Moving truck gas cost from Portland, OR to Louisville, KY

The drive is about 2,307 miles. In a 15 to 17 ft rental truck getting around 9 MPG, fuel comes to roughly $1,173 at this week’s prices.

miles
Trip
$/ gallon

Average of West Coast (excluding California) and Midwest 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$1,173Likely $1,066 to $1,303

Compare

  • 10 to 12 ft truck$960save $213
  • 20 to 22 ft truck$1,320+$147
  • Towing a car$1,380+$207
  • Round trip$2,346+$1,173

2,307 miles at 9 MPG: 256.3 gallons, $0.51 a mile. The likely range allows for fuel economy 10% better or worse.

PortlandLouisville

Routes from OSRM using© OpenStreetMap contributors data

Distance
2,307 miles
Driving days
6 at 450 mi a day
Behind the wheel
About 40 hours
Gas price used
$4.576 a gallon

Fuel cost by truck size

Based on 2,307 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%.

TruckMPGGallonsFuel costTowing a car
Cargo van16144$660$776
10 to 12 ft truck11210$960$1,129
15 to 17 ft truck9256$1,173$1,380
20 to 22 ft truck8288$1,320$1,552
26 ft truck7330$1,508$1,774
26 ft truck (diesel)8288$1,876$2,207

The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $848 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
Portland, OR$5.007$6.659West Coast (excluding California) average
Louisville, KY$4.145$6.352Midwest 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 Portland, OR to Louisville, KY a 6-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 Portland, OR.