Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 745 miles, a gas price of $3.707 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 | 47 | $173 | $203 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 68 | $251 | $295 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 83 | $307 | $361 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 93 | $345 | $406 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 106 | $395 | $464 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 93 | $550 | $647 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $222 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 |
| El Paso, TX | $3.704 | $5.903 | Texas 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 El Paso, TX 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 El Paso, TX 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 Birmingham
- Houston to Omaha
- Houston to Charleston
More moves to El Paso
- New York to El Paso
- Los Angeles to El Paso
- Chicago to El Paso
- Phoenix to El Paso
- Philadelphia to El Paso
- San Diego to El Paso
- Dallas to El Paso
- Austin to El Paso
- Charlotte to El Paso
- San Francisco to El Paso
- Seattle to El Paso
- Denver to El Paso
- Nashville to El Paso
- Atlanta to El Paso
- Miami to El Paso
- Boston to El Paso
- Las Vegas to El Paso
- Orlando to El Paso
- Tampa to El Paso
- Raleigh to El Paso
- San Antonio to El Paso
- Jacksonville to El Paso
- Columbus to El Paso
- Indianapolis to El Paso
- Sacramento to El Paso
- Oklahoma City to El Paso
- Portland to El Paso
- Louisville to El Paso
- Memphis to El Paso
- Baltimore to El Paso
- Washington to El Paso
- Milwaukee to El Paso
- Albuquerque to El Paso
- Tucson to El Paso
- Kansas City to El Paso
- Salt Lake City to El Paso
- Minneapolis to El Paso
- Detroit to El Paso
- Cleveland to El Paso
- Pittsburgh to El Paso
- St. Louis to El Paso
- Cincinnati to El Paso
- New Orleans to El Paso
- Boise to El Paso
- Richmond to El Paso
- Birmingham to El Paso
- Omaha to El Paso
- Charleston to El Paso