Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 604 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 | 38 | $158 | $186 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 55 | $230 | $271 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 67 | $282 | $331 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 76 | $317 | $373 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 86 | $362 | $426 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 76 | $482 | $567 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $204 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO | $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 Kansas City, MO to Denver, CO 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 Denver, CO to Kansas City, MO.
More moves from Kansas City
- Kansas City to New York
- Kansas City to Los Angeles
- Kansas City to Chicago
- Kansas City to Houston
- Kansas City to Phoenix
- Kansas City to Philadelphia
- Kansas City to San Diego
- Kansas City to Dallas
- Kansas City to Austin
- Kansas City to Charlotte
- Kansas City to San Francisco
- Kansas City to Seattle
- Kansas City to Nashville
- Kansas City to Atlanta
- Kansas City to Miami
- Kansas City to Boston
- Kansas City to Las Vegas
- Kansas City to Orlando
- Kansas City to Tampa
- Kansas City to Raleigh
- Kansas City to San Antonio
- Kansas City to Jacksonville
- Kansas City to Columbus
- Kansas City to Indianapolis
- Kansas City to Sacramento
- Kansas City to Oklahoma City
- Kansas City to Portland
- Kansas City to Louisville
- Kansas City to Memphis
- Kansas City to Baltimore
- Kansas City to Washington
- Kansas City to Milwaukee
- Kansas City to Albuquerque
- Kansas City to Tucson
- Kansas City to Salt Lake City
- Kansas City to Minneapolis
- Kansas City to Detroit
- Kansas City to Cleveland
- Kansas City to Pittsburgh
- Kansas City to St. Louis
- Kansas City to Cincinnati
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- Kansas City to Boise
- Kansas City to Richmond
- Kansas City to Birmingham
- Kansas City to Omaha
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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
- Indianapolis 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
- 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