PumpTally

Moving truck gas cost from San Diego, CA to Los Angeles, CA

The drive is about 120 miles. In a 15 to 17 ft rental truck getting around 9 MPG, fuel comes to roughly $80 at this week’s prices.

San DiegoLos Angeles

Routes from OSRM using© OpenStreetMap contributors data

Driving distance
120 miles
Time behind the wheel
About 2 hours at car speeds
Driving days in a truck
1 day at 450 miles a day
Gas price used
$6.026 a gallon

Adjust the numbers for your move

miles
Trip
MPG

Loaded rental trucks usually get 6 to 12 MPG. If the rental paperwork lists a figure for your truck, use that.

$/ gallon

Starts halfway between California and Los Angeles prices from EIA for the week of October 19, 2026. Change it to what you pay.

Fuel cost$80.35
Gallons13.3
Per mile$0.67

120 miles at 9 MPG

Fuel cost by truck size

Based on 120 miles, a gas price of $6.026 and a diesel price of $8.242 a gallon. Towing a car on a trailer or dolly lowers fuel economy by about 15%.

TruckMPGGallonsFuel costTowing a car
Cargo van168$45$53
10 to 12 ft truck1111$66$77
15 to 17 ft truck913$80$95
20 to 22 ft truck815$90$106
26 ft truck717$103$122
26 ft truck (diesel)815$124$145

The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $58 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
San Diego, CA$6.031$8.242California average
Los Angeles, CA$6.021$8.242Los Angeles average

Prices at the two ends are within a few cents of each other, so where you fill up matters less than how fast you drive.

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 Los Angeles, CA a one-day drive. The rental itself and any per-mile fees are charged separately from fuel.

Other moves

Going the other way? See Los Angeles, CA to San Diego, CA.