Moving truck gas cost from Louisville, KY to New Orleans, LA

The drive is about 705 miles. In a 15 to 17 ft rental truck getting around 9 MPG, fuel comes to roughly $311 at this week’s prices.

miles
Trip
$/ gallon

Average of Midwest and Gulf Coast 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$311Likely $282 to $345

Compare

  • 10 to 12 ft truck$254save $56
  • 20 to 22 ft truck$349+$39
  • Towing a car$365+$55
  • Round trip$621+$311

705 miles at 9 MPG: 78.3 gallons, $0.44 a mile. The likely range allows for fuel economy 10% better or worse.

LouisvilleNew Orleans

Routes from OSRM using© OpenStreetMap contributors data

Distance
705 miles
Driving days
2 at 450 mi a day
Behind the wheel
About 13 hours
Gas price used
$3.964 a gallon

Fuel cost by truck size

Based on 705 miles, a gas price of $3.964 and a diesel price of $6.127 a gallon. Towing a car on a trailer or dolly lowers fuel economy by about 15%.

TruckMPGGallonsFuel costTowing a car
Cargo van1644$175$205
10 to 12 ft truck1164$254$299
15 to 17 ft truck978$311$365
20 to 22 ft truck888$349$411
26 ft truck7101$399$470
26 ft truck (diesel)888$540$635

The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $225 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
Louisville, KY$4.145$6.352Midwest average
New Orleans, LA$3.784$5.903Gulf Coast average

Gas runs about $0.36 a gallon cheaper around New Orleans, LA. Most one-way rentals are returned near New Orleans, 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 Louisville, KY to New Orleans, LA 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 New Orleans, LA to Louisville, KY.