Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 451 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 | 28 | $117 | $137 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 41 | $170 | $200 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 50 | $208 | $244 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 56 | $234 | $275 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 64 | $267 | $314 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 56 | $358 | $421 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $150 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 |
| 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 Kansas City, MO 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 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 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
- 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 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
- Indianapolis 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
- 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