Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 765 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 | 48 | $198 | $233 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 70 | $288 | $339 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 85 | $352 | $414 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 96 | $396 | $466 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 109 | $453 | $533 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 96 | $607 | $715 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $255 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 |
| Detroit, MI | $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 Kansas City, MO to Detroit, MI 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 Detroit, MI 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 Denver
- 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 Cleveland
- Kansas City to Pittsburgh
- Kansas City to St. Louis
- Kansas City to Cincinnati
- Kansas City to New Orleans
- Kansas City to Boise
- Kansas City to Richmond
- Kansas City to Birmingham
- Kansas City to Omaha
- Kansas City to Charleston
- Kansas City to El Paso
More moves to Detroit
- New York to Detroit
- Los Angeles to Detroit
- Chicago to Detroit
- Houston to Detroit
- Phoenix to Detroit
- Philadelphia to Detroit
- San Diego to Detroit
- Dallas to Detroit
- Austin to Detroit
- Charlotte to Detroit
- San Francisco to Detroit
- Seattle to Detroit
- Denver to Detroit
- Nashville to Detroit
- Atlanta to Detroit
- Miami to Detroit
- Boston to Detroit
- Las Vegas to Detroit
- Orlando to Detroit
- Tampa to Detroit
- Raleigh to Detroit
- San Antonio to Detroit
- Jacksonville to Detroit
- Columbus to Detroit
- Indianapolis to Detroit
- Sacramento to Detroit
- Oklahoma City to Detroit
- Portland to Detroit
- Louisville to Detroit
- Memphis to Detroit
- Baltimore to Detroit
- Washington to Detroit
- Milwaukee to Detroit
- Albuquerque to Detroit
- Tucson to Detroit
- Salt Lake City to Detroit
- Minneapolis to Detroit
- Cleveland to Detroit
- Pittsburgh to Detroit
- St. Louis to Detroit
- Cincinnati to Detroit
- New Orleans to Detroit
- Boise to Detroit
- Richmond to Detroit
- Birmingham to Detroit
- Omaha to Detroit
- Charleston to Detroit
- El Paso to Detroit