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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN | $4.145 | $6.352 | Midwest average |
| Kansas City, MO | $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 Memphis, TN to Kansas City, MO 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 Kansas City, MO to Memphis, TN.
More moves from Memphis
- Memphis to New York
- Memphis to Los Angeles
- Memphis to Chicago
- Memphis to Houston
- Memphis to Phoenix
- Memphis to Philadelphia
- Memphis to San Diego
- Memphis to Dallas
- Memphis to Austin
- Memphis to Charlotte
- Memphis to San Francisco
- Memphis to Seattle
- Memphis to Denver
- Memphis to Nashville
- Memphis to Atlanta
- Memphis to Miami
- Memphis to Boston
- Memphis to Las Vegas
- Memphis to Orlando
- Memphis to Tampa
- Memphis to Raleigh
- Memphis to San Antonio
- Memphis to Jacksonville
- Memphis to Columbus
- Memphis to Indianapolis
- Memphis to Sacramento
- Memphis to Oklahoma City
- Memphis to Portland
- Memphis to Louisville
- Memphis to Baltimore
- Memphis to Washington
- Memphis to Milwaukee
- Memphis to Albuquerque
- Memphis to Tucson
- Memphis to Salt Lake City
- Memphis to Minneapolis
- Memphis to Detroit
- Memphis to Cleveland
- Memphis to Pittsburgh
- Memphis to St. Louis
- Memphis to Cincinnati
- Memphis to New Orleans
- Memphis to Boise
- Memphis to Richmond
- Memphis to Birmingham
- Memphis to Omaha
- Memphis to Charleston
- Memphis to El Paso
More moves to Kansas City
- New York to Kansas City
- Los Angeles to Kansas City
- Chicago to Kansas City
- Houston to Kansas City
- Phoenix to Kansas City
- Philadelphia to Kansas City
- San Diego to Kansas City
- Dallas to Kansas City
- Austin to Kansas City
- Charlotte to Kansas City
- San Francisco to Kansas City
- Seattle to Kansas City
- Denver to Kansas City
- Nashville to Kansas City
- Atlanta to Kansas City
- Miami to Kansas City
- Boston to Kansas City
- Las Vegas to Kansas City
- Orlando to Kansas City
- Tampa to Kansas City
- Raleigh to Kansas City
- San Antonio to Kansas City
- Jacksonville to Kansas City
- Columbus to Kansas City
- Indianapolis to Kansas City
- Sacramento to Kansas City
- Oklahoma City to Kansas City
- Portland to Kansas City
- Louisville to Kansas City
- Baltimore to Kansas City
- Washington to Kansas City
- Milwaukee to Kansas City
- Albuquerque to Kansas City
- Tucson to Kansas City
- Salt Lake City to Kansas City
- Minneapolis to Kansas City
- Detroit to Kansas City
- Cleveland to Kansas City
- Pittsburgh to Kansas City
- St. Louis to Kansas City
- Cincinnati to Kansas City
- New Orleans to Kansas City
- Boise to Kansas City
- Richmond to Kansas City
- Birmingham to Kansas City
- Omaha to Kansas City
- Charleston to Kansas City
- El Paso to Kansas City