PumpTally

Moving truck gas cost from Houston, TX to San Diego, CA

The drive is about 1,470 miles. In a 15 to 17 ft rental truck getting around 9 MPG, fuel comes to roughly $796 at this week’s prices.

HoustonSan Diego

Routes from OSRM using© OpenStreetMap contributors data

Driving distance
1,470 miles
Time behind the wheel
About 25 hours at car speeds
Driving days in a truck
4 days at 450 miles a day
Gas price used
$4.871 a gallon

Adjust the numbers for your move

miles
Trip
MPG

Loaded rental trucks usually get 6 to 12 MPG. If the rental paperwork lists a figure for your truck, use that.

$/ gallon

Starts halfway between Houston and California prices from EIA for the week of October 19, 2026. Change it to what you pay.

Fuel cost$795.60
Gallons163.3
Per mile$0.54

1,470 miles at 9 MPG

Fuel cost by truck size

Based on 1,470 miles, a gas price of $4.871 and a diesel price of $7.073 a gallon. Towing a car on a trailer or dolly lowers fuel economy by about 15%.

TruckMPGGallonsFuel costTowing a car
Cargo van1692$448$526
10 to 12 ft truck11134$651$766
15 to 17 ft truck9163$796$936
20 to 22 ft truck8184$895$1,053
26 ft truck7210$1,023$1,203
26 ft truck (diesel)8184$1,300$1,529

The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $575 in fuel alone, so it pays to rent only as much truck as you need.

Fuel prices at each end of the move

WhereGasDieselPrice basis
Houston, TX$3.710$5.903Houston average
San Diego, CA$6.031$8.242California average

Gas runs about $2.32 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 San Diego, CA a 4-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 San Diego, CA to Houston, TX.