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Moving truck gas cost from Pittsburgh, PA to Columbus, OH

The drive is about 185 miles. In a 15 to 17 ft rental truck getting around 9 MPG, fuel comes to roughly $86 at this week’s prices.

miles
Trip
$/ gallon

Average of Central Atlantic and Ohio 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$86Likely $78 to $95

Compare

  • 10 to 12 ft truck$70save $16
  • 20 to 22 ft truck$97+$11
  • Towing a car$101+$15
  • Round trip$172+$86

185 miles at 9 MPG: 20.6 gallons, $0.46 a mile. The likely range allows for fuel economy 10% better or worse.

PittsburghColumbus

Routes from OSRM using© OpenStreetMap contributors data

Distance
185 miles
Driving days
1 at 450 mi a day
Behind the wheel
About 4 hours
Gas price used
$4.181 a gallon

Fuel cost by truck size

Based on 185 miles, a gas price of $4.181 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 van1612$48$57
10 to 12 ft truck1117$70$83
15 to 17 ft truck921$86$101
20 to 22 ft truck823$97$114
26 ft truck726$110$130
26 ft truck (diesel)823$149$175

The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $62 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
Pittsburgh, PA$4.312$6.508Central Atlantic average
Columbus, OH$4.049$6.352Ohio average

Gas runs about $0.26 a gallon cheaper around Columbus, OH. Most one-way rentals are returned near Columbus, 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 Pittsburgh, PA to Columbus, 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 Columbus, OH to Pittsburgh, PA.

More moves from Pittsburgh

More moves to Columbus