Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 464 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 | 29 | $120 | $141 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 42 | $175 | $206 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 52 | $214 | $251 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 58 | $240 | $283 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 66 | $275 | $323 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 58 | $368 | $433 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $155 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 |
| Memphis, TN | $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 Memphis, TN 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 Memphis, TN 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 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 Memphis
- New York to Memphis
- Los Angeles to Memphis
- Chicago to Memphis
- Houston to Memphis
- Phoenix to Memphis
- Philadelphia to Memphis
- San Diego to Memphis
- Dallas to Memphis
- Austin to Memphis
- Charlotte to Memphis
- San Francisco to Memphis
- Seattle to Memphis
- Denver to Memphis
- Nashville to Memphis
- Atlanta to Memphis
- Miami to Memphis
- Boston to Memphis
- Las Vegas to Memphis
- Orlando to Memphis
- Tampa to Memphis
- Raleigh to Memphis
- San Antonio to Memphis
- Jacksonville to Memphis
- Columbus to Memphis
- Sacramento to Memphis
- Oklahoma City to Memphis
- Portland to Memphis
- Louisville to Memphis
- Baltimore to Memphis
- Washington to Memphis
- Milwaukee to Memphis
- Albuquerque to Memphis
- Tucson to Memphis
- Kansas City to Memphis
- Salt Lake City to Memphis
- Minneapolis to Memphis
- Detroit to Memphis
- Cleveland to Memphis
- Pittsburgh to Memphis
- St. Louis to Memphis
- Cincinnati to Memphis
- New Orleans to Memphis
- Boise to Memphis
- Richmond to Memphis
- Birmingham to Memphis
- Omaha to Memphis
- Charleston to Memphis
- El Paso to Memphis