Moving truck gas cost from Kansas City, MO to Charlotte, NC

The drive is about 960 miles. In a 15 to 17 ft rental truck getting around 9 MPG, fuel comes to roughly $427 at this week’s prices.

miles
Trip
$/ gallon

Average of Midwest and Lower Atlantic prices from EIA for the week of October 19, 2026.

More options: MPG, towing
MPG

Loaded rental trucks usually get 6 to 12 MPG. If the rental paperwork lists a figure for your truck, use that.

Fuel cost$427Likely $388 to $474

Compare

  • 10 to 12 ft truck$349save $78
  • 20 to 22 ft truck$480+$53
  • Towing a car$502+$75
  • Round trip$854+$427

960 miles at 9 MPG: 106.7 gallons, $0.44 a mile. The likely range allows for fuel economy 10% better or worse.

Kansas CityCharlotte

Routes from OSRM using© OpenStreetMap contributors data

Distance
960 miles
Driving days
3 at 450 mi a day
Behind the wheel
About 18 hours
Gas price used
$4.002 a gallon

Fuel cost by truck size

Based on 960 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%.

TruckMPGGallonsFuel costTowing a car
Cargo van1660$240$282
10 to 12 ft truck1187$349$411
15 to 17 ft truck9107$427$502
20 to 22 ft truck8120$480$565
26 ft truck7137$549$646
26 ft truck (diesel)8120$726$854

The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $309 in fuel alone, so it pays to rent only as much truck as you need.

Fuel prices at each end of the move

WhereGasDieselPrice basis
Kansas City, MO$4.145$6.352Midwest average
Charlotte, NC$3.860$5.740Lower Atlantic average

Gas runs about $0.28 a gallon cheaper around Charlotte, NC. Most one-way rentals are returned near Charlotte, 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 Kansas City, MO to Charlotte, NC 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 Charlotte, NC to Kansas City, MO.