Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 1,719 miles, a gas price of $4.576 and a diesel price of $6.506 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 | 107 | $492 | $578 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 156 | $715 | $841 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 191 | $874 | $1,028 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 215 | $983 | $1,157 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 246 | $1,124 | $1,322 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 215 | $1,398 | $1,645 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $632 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | $5.007 | $6.659 | West Coast (excluding California) average |
| Louisville, KY | $4.145 | $6.352 | Midwest average |
Gas runs about $0.86 a gallon cheaper around Louisville, KY. Most one-way rentals are returned near Louisville, 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 Phoenix, AZ to Louisville, KY a 4-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 Louisville, KY to Phoenix, AZ.
More moves from Phoenix
- Phoenix to New York
- Phoenix to Los Angeles
- Phoenix to Chicago
- Phoenix to Houston
- Phoenix to Philadelphia
- Phoenix to San Diego
- Phoenix to Dallas
- Phoenix to Austin
- Phoenix to Charlotte
- Phoenix to San Francisco
- Phoenix to Seattle
- Phoenix to Denver
- Phoenix to Nashville
- Phoenix to Atlanta
- Phoenix to Miami
- Phoenix to Boston
- Phoenix to Las Vegas
- Phoenix to Orlando
- Phoenix to Tampa
- Phoenix to Raleigh
- Phoenix to San Antonio
- Phoenix to Jacksonville
- Phoenix to Columbus
- Phoenix to Indianapolis
- Phoenix to Sacramento
- Phoenix to Oklahoma City
- Phoenix to Portland
- Phoenix to Memphis
- Phoenix to Baltimore
- Phoenix to Washington
- Phoenix to Milwaukee
- Phoenix to Albuquerque
- Phoenix to Tucson
- Phoenix to Kansas City
- Phoenix to Salt Lake City
- Phoenix to Minneapolis
- Phoenix to Detroit
- Phoenix to Cleveland
- Phoenix to Pittsburgh
- Phoenix to St. Louis
- Phoenix to Cincinnati
- Phoenix to New Orleans
- Phoenix to Boise
- Phoenix to Richmond
- Phoenix to Birmingham
- Phoenix to Omaha
- Phoenix to Charleston
- Phoenix to El Paso
More moves to Louisville
- New York to Louisville
- Los Angeles to Louisville
- Chicago to Louisville
- Houston to Louisville
- Philadelphia to Louisville
- San Diego to Louisville
- Dallas to Louisville
- Austin to Louisville
- Charlotte to Louisville
- San Francisco to Louisville
- Seattle to Louisville
- Denver to Louisville
- Nashville to Louisville
- Atlanta to Louisville
- Miami to Louisville
- Boston to Louisville
- Las Vegas to Louisville
- Orlando to Louisville
- Tampa to Louisville
- Raleigh to Louisville
- San Antonio to Louisville
- Jacksonville to Louisville
- Columbus to Louisville
- Indianapolis to Louisville
- Sacramento to Louisville
- Oklahoma City to Louisville
- Portland to Louisville
- Memphis to Louisville
- Baltimore to Louisville
- Washington to Louisville
- Milwaukee to Louisville
- Albuquerque to Louisville
- Tucson to Louisville
- Kansas City to Louisville
- Salt Lake City to Louisville
- Minneapolis to Louisville
- Detroit to Louisville
- Cleveland to Louisville
- Pittsburgh to Louisville
- St. Louis to Louisville
- Cincinnati to Louisville
- New Orleans to Louisville
- Boise to Louisville
- Richmond to Louisville
- Birmingham to Louisville
- Omaha to Louisville
- Charleston to Louisville
- El Paso to Louisville