Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 1,392 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%.
| Truck | MPG | Gallons | Fuel cost | Towing a car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo van | 16 | 87 | $329 | $387 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 127 | $479 | $563 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 155 | $585 | $688 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 174 | $658 | $774 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 199 | $752 | $885 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 174 | $1,013 | $1,192 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $423 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | $3.860 | $5.740 | Lower Atlantic average |
| San Antonio, TX | $3.704 | $5.903 | Texas average |
Gas runs about $0.16 a gallon cheaper around San Antonio, TX. Most one-way rentals are returned near San Antonio, 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 San Antonio, TX 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 San Antonio, TX to Raleigh, NC.
More moves from Raleigh
- Raleigh to New York
- Raleigh to Los Angeles
- Raleigh to Chicago
- Raleigh to Houston
- Raleigh to Phoenix
- Raleigh to Philadelphia
- Raleigh to San Diego
- Raleigh to Dallas
- Raleigh to Austin
- Raleigh to Charlotte
- Raleigh to San Francisco
- Raleigh to Seattle
- Raleigh to Denver
- Raleigh to Nashville
- Raleigh to Atlanta
- Raleigh to Miami
- Raleigh to Boston
- Raleigh to Las Vegas
- Raleigh to Orlando
- Raleigh to Tampa
- Raleigh to Jacksonville
- Raleigh to Columbus
- Raleigh to Indianapolis
- Raleigh to Sacramento
- Raleigh to Oklahoma City
- Raleigh to Portland
- Raleigh to Louisville
- Raleigh to Memphis
- Raleigh to Baltimore
- Raleigh to Washington
- Raleigh to Milwaukee
- Raleigh to Albuquerque
- Raleigh to Tucson
- Raleigh to Kansas City
- Raleigh to Salt Lake City
- Raleigh to Minneapolis
- Raleigh to Detroit
- Raleigh to Cleveland
- Raleigh to Pittsburgh
- Raleigh to St. Louis
- Raleigh to Cincinnati
- Raleigh to New Orleans
- Raleigh to Boise
- Raleigh to Richmond
- Raleigh to Birmingham
- Raleigh to Omaha
- Raleigh to Charleston
- Raleigh to El Paso
More moves to San Antonio
- New York to San Antonio
- Los Angeles to San Antonio
- Chicago to San Antonio
- Houston to San Antonio
- Phoenix to San Antonio
- Philadelphia to San Antonio
- San Diego to San Antonio
- Dallas to San Antonio
- Austin to San Antonio
- Charlotte to San Antonio
- San Francisco to San Antonio
- Seattle to San Antonio
- Denver to San Antonio
- Nashville to San Antonio
- Atlanta to San Antonio
- Miami to San Antonio
- Boston to San Antonio
- Las Vegas to San Antonio
- Orlando to San Antonio
- Tampa to San Antonio
- Jacksonville to San Antonio
- Columbus to San Antonio
- Indianapolis to San Antonio
- Sacramento to San Antonio
- Oklahoma City to San Antonio
- Portland to San Antonio
- Louisville to San Antonio
- Memphis to San Antonio
- Baltimore to San Antonio
- Washington to San Antonio
- Milwaukee to San Antonio
- Albuquerque to San Antonio
- Tucson to San Antonio
- Kansas City to San Antonio
- Salt Lake City to San Antonio
- Minneapolis to San Antonio
- Detroit to San Antonio
- Cleveland to San Antonio
- Pittsburgh to San Antonio
- St. Louis to San Antonio
- Cincinnati to San Antonio
- New Orleans to San Antonio
- Boise to San Antonio
- Richmond to San Antonio
- Birmingham to San Antonio
- Omaha to San Antonio
- Charleston to San Antonio
- El Paso to San Antonio