Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 195 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 | 12 | $45 | $53 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 18 | $66 | $77 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 22 | $80 | $94 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 24 | $90 | $106 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 28 | $103 | $121 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 24 | $144 | $169 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $58 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 |
| San Antonio, 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 San Antonio, TX a one-day drive. The rental itself and any per-mile fees are charged separately from fuel.
Other moves
Going the other way? See San Antonio, 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 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
- Houston to El Paso
More moves to San Antonio
- New York to San Antonio
- Los Angeles to San Antonio
- Chicago to San Antonio
- Phoenix to San Antonio
- Philadelphia to San Antonio
- San Diego to San Antonio
- Dallas to San Antonio
- Austin to San Antonio
- Charlotte to San Antonio
- San Francisco to San Antonio
- Seattle to San Antonio
- Denver to San Antonio
- Nashville to San Antonio
- Atlanta to San Antonio
- Miami to San Antonio
- Boston to San Antonio
- Las Vegas to San Antonio
- Orlando to San Antonio
- Tampa to San Antonio
- Raleigh to San Antonio
- Jacksonville to San Antonio
- Columbus to San Antonio
- Indianapolis to San Antonio
- Sacramento to San Antonio
- Oklahoma City to San Antonio
- Portland to San Antonio
- Louisville to San Antonio
- Memphis to San Antonio
- Baltimore to San Antonio
- Washington to San Antonio
- Milwaukee to San Antonio
- Albuquerque to San Antonio
- Tucson to San Antonio
- Kansas City to San Antonio
- Salt Lake City to San Antonio
- Minneapolis to San Antonio
- Detroit to San Antonio
- Cleveland to San Antonio
- Pittsburgh to San Antonio
- St. Louis to San Antonio
- Cincinnati to San Antonio
- New Orleans to San Antonio
- Boise to San Antonio
- Richmond to San Antonio
- Birmingham to San Antonio
- Omaha to San Antonio
- Charleston to San Antonio
- El Paso to San Antonio