Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 900 miles, a gas price of $3.927 and a diesel price of $6.127 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 | 56 | $221 | $260 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 82 | $321 | $378 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 100 | $393 | $462 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 113 | $442 | $520 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 129 | $505 | $594 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 113 | $689 | $811 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $284 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 |
| Omaha, NE | $4.145 | $6.352 | Midwest average |
Gas runs about $0.43 a gallon cheaper around Houston, TX. Fill the tank before you leave Houston and stretch it as far as you safely can.
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 Omaha, NE 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 Omaha, NE 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 Charleston
- Houston to El Paso
More moves to Omaha
- New York to Omaha
- Los Angeles to Omaha
- Chicago to Omaha
- Phoenix to Omaha
- Philadelphia to Omaha
- San Diego to Omaha
- Dallas to Omaha
- Austin to Omaha
- Charlotte to Omaha
- San Francisco to Omaha
- Seattle to Omaha
- Denver to Omaha
- Nashville to Omaha
- Atlanta to Omaha
- Miami to Omaha
- Boston to Omaha
- Las Vegas to Omaha
- Orlando to Omaha
- Tampa to Omaha
- Raleigh to Omaha
- San Antonio to Omaha
- Jacksonville to Omaha
- Columbus to Omaha
- Indianapolis to Omaha
- Sacramento to Omaha
- Oklahoma City to Omaha
- Portland to Omaha
- Louisville to Omaha
- Memphis to Omaha
- Baltimore to Omaha
- Washington to Omaha
- Milwaukee to Omaha
- Albuquerque to Omaha
- Tucson to Omaha
- Kansas City to Omaha
- Salt Lake City to Omaha
- Minneapolis to Omaha
- Detroit to Omaha
- Cleveland to Omaha
- Pittsburgh to Omaha
- St. Louis to Omaha
- Cincinnati to Omaha
- New Orleans to Omaha
- Boise to Omaha
- Richmond to Omaha
- Birmingham to Omaha
- Charleston to Omaha
- El Paso to Omaha