Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 503 miles, a gas price of $4.002 and a diesel price of $6.046 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 | 31 | $126 | $148 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 46 | $183 | $215 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 56 | $224 | $263 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 63 | $252 | $296 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 72 | $288 | $338 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 63 | $380 | $447 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $162 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis, IN | $4.145 | $6.352 | Midwest average |
| Atlanta, GA | $3.860 | $5.740 | Lower Atlantic average |
Gas runs about $0.28 a gallon cheaper around Atlanta, GA. Most one-way rentals are returned near Atlanta, so that’s the cheaper place to top the tank back up to the level you picked it up at.
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 Indianapolis, IN to Atlanta, GA 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 Atlanta, GA to Indianapolis, IN.
More moves from Indianapolis
- Indianapolis to New York
- Indianapolis to Los Angeles
- Indianapolis to Chicago
- Indianapolis to Houston
- Indianapolis to Phoenix
- Indianapolis to Philadelphia
- Indianapolis to San Diego
- Indianapolis to Dallas
- Indianapolis to Austin
- Indianapolis to Charlotte
- Indianapolis to San Francisco
- Indianapolis to Seattle
- Indianapolis to Denver
- Indianapolis to Nashville
- Indianapolis to Miami
- Indianapolis to Boston
- Indianapolis to Las Vegas
- Indianapolis to Orlando
- Indianapolis to Tampa
- Indianapolis to Raleigh
- Indianapolis to San Antonio
- Indianapolis to Jacksonville
- Indianapolis to Columbus
- Indianapolis to Sacramento
- Indianapolis to Oklahoma City
- Indianapolis to Portland
- Indianapolis to Louisville
- Indianapolis to Memphis
- Indianapolis to Baltimore
- Indianapolis to Washington
- Indianapolis to Milwaukee
- Indianapolis to Albuquerque
- Indianapolis to Tucson
- Indianapolis to Kansas City
- Indianapolis to Salt Lake City
- Indianapolis to Minneapolis
- Indianapolis to Detroit
- Indianapolis to Cleveland
- Indianapolis to Pittsburgh
- Indianapolis to St. Louis
- Indianapolis to Cincinnati
- Indianapolis to New Orleans
- Indianapolis to Boise
- Indianapolis to Richmond
- Indianapolis to Birmingham
- Indianapolis to Omaha
- Indianapolis to Charleston
- Indianapolis to El Paso
More moves to Atlanta
- New York to Atlanta
- Los Angeles to Atlanta
- Chicago to Atlanta
- Houston to Atlanta
- Phoenix to Atlanta
- Philadelphia to Atlanta
- San Diego to Atlanta
- Dallas to Atlanta
- Austin to Atlanta
- Charlotte to Atlanta
- San Francisco to Atlanta
- Seattle to Atlanta
- Denver to Atlanta
- Nashville to Atlanta
- Miami to Atlanta
- Boston to Atlanta
- Las Vegas to Atlanta
- Orlando to Atlanta
- Tampa to Atlanta
- Raleigh to Atlanta
- San Antonio to Atlanta
- Jacksonville to Atlanta
- Columbus to Atlanta
- Sacramento to Atlanta
- Oklahoma City to Atlanta
- Portland to Atlanta
- Louisville to Atlanta
- Memphis to Atlanta
- Baltimore to Atlanta
- Washington to Atlanta
- Milwaukee to Atlanta
- Albuquerque to Atlanta
- Tucson to Atlanta
- Kansas City to Atlanta
- Salt Lake City to Atlanta
- Minneapolis to Atlanta
- Detroit to Atlanta
- Cleveland to Atlanta
- Pittsburgh to Atlanta
- St. Louis to Atlanta
- Cincinnati to Atlanta
- New Orleans to Atlanta
- Boise to Atlanta
- Richmond to Atlanta
- Birmingham to Atlanta
- Omaha to Atlanta
- Charleston to Atlanta
- El Paso to Atlanta