Moving truck gas cost from Philadelphia, PA to Cleveland, OH

The drive is about 432 miles. In a 15 to 17 ft rental truck getting around 9 MPG, fuel comes to roughly $202 at this week’s prices.

miles
Trip
$/ gallon

Average of Central Atlantic and Cleveland 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$202Likely $183 to $224

Compare

  • 10 to 12 ft truck$165save $37
  • 20 to 22 ft truck$227+$25
  • Towing a car$237+$36
  • Round trip$403+$202

432 miles at 9 MPG: 48.0 gallons, $0.47 a mile. The likely range allows for fuel economy 10% better or worse.

PhiladelphiaCleveland

Routes from OSRM using© OpenStreetMap contributors data

Distance
432 miles
Driving days
1 at 450 mi a day
Behind the wheel
About 8 hours
Gas price used
$4.201 a gallon

Fuel cost by truck size

Based on 432 miles, a gas price of $4.201 and a diesel price of $6.430 a gallon. Towing a car on a trailer or dolly lowers fuel economy by about 15%.

TruckMPGGallonsFuel costTowing a car
Cargo van1627$113$133
10 to 12 ft truck1139$165$194
15 to 17 ft truck948$202$237
20 to 22 ft truck854$227$267
26 ft truck762$259$305
26 ft truck (diesel)854$347$408

The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $146 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
Philadelphia, PA$4.312$6.508Central Atlantic average
Cleveland, OH$4.090$6.352Cleveland average

Gas runs about $0.22 a gallon cheaper around Cleveland, OH. Most one-way rentals are returned near Cleveland, 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 Philadelphia, PA to Cleveland, OH a one-day drive. The rental itself and any per-mile fees are charged separately from fuel.

Other moves

Going the other way? See Cleveland, OH to Philadelphia, PA.