Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 929 miles, a gas price of $5.249 and a diesel price of $7.332 a gallon. Towing a car on a trailer or dolly lowers fuel economy by about 15%.
| Truck | MPG | Gallons | Fuel cost | Towing a car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo van | 16 | 58 | $305 | $359 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 84 | $443 | $522 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 103 | $542 | $637 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 116 | $610 | $717 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 133 | $697 | $820 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 116 | $851 | $1,002 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $392 in fuel alone, so it pays to rent only as much truck as you need.
Fuel prices at each end of the move
| Where | Gas | Diesel | Price basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA | $6.031 | $8.242 | California average |
| Boise, ID | $4.468 | $6.422 | Rocky Mountain average |
Gas runs about $1.56 a gallon cheaper around Boise, ID. Most one-way rentals are returned near Boise, 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 San Diego, CA to Boise, ID a 3-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 Boise, ID to San Diego, CA.
More moves from San Diego
- San Diego to New York
- San Diego to Los Angeles
- San Diego to Chicago
- San Diego to Houston
- San Diego to Phoenix
- San Diego to Philadelphia
- San Diego to Dallas
- San Diego to Austin
- San Diego to Charlotte
- San Diego to San Francisco
- San Diego to Seattle
- San Diego to Denver
- San Diego to Nashville
- San Diego to Atlanta
- San Diego to Miami
- San Diego to Boston
- San Diego to Las Vegas
- San Diego to Orlando
- San Diego to Tampa
- San Diego to Raleigh
- San Diego to San Antonio
- San Diego to Jacksonville
- San Diego to Columbus
- San Diego to Indianapolis
- San Diego to Sacramento
- San Diego to Oklahoma City
- San Diego to Portland
- San Diego to Louisville
- San Diego to Memphis
- San Diego to Baltimore
- San Diego to Washington
- San Diego to Milwaukee
- San Diego to Albuquerque
- San Diego to Tucson
- San Diego to Kansas City
- San Diego to Salt Lake City
- San Diego to Minneapolis
- San Diego to Detroit
- San Diego to Cleveland
- San Diego to Pittsburgh
- San Diego to St. Louis
- San Diego to Cincinnati
- San Diego to New Orleans
- San Diego to Richmond
- San Diego to Birmingham
- San Diego to Omaha
- San Diego to Charleston
- San Diego to El Paso
More moves to Boise
- New York to Boise
- Los Angeles to Boise
- Chicago to Boise
- Houston to Boise
- Phoenix to Boise
- Philadelphia to Boise
- Dallas to Boise
- Austin to Boise
- Charlotte to Boise
- San Francisco to Boise
- Seattle to Boise
- Denver to Boise
- Nashville to Boise
- Atlanta to Boise
- Miami to Boise
- Boston to Boise
- Las Vegas to Boise
- Orlando to Boise
- Tampa to Boise
- Raleigh to Boise
- San Antonio to Boise
- Jacksonville to Boise
- Columbus to Boise
- Indianapolis to Boise
- Sacramento to Boise
- Oklahoma City to Boise
- Portland to Boise
- Louisville to Boise
- Memphis to Boise
- Baltimore to Boise
- Washington to Boise
- Milwaukee to Boise
- Albuquerque to Boise
- Tucson to Boise
- Kansas City to Boise
- Salt Lake City to Boise
- Minneapolis to Boise
- Detroit to Boise
- Cleveland to Boise
- Pittsburgh to Boise
- St. Louis to Boise
- Cincinnati to Boise
- New Orleans to Boise
- Richmond to Boise
- Birmingham to Boise
- Omaha to Boise
- Charleston to Boise
- El Paso to Boise