Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 243 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 | 15 | $63 | $74 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 22 | $92 | $108 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 27 | $112 | $132 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 30 | $126 | $148 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 35 | $144 | $169 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 30 | $193 | $227 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $81 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 |
| St. Louis, 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 St. Louis, MO a one-day drive. The rental itself and any per-mile fees are charged separately from fuel.
Other moves
Going the other way? See St. Louis, 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 Kansas City
- Indianapolis to Salt Lake City
- Indianapolis to Minneapolis
- Indianapolis to Detroit
- Indianapolis to Cleveland
- Indianapolis to Pittsburgh
- 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 St. Louis
- New York to St. Louis
- Los Angeles to St. Louis
- Chicago to St. Louis
- Houston to St. Louis
- Phoenix to St. Louis
- Philadelphia to St. Louis
- San Diego to St. Louis
- Dallas to St. Louis
- Austin to St. Louis
- Charlotte to St. Louis
- San Francisco to St. Louis
- Seattle to St. Louis
- Denver to St. Louis
- Nashville to St. Louis
- Atlanta to St. Louis
- Miami to St. Louis
- Boston to St. Louis
- Las Vegas to St. Louis
- Orlando to St. Louis
- Tampa to St. Louis
- Raleigh to St. Louis
- San Antonio to St. Louis
- Jacksonville to St. Louis
- Columbus to St. Louis
- Sacramento to St. Louis
- Oklahoma City to St. Louis
- Portland to St. Louis
- Louisville to St. Louis
- Memphis to St. Louis
- Baltimore to St. Louis
- Washington to St. Louis
- Milwaukee to St. Louis
- Albuquerque to St. Louis
- Tucson to St. Louis
- Kansas City to St. Louis
- Salt Lake City to St. Louis
- Minneapolis to St. Louis
- Detroit to St. Louis
- Cleveland to St. Louis
- Pittsburgh to St. Louis
- Cincinnati to St. Louis
- New Orleans to St. Louis
- Boise to St. Louis
- Richmond to St. Louis
- Birmingham to St. Louis
- Omaha to St. Louis
- Charleston to St. Louis
- El Paso to St. Louis