Moving truck gas cost from Sacramento, CA to Miami, FL

The drive is about 3,042 miles. In a 15 to 17 ft rental truck getting around 9 MPG, fuel comes to roughly $1,709 at this week’s prices.

miles
Trip
$/ gallon

Average of California and Miami 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$1,709Likely $1,553 to $1,898

Compare

  • 10 to 12 ft truck$1,398save $311
  • 20 to 22 ft truck$1,922+$214
  • Towing a car$2,010+$302
  • Round trip$3,417+$1,709

3,042 miles at 9 MPG: 338.0 gallons, $0.56 a mile. The likely range allows for fuel economy 10% better or worse.

SacramentoMiami

Routes from OSRM using© OpenStreetMap contributors data

Distance
3,042 miles
Driving days
7 at 450 mi a day
Behind the wheel
About 55 hours
Gas price used
$5.055 a gallon

Fuel cost by truck size

Based on 3,042 miles, a gas price of $5.055 and a diesel price of $6.991 a gallon. Towing a car on a trailer or dolly lowers fuel economy by about 15%.

TruckMPGGallonsFuel costTowing a car
Cargo van16190$961$1,131
10 to 12 ft truck11277$1,398$1,645
15 to 17 ft truck9338$1,709$2,010
20 to 22 ft truck8380$1,922$2,261
26 ft truck7435$2,197$2,584
26 ft truck (diesel)8380$2,658$3,127

The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $1,236 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
Sacramento, CA$6.031$8.242California average
Miami, FL$4.079$5.740Miami average

Gas runs about $1.95 a gallon cheaper around Miami, FL. Most one-way rentals are returned near Miami, 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 Sacramento, CA to Miami, FL 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 Miami, FL to Sacramento, CA.