- Houston to Boise
- Houston to Richmond
- Houston to Omaha
- Houston to Charleston
- Houston to El Paso
More moves to Birmingham
- New York to Birmingham
- Los Angeles to Birmingham
- Chicago to Birmingham
- Phoenix to Birmingham
- Philadelphia to Birmingham
- San Diego to Birmingham
- Dallas to Birmingham
- Austin to Birmingham
- Charlotte to Birmingham
- San Francisco to Birmingham
- Seattle to Birmingham
- Denver to Birmingham
- Nashville to Birmingham
- Atlanta to Birmingham
- Miami to Birmingham
- Boston to Birmingham
- Las Vegas to Birmingham
- Orlando to Birmingham
- Tampa to Birmingham
- Raleigh to Birmingham
- San Antonio to Birmingham
- Jacksonville to Birmingham
- Columbus to Birmingham
- Indianapolis to Birmingham
- Sacramento to Birmingham
- Oklahoma City to Birmingham
- Portland to Birmingham
- Louisville to Birmingham
- Memphis to Birmingham
- Baltimore to Birmingham
- Washington to Birmingham
- Milwaukee to Birmingham
- Albuquerque to Birmingham
- Tucson to Birmingham
- Kansas City to Birmingham
- Salt Lake City to Birmingham
- Minneapolis to Birmingham
- Detroit to Birmingham
- Cleveland to Birmingham
- Pittsburgh to Birmingham
- St. Louis to Birmingham
- Cincinnati to Birmingham
- New Orleans to Birmingham
- Boise to Birmingham
- Richmond to Birmingham
- Omaha to Birmingham
- Charleston to Birmingham
- El Paso to Birmingham