Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 1,087 miles, a gas price of $4.195 and a diesel price of $6.387 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 | 68 | $285 | $335 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 99 | $415 | $488 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 121 | $507 | $596 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 136 | $570 | $671 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 155 | $651 | $766 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 136 | $868 | $1,021 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $366 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 |
| Denver, CO | $4.244 | $6.422 | Denver 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 Indianapolis, IN to Denver, CO a 3-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 Denver, CO 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 Nashville
- Indianapolis to Atlanta
- 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 Denver
- New York to Denver
- Los Angeles to Denver
- Chicago to Denver
- Houston to Denver
- Phoenix to Denver
- Philadelphia to Denver
- San Diego to Denver
- Dallas to Denver
- Austin to Denver
- Charlotte to Denver
- San Francisco to Denver
- Seattle to Denver
- Nashville to Denver
- Atlanta to Denver
- Miami to Denver
- Boston to Denver
- Las Vegas to Denver
- Orlando to Denver
- Tampa to Denver
- Raleigh to Denver
- San Antonio to Denver
- Jacksonville to Denver
- Columbus to Denver
- Sacramento to Denver
- Oklahoma City to Denver
- Portland to Denver
- Louisville to Denver
- Memphis to Denver
- Baltimore to Denver
- Washington to Denver
- Milwaukee to Denver
- Albuquerque to Denver
- Tucson to Denver
- Kansas City to Denver
- Salt Lake City to Denver
- Minneapolis to Denver
- Detroit to Denver
- Cleveland to Denver
- Pittsburgh to Denver
- St. Louis to Denver
- Cincinnati to Denver
- New Orleans to Denver
- Boise to Denver
- Richmond to Denver
- Birmingham to Denver
- Omaha to Denver
- Charleston to Denver
- El Paso to Denver