Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 359 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 | 22 | $93 | $109 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 33 | $135 | $159 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 40 | $165 | $195 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 45 | $186 | $219 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 51 | $213 | $250 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 45 | $285 | $335 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $120 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville, KY | $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 Louisville, KY to Detroit, MI a one-day drive. The rental itself and any per-mile fees are charged separately from fuel.
Other moves
Going the other way? See Detroit, MI to Louisville, KY.
More moves from Louisville
- Louisville to New York
- Louisville to Los Angeles
- Louisville to Chicago
- Louisville to Houston
- Louisville to Phoenix
- Louisville to Philadelphia
- Louisville to San Diego
- Louisville to Dallas
- Louisville to Austin
- Louisville to Charlotte
- Louisville to San Francisco
- Louisville to Seattle
- Louisville to Denver
- Louisville to Nashville
- Louisville to Atlanta
- Louisville to Miami
- Louisville to Boston
- Louisville to Las Vegas
- Louisville to Orlando
- Louisville to Tampa
- Louisville to Raleigh
- Louisville to San Antonio
- Louisville to Jacksonville
- Louisville to Columbus
- Louisville to Indianapolis
- Louisville to Sacramento
- Louisville to Oklahoma City
- Louisville to Portland
- Louisville to Memphis
- Louisville to Baltimore
- Louisville to Washington
- Louisville to Milwaukee
- Louisville to Albuquerque
- Louisville to Tucson
- Louisville to Kansas City
- Louisville to Salt Lake City
- Louisville to Minneapolis
- Louisville to Cleveland
- Louisville to Pittsburgh
- Louisville to St. Louis
- Louisville to Cincinnati
- Louisville to New Orleans
- Louisville to Boise
- Louisville to Richmond
- Louisville to Birmingham
- Louisville to Omaha
- Louisville to Charleston
- Louisville 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
- Memphis to Detroit
- Baltimore to Detroit
- Washington to Detroit
- Milwaukee to Detroit
- Albuquerque to Detroit
- Tucson to Detroit
- Kansas City 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