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%.
| Truck | MPG | Gallons | Fuel cost | Towing a car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo van | 16 | 144 | $660 | $776 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 210 | $960 | $1,129 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 256 | $1,173 | $1,380 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 288 | $1,320 | $1,552 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 330 | $1,508 | $1,774 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 288 | $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
| Where | Gas | Diesel | Price basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, OR | $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 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.
More moves from Portland
- Portland to New York
- Portland to Los Angeles
- Portland to Chicago
- Portland to Houston
- Portland to Phoenix
- Portland to Philadelphia
- Portland to San Diego
- Portland to Dallas
- Portland to Austin
- Portland to Charlotte
- Portland to San Francisco
- Portland to Seattle
- Portland to Denver
- Portland to Nashville
- Portland to Atlanta
- Portland to Miami
- Portland to Boston
- Portland to Las Vegas
- Portland to Orlando
- Portland to Tampa
- Portland to Raleigh
- Portland to San Antonio
- Portland to Jacksonville
- Portland to Columbus
- Portland to Indianapolis
- Portland to Sacramento
- Portland to Oklahoma City
- Portland to Memphis
- Portland to Baltimore
- Portland to Washington
- Portland to Milwaukee
- Portland to Albuquerque
- Portland to Tucson
- Portland to Kansas City
- Portland to Salt Lake City
- Portland to Minneapolis
- Portland to Detroit
- Portland to Cleveland
- Portland to Pittsburgh
- Portland to St. Louis
- Portland to Cincinnati
- Portland to New Orleans
- Portland to Boise
- Portland to Richmond
- Portland to Birmingham
- Portland to Omaha
- Portland to Charleston
- Portland to El Paso
More moves to Louisville
- New York to Louisville
- Los Angeles to Louisville
- Chicago to Louisville
- Houston to Louisville
- Phoenix 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
- 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