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Moving truck gas cost from Salt Lake City, UT to Washington, DC

The drive is about 2,082 miles. In a 15 to 17 ft rental truck getting around 9 MPG, fuel comes to roughly $1,016 at this week’s prices.

miles
Trip
$/ gallon

Average of Rocky Mountain 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$1,016Likely $923 to $1,128

Compare

  • 10 to 12 ft truck$831save $185
  • 20 to 22 ft truck$1,142+$127
  • Towing a car$1,195+$179
  • Round trip$2,031+$1,016

2,082 miles at 9 MPG: 231.3 gallons, $0.49 a mile. The likely range allows for fuel economy 10% better or worse.

Salt Lake CityWashington

Routes from OSRM using© OpenStreetMap contributors data

Distance
2,082 miles
Driving days
5 at 450 mi a day
Behind the wheel
About 37 hours
Gas price used
$4.390 a gallon

Fuel cost by truck size

Based on 2,082 miles, a gas price of $4.390 and a diesel price of $6.465 a gallon. Towing a car on a trailer or dolly lowers fuel economy by about 15%.

TruckMPGGallonsFuel costTowing a car
Cargo van16130$571$672
10 to 12 ft truck11189$831$978
15 to 17 ft truck9231$1,016$1,195
20 to 22 ft truck8260$1,142$1,344
26 ft truck7297$1,306$1,536
26 ft truck (diesel)8260$1,683$1,979

The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $734 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
Washington, DC$4.312$6.508Central Atlantic average

Gas runs about $0.16 a gallon cheaper around Washington, DC. Most one-way rentals are returned near Washington, 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 Washington, DC 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 Washington, DC to Salt Lake City, UT.

More moves from Salt Lake City

More moves to Washington