Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 1,216 miles, a gas price of $4.112 and a diesel price of $6.046 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 | 76 | $313 | $368 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 111 | $455 | $535 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 135 | $556 | $654 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 152 | $625 | $735 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 174 | $714 | $840 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 152 | $919 | $1,081 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $402 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | $4.079 | $5.740 | Miami average |
| St. Louis, 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 Miami, FL to St. Louis, MO a 3-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 St. Louis, MO to Miami, FL.
More moves from Miami
- Miami to New York
- Miami to Los Angeles
- Miami to Chicago
- Miami to Houston
- Miami to Phoenix
- Miami to Philadelphia
- Miami to San Diego
- Miami to Dallas
- Miami to Austin
- Miami to Charlotte
- Miami to San Francisco
- Miami to Seattle
- Miami to Denver
- Miami to Nashville
- Miami to Atlanta
- Miami to Boston
- Miami to Las Vegas
- Miami to Orlando
- Miami to Tampa
- Miami to Raleigh
- Miami to San Antonio
- Miami to Jacksonville
- Miami to Columbus
- Miami to Indianapolis
- Miami to Sacramento
- Miami to Oklahoma City
- Miami to Portland
- Miami to Louisville
- Miami to Memphis
- Miami to Baltimore
- Miami to Washington
- Miami to Milwaukee
- Miami to Albuquerque
- Miami to Tucson
- Miami to Kansas City
- Miami to Salt Lake City
- Miami to Minneapolis
- Miami to Detroit
- Miami to Cleveland
- Miami to Pittsburgh
- Miami to Cincinnati
- Miami to New Orleans
- Miami to Boise
- Miami to Richmond
- Miami to Birmingham
- Miami to Omaha
- Miami to Charleston
- Miami to El Paso
More moves to St. Louis
- New York to St. Louis
- Los Angeles to St. Louis
- Chicago to St. Louis
- Houston to St. Louis
- Phoenix to St. Louis
- Philadelphia to St. Louis
- San Diego to St. Louis
- Dallas to St. Louis
- Austin to St. Louis
- Charlotte to St. Louis
- San Francisco to St. Louis
- Seattle to St. Louis
- Denver to St. Louis
- Nashville to St. Louis
- Atlanta to St. Louis
- Boston to St. Louis
- Las Vegas to St. Louis
- Orlando to St. Louis
- Tampa to St. Louis
- Raleigh to St. Louis
- San Antonio to St. Louis
- Jacksonville to St. Louis
- Columbus to St. Louis
- Indianapolis to St. Louis
- Sacramento to St. Louis
- Oklahoma City to St. Louis
- Portland to St. Louis
- Louisville to St. Louis
- Memphis to St. Louis
- Baltimore to St. Louis
- Washington to St. Louis
- Milwaukee to St. Louis
- Albuquerque to St. Louis
- Tucson to St. Louis
- Kansas City to St. Louis
- Salt Lake City to St. Louis
- Minneapolis to St. Louis
- Detroit to St. Louis
- Cleveland to St. Louis
- Pittsburgh to St. Louis
- Cincinnati to St. Louis
- New Orleans to St. Louis
- Boise to St. Louis
- Richmond to St. Louis
- Birmingham to St. Louis
- Omaha to St. Louis
- Charleston to St. Louis
- El Paso to St. Louis