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Moving truck gas cost from Portland, OR to Washington, DC

The drive is about 2,807 miles. In a 15 to 17 ft rental truck getting around 9 MPG, fuel comes to roughly $1,453 at this week’s prices.

miles
Trip
$/ gallon

Average of West Coast (excluding California) and Central Atlantic 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$1,453Likely $1,321 to $1,615

Compare

  • 10 to 12 ft truck$1,189save $264
  • 20 to 22 ft truck$1,635+$182
  • Towing a car$1,710+$256
  • Round trip$2,906+$1,453

2,807 miles at 9 MPG: 311.9 gallons, $0.52 a mile. The likely range allows for fuel economy 10% better or worse.

PortlandWashington

Routes from OSRM using© OpenStreetMap contributors data

Distance
2,807 miles
Driving days
7 at 450 mi a day
Behind the wheel
About 49 hours
Gas price used
$4.659 a gallon

Fuel cost by truck size

Based on 2,807 miles, a gas price of $4.659 and a diesel price of $6.584 a gallon. Towing a car on a trailer or dolly lowers fuel economy by about 15%.

TruckMPGGallonsFuel costTowing a car
Cargo van16175$817$962
10 to 12 ft truck11255$1,189$1,399
15 to 17 ft truck9312$1,453$1,710
20 to 22 ft truck8351$1,635$1,923
26 ft truck7401$1,868$2,198
26 ft truck (diesel)8351$2,310$2,718

The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $1,051 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
Washington, DC$4.312$6.508Central Atlantic average

Gas runs about $0.69 a gallon cheaper around Washington, DC. Most one-way rentals are returned near Washington, 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 Washington, DC a 7-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 Washington, DC to Portland, OR.

More moves from Portland

More moves to Washington