Moving truck gas cost from Philadelphia, PA to El Paso, TX

The drive is about 2,101 miles. In a 15 to 17 ft rental truck getting around 9 MPG, fuel comes to roughly $936 at this week’s prices.

miles
Trip
$/ gallon

Average of Central Atlantic and Texas 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$936Likely $851 to $1,040

Compare

  • 10 to 12 ft truck$766save $170
  • 20 to 22 ft truck$1,053+$117
  • Towing a car$1,101+$165
  • Round trip$1,871+$936

2,101 miles at 9 MPG: 233.4 gallons, $0.45 a mile. The likely range allows for fuel economy 10% better or worse.

PhiladelphiaEl Paso

Routes from OSRM using© OpenStreetMap contributors data

Distance
2,101 miles
Driving days
5 at 450 mi a day
Behind the wheel
About 37 hours
Gas price used
$4.008 a gallon

Fuel cost by truck size

Based on 2,101 miles, a gas price of $4.008 and a diesel price of $6.206 a gallon. Towing a car on a trailer or dolly lowers fuel economy by about 15%.

TruckMPGGallonsFuel costTowing a car
Cargo van16131$526$619
10 to 12 ft truck11191$766$901
15 to 17 ft truck9233$936$1,101
20 to 22 ft truck8263$1,053$1,238
26 ft truck7300$1,203$1,415
26 ft truck (diesel)8263$1,630$1,917

The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $677 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
El Paso, TX$3.704$5.903Texas average

Gas runs about $0.61 a gallon cheaper around El Paso, TX. Most one-way rentals are returned near El Paso, 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 El Paso, TX a 5-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 El Paso, TX to Philadelphia, PA.