Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 469 miles, a gas price of $3.822 and a diesel price of $5.822 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 | 29 | $112 | $132 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 43 | $163 | $192 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 52 | $199 | $234 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 59 | $224 | $264 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 67 | $256 | $301 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 59 | $341 | $402 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $144 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | $3.784 | $5.903 | Gulf Coast average |
| Atlanta, GA | $3.860 | $5.740 | Lower Atlantic 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 New Orleans, LA to Atlanta, GA 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 Atlanta, GA to New Orleans, LA.
More moves from New Orleans
- New Orleans to New York
- New Orleans to Los Angeles
- New Orleans to Chicago
- New Orleans to Houston
- New Orleans to Phoenix
- New Orleans to Philadelphia
- New Orleans to San Diego
- New Orleans to Dallas
- New Orleans to Austin
- New Orleans to Charlotte
- New Orleans to San Francisco
- New Orleans to Seattle
- New Orleans to Denver
- New Orleans to Nashville
- New Orleans to Miami
- New Orleans to Boston
- New Orleans to Las Vegas
- New Orleans to Orlando
- New Orleans to Tampa
- New Orleans to Raleigh
- New Orleans to San Antonio
- New Orleans to Jacksonville
- New Orleans to Columbus
- New Orleans to Indianapolis
- New Orleans to Sacramento
- New Orleans to Oklahoma City
- New Orleans to Portland
- New Orleans to Louisville
- New Orleans to Memphis
- New Orleans to Baltimore
- New Orleans to Washington
- New Orleans to Milwaukee
- New Orleans to Albuquerque
- New Orleans to Tucson
- New Orleans to Kansas City
- New Orleans to Salt Lake City
- New Orleans to Minneapolis
- New Orleans to Detroit
- New Orleans to Cleveland
- New Orleans to Pittsburgh
- New Orleans to St. Louis
- New Orleans to Cincinnati
- New Orleans to Boise
- New Orleans to Richmond
- New Orleans to Birmingham
- New Orleans to Omaha
- New Orleans to Charleston
- New Orleans to El Paso
More moves to Atlanta
- New York to Atlanta
- Los Angeles to Atlanta
- Chicago to Atlanta
- Houston to Atlanta
- Phoenix to Atlanta
- Philadelphia to Atlanta
- San Diego to Atlanta
- Dallas to Atlanta
- Austin to Atlanta
- Charlotte to Atlanta
- San Francisco to Atlanta
- Seattle to Atlanta
- Denver to Atlanta
- Nashville to Atlanta
- Miami to Atlanta
- Boston to Atlanta
- Las Vegas to Atlanta
- Orlando to Atlanta
- Tampa to Atlanta
- Raleigh to Atlanta
- San Antonio to Atlanta
- Jacksonville to Atlanta
- Columbus to Atlanta
- Indianapolis to Atlanta
- Sacramento to Atlanta
- Oklahoma City to Atlanta
- Portland to Atlanta
- Louisville to Atlanta
- Memphis to Atlanta
- Baltimore to Atlanta
- Washington to Atlanta
- Milwaukee to Atlanta
- Albuquerque to Atlanta
- Tucson to Atlanta
- Kansas City to Atlanta
- Salt Lake City to Atlanta
- Minneapolis to Atlanta
- Detroit to Atlanta
- Cleveland to Atlanta
- Pittsburgh to Atlanta
- St. Louis to Atlanta
- Cincinnati to Atlanta
- Boise to Atlanta
- Richmond to Atlanta
- Birmingham to Atlanta
- Omaha to Atlanta
- Charleston to Atlanta
- El Paso to Atlanta