Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 693 miles, a gas price of $4.163 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 | 43 | $180 | $212 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 63 | $262 | $309 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 77 | $321 | $377 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 87 | $361 | $424 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 99 | $412 | $485 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 87 | $550 | $647 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $232 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | $4.180 | $6.352 | Minnesota 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 Minneapolis, MN to Detroit, MI 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 Detroit, MI to Minneapolis, MN.
More moves from Minneapolis
- Minneapolis to New York
- Minneapolis to Los Angeles
- Minneapolis to Chicago
- Minneapolis to Houston
- Minneapolis to Phoenix
- Minneapolis to Philadelphia
- Minneapolis to San Diego
- Minneapolis to Dallas
- Minneapolis to Austin
- Minneapolis to Charlotte
- Minneapolis to San Francisco
- Minneapolis to Seattle
- Minneapolis to Denver
- Minneapolis to Nashville
- Minneapolis to Atlanta
- Minneapolis to Miami
- Minneapolis to Boston
- Minneapolis to Las Vegas
- Minneapolis to Orlando
- Minneapolis to Tampa
- Minneapolis to Raleigh
- Minneapolis to San Antonio
- Minneapolis to Jacksonville
- Minneapolis to Columbus
- Minneapolis to Indianapolis
- Minneapolis to Sacramento
- Minneapolis to Oklahoma City
- Minneapolis to Portland
- Minneapolis to Louisville
- Minneapolis to Memphis
- Minneapolis to Baltimore
- Minneapolis to Washington
- Minneapolis to Milwaukee
- Minneapolis to Albuquerque
- Minneapolis to Tucson
- Minneapolis to Kansas City
- Minneapolis to Salt Lake City
- Minneapolis to Cleveland
- Minneapolis to Pittsburgh
- Minneapolis to St. Louis
- Minneapolis to Cincinnati
- Minneapolis to New Orleans
- Minneapolis to Boise
- Minneapolis to Richmond
- Minneapolis to Birmingham
- Minneapolis to Omaha
- Minneapolis to Charleston
- Minneapolis 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
- Louisville 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
- 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