Moving truck gas cost from Portland, OR to Tucson, AZ

The drive is about 1,445 miles. In a 15 to 17 ft rental truck getting around 9 MPG, fuel comes to roughly $804 at this week’s prices.

miles
Trip
$/ gallon

Average of West Coast (excluding California) and West Coast (excluding California) 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$804Likely $731 to $893

Compare

  • 10 to 12 ft truck$658save $146
  • 20 to 22 ft truck$904+$100
  • Towing a car$946+$142
  • Round trip$1,608+$804

1,445 miles at 9 MPG: 160.6 gallons, $0.56 a mile. The likely range allows for fuel economy 10% better or worse.

PortlandTucson

Routes from OSRM using© OpenStreetMap contributors data

Distance
1,445 miles
Driving days
4 at 450 mi a day
Behind the wheel
About 27 hours
Gas price used
$5.007 a gallon

Fuel cost by truck size

Based on 1,445 miles, a gas price of $5.007 and a diesel price of $6.659 a gallon. Towing a car on a trailer or dolly lowers fuel economy by about 15%.

TruckMPGGallonsFuel costTowing a car
Cargo van1690$452$532
10 to 12 ft truck11131$658$774
15 to 17 ft truck9161$804$946
20 to 22 ft truck8181$904$1,064
26 ft truck7206$1,034$1,216
26 ft truck (diesel)8181$1,203$1,415

The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $581 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
Tucson, AZ$5.007$6.659West Coast (excluding California) average

Prices at the two ends are within a few cents of each other, so where you fill up matters less than how fast you drive.

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 Tucson, AZ 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 Tucson, AZ to Portland, OR.