Moving truck gas cost from Salt Lake City, UT to Phoenix, AZ

The drive is about 662 miles. In a 15 to 17 ft rental truck getting around 9 MPG, fuel comes to roughly $349 at this week’s prices.

miles
Trip
$/ gallon

Average of Rocky Mountain and West Coast (excluding California) 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$349Likely $317 to $387

Compare

  • 10 to 12 ft truck$285save $63
  • 20 to 22 ft truck$392+$44
  • Towing a car$410+$62
  • Round trip$697+$349

662 miles at 9 MPG: 73.6 gallons, $0.53 a mile. The likely range allows for fuel economy 10% better or worse.

Salt Lake CityPhoenix

Routes from OSRM using© OpenStreetMap contributors data

Distance
662 miles
Driving days
2 at 450 mi a day
Behind the wheel
About 12 hours
Gas price used
$4.738 a gallon

Fuel cost by truck size

Based on 662 miles, a gas price of $4.738 and a diesel price of $6.541 a gallon. Towing a car on a trailer or dolly lowers fuel economy by about 15%.

TruckMPGGallonsFuel costTowing a car
Cargo van1641$196$231
10 to 12 ft truck1160$285$335
15 to 17 ft truck974$349$410
20 to 22 ft truck883$392$461
26 ft truck795$448$527
26 ft truck (diesel)883$541$637

The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $252 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
Phoenix, AZ$5.007$6.659West Coast (excluding California) average

Gas runs about $0.54 a gallon cheaper around Salt Lake City, UT. Fill the tank before you leave Salt Lake City and stretch it as far as you safely can.

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 Phoenix, AZ a 2-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 Phoenix, AZ to Salt Lake City, UT.