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Moving truck gas cost from Pittsburgh, PA to Tampa, FL

The drive is about 1,024 miles. In a 15 to 17 ft rental truck getting around 9 MPG, fuel comes to roughly $472 at this week’s prices.

miles
Trip
$/ gallon

Average of Central Atlantic and Florida 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$472Likely $429 to $524

Compare

  • 10 to 12 ft truck$386save $86
  • 20 to 22 ft truck$531+$59
  • Towing a car$555+$83
  • Round trip$944+$472

1,024 miles at 9 MPG: 113.8 gallons, $0.46 a mile. The likely range allows for fuel economy 10% better or worse.

PittsburghTampa

Routes from OSRM using© OpenStreetMap contributors data

Distance
1,024 miles
Driving days
3 at 450 mi a day
Behind the wheel
About 19 hours
Gas price used
$4.147 a gallon

Fuel cost by truck size

Based on 1,024 miles, a gas price of $4.147 and a diesel price of $6.124 a gallon. Towing a car on a trailer or dolly lowers fuel economy by about 15%.

TruckMPGGallonsFuel costTowing a car
Cargo van1664$265$312
10 to 12 ft truck1193$386$454
15 to 17 ft truck9114$472$555
20 to 22 ft truck8128$531$624
26 ft truck7146$607$714
26 ft truck (diesel)8128$784$922

The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $341 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
Tampa, FL$3.981$5.740Florida average

Gas runs about $0.33 a gallon cheaper around Tampa, FL. Most one-way rentals are returned near Tampa, 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 Tampa, FL a 3-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 Tampa, FL to Pittsburgh, PA.

More moves from Pittsburgh

More moves to Tampa