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Moving truck gas cost from Sacramento, CA to Pittsburgh, PA

The drive is about 2,494 miles. In a 15 to 17 ft rental truck getting around 9 MPG, fuel comes to roughly $1,433 at this week’s prices.

miles
Trip
$/ gallon

Average of 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$1,433Likely $1,303 to $1,592

Compare

  • 10 to 12 ft truck$1,173save $261
  • 20 to 22 ft truck$1,612+$179
  • Towing a car$1,686+$253
  • Round trip$2,866+$1,433

2,494 miles at 9 MPG: 277.1 gallons, $0.57 a mile. The likely range allows for fuel economy 10% better or worse.

SacramentoPittsburgh

Routes from OSRM using© OpenStreetMap contributors data

Distance
2,494 miles
Driving days
6 at 450 mi a day
Behind the wheel
About 43 hours
Gas price used
$5.172 a gallon

Fuel cost by truck size

Based on 2,494 miles, a gas price of $5.172 and a diesel price of $7.375 a gallon. Towing a car on a trailer or dolly lowers fuel economy by about 15%.

TruckMPGGallonsFuel costTowing a car
Cargo van16156$806$948
10 to 12 ft truck11227$1,173$1,380
15 to 17 ft truck9277$1,433$1,686
20 to 22 ft truck8312$1,612$1,897
26 ft truck7356$1,843$2,168
26 ft truck (diesel)8312$2,299$2,705

The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $1,037 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
Pittsburgh, PA$4.312$6.508Central Atlantic average

Gas runs about $1.72 a gallon cheaper around Pittsburgh, PA. Most one-way rentals are returned near Pittsburgh, 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 Pittsburgh, PA a 6-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 Pittsburgh, PA to Sacramento, CA.

More moves from Sacramento

More moves to Pittsburgh