Moving truck gas cost from Omaha, NE to Birmingham, AL

The drive is about 870 miles. In a 15 to 17 ft rental truck getting around 9 MPG, fuel comes to roughly $383 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$383Likely $348 to $426

Compare

  • 10 to 12 ft truck$314save $70
  • 20 to 22 ft truck$431+$48
  • Towing a car$451+$68
  • Round trip$766+$383

870 miles at 9 MPG: 96.7 gallons, $0.44 a mile. The likely range allows for fuel economy 10% better or worse.

OmahaBirmingham

Routes from OSRM using© OpenStreetMap contributors data

Distance
870 miles
Driving days
2 at 450 mi a day
Behind the wheel
About 17 hours
Gas price used
$3.964 a gallon

Fuel cost by truck size

Based on 870 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 van1654$216$254
10 to 12 ft truck1179$314$369
15 to 17 ft truck997$383$451
20 to 22 ft truck8109$431$507
26 ft truck7124$493$580
26 ft truck (diesel)8109$666$784

The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $277 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
Omaha, NE$4.145$6.352Midwest average
Birmingham, AL$3.784$5.903Gulf Coast average

Gas runs about $0.36 a gallon cheaper around Birmingham, AL. Most one-way rentals are returned near Birmingham, 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 Omaha, NE to Birmingham, AL 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 Birmingham, AL to Omaha, NE.