Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 483 miles, a gas price of $4.145 and a diesel price of $6.352 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 | 30 | $125 | $147 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 44 | $182 | $214 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 54 | $222 | $262 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 60 | $250 | $294 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 69 | $286 | $336 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 60 | $384 | $451 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $161 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 |
| Kansas City, MO | $4.145 | $6.352 | Midwest 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 Kansas City, MO 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 Kansas City, MO 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 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 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 Kansas City
- New York to Kansas City
- Los Angeles to Kansas City
- Chicago to Kansas City
- Houston to Kansas City
- Phoenix to Kansas City
- Philadelphia to Kansas City
- San Diego to Kansas City
- Dallas to Kansas City
- Austin to Kansas City
- Charlotte to Kansas City
- San Francisco to Kansas City
- Seattle to Kansas City
- Denver to Kansas City
- Nashville to Kansas City
- Atlanta to Kansas City
- Miami to Kansas City
- Boston to Kansas City
- Las Vegas to Kansas City
- Orlando to Kansas City
- Tampa to Kansas City
- Raleigh to Kansas City
- San Antonio to Kansas City
- Jacksonville to Kansas City
- Columbus to Kansas City
- Sacramento to Kansas City
- Oklahoma City to Kansas City
- Portland to Kansas City
- Louisville to Kansas City
- Memphis to Kansas City
- Baltimore to Kansas City
- Washington to Kansas City
- Milwaukee to Kansas City
- Albuquerque to Kansas City
- Tucson to Kansas City
- Salt Lake City to Kansas City
- Minneapolis to Kansas City
- Detroit to Kansas City
- Cleveland to Kansas City
- Pittsburgh to Kansas City
- St. Louis to Kansas City
- Cincinnati to Kansas City
- New Orleans to Kansas City
- Boise to Kansas City
- Richmond to Kansas City
- Birmingham to Kansas City
- Omaha to Kansas City
- Charleston to Kansas City
- El Paso to Kansas City