PumpTally

Moving truck gas cost from Raleigh, NC to Austin, TX

The drive is about 1,326 miles. In a 15 to 17 ft rental truck getting around 9 MPG, fuel comes to roughly $557 at this week’s prices.

RaleighAustin

Routes from OSRM using© OpenStreetMap contributors data

Driving distance
1,326 miles
Time behind the wheel
About 25 hours at car speeds
Driving days in a truck
3 days at 450 miles a day
Gas price used
$3.782 a gallon

Adjust the numbers for your move

miles
Trip
MPG

Loaded rental trucks usually get 6 to 12 MPG. If the rental paperwork lists a figure for your truck, use that.

$/ gallon

Starts halfway between Lower Atlantic and Texas prices from EIA for the week of October 19, 2026. Change it to what you pay.

Fuel cost$557.21
Gallons147.3
Per mile$0.42

1,326 miles at 9 MPG

Fuel cost by truck size

Based on 1,326 miles, a gas price of $3.782 and a diesel price of $5.822 a gallon. Towing a car on a trailer or dolly lowers fuel economy by about 15%.

TruckMPGGallonsFuel costTowing a car
Cargo van1683$313$369
10 to 12 ft truck11121$456$536
15 to 17 ft truck9147$557$656
20 to 22 ft truck8166$627$737
26 ft truck7189$716$843
26 ft truck (diesel)8166$965$1,135

The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $403 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
Raleigh, NC$3.860$5.740Lower Atlantic average
Austin, TX$3.704$5.903Texas average

Gas runs about $0.16 a gallon cheaper around Austin, TX. Most one-way rentals are returned near Austin, 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 Raleigh, NC to Austin, TX 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 Austin, TX to Raleigh, NC.