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Moving truck gas cost from Salt Lake City, UT to Charleston, SC

The drive is about 2,180 miles. In a 15 to 17 ft rental truck getting around 9 MPG, fuel comes to roughly $1,009 at this week’s prices.

miles
Trip
$/ gallon

Average of Rocky Mountain and Lower 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$1,009Likely $917 to $1,121

Compare

  • 10 to 12 ft truck$825save $183
  • 20 to 22 ft truck$1,135+$126
  • Towing a car$1,187+$178
  • Round trip$2,017+$1,009

2,180 miles at 9 MPG: 242.2 gallons, $0.46 a mile. The likely range allows for fuel economy 10% better or worse.

Salt Lake CityCharleston

Routes from OSRM using© OpenStreetMap contributors data

Distance
2,180 miles
Driving days
5 at 450 mi a day
Behind the wheel
About 39 hours
Gas price used
$4.164 a gallon

Fuel cost by truck size

Based on 2,180 miles, a gas price of $4.164 and a diesel price of $6.081 a gallon. Towing a car on a trailer or dolly lowers fuel economy by about 15%.

TruckMPGGallonsFuel costTowing a car
Cargo van16136$567$667
10 to 12 ft truck11198$825$971
15 to 17 ft truck9242$1,009$1,187
20 to 22 ft truck8273$1,135$1,335
26 ft truck7311$1,297$1,526
26 ft truck (diesel)8273$1,657$1,949

The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $729 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
Salt Lake City, UT$4.468$6.422Rocky Mountain average
Charleston, SC$3.860$5.740Lower Atlantic average

Gas runs about $0.61 a gallon cheaper around Charleston, SC. Most one-way rentals are returned near Charleston, 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 Salt Lake City, UT to Charleston, SC a 5-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 Charleston, SC to Salt Lake City, UT.

More moves from Salt Lake City

More moves to Charleston