Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 640 miles, a gas price of $5.235 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 | 40 | $209 | $246 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 58 | $305 | $358 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 71 | $372 | $438 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 80 | $419 | $493 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 91 | $479 | $563 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 80 | $587 | $690 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $269 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 Francisco, CA | $6.001 | $8.242 | San Francisco average |
| Boise, ID | $4.468 | $6.422 | Rocky Mountain average |
Gas runs about $1.53 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 Francisco, CA to Boise, ID 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 Boise, ID to San Francisco, CA.
More moves from San Francisco
- San Francisco to New York
- San Francisco to Los Angeles
- San Francisco to Chicago
- San Francisco to Houston
- San Francisco to Phoenix
- San Francisco to Philadelphia
- San Francisco to San Diego
- San Francisco to Dallas
- San Francisco to Austin
- San Francisco to Charlotte
- San Francisco to Seattle
- San Francisco to Denver
- San Francisco to Nashville
- San Francisco to Atlanta
- San Francisco to Miami
- San Francisco to Boston
- San Francisco to Las Vegas
- San Francisco to Orlando
- San Francisco to Tampa
- San Francisco to Raleigh
- San Francisco to San Antonio
- San Francisco to Jacksonville
- San Francisco to Columbus
- San Francisco to Indianapolis
- San Francisco to Sacramento
- San Francisco to Oklahoma City
- San Francisco to Portland
- San Francisco to Louisville
- San Francisco to Memphis
- San Francisco to Baltimore
- San Francisco to Washington
- San Francisco to Milwaukee
- San Francisco to Albuquerque
- San Francisco to Tucson
- San Francisco to Kansas City
- San Francisco to Salt Lake City
- San Francisco to Minneapolis
- San Francisco to Detroit
- San Francisco to Cleveland
- San Francisco to Pittsburgh
- San Francisco to St. Louis
- San Francisco to Cincinnati
- San Francisco to New Orleans
- San Francisco to Richmond
- San Francisco to Birmingham
- San Francisco to Omaha
- San Francisco to Charleston
- San Francisco 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
- San Diego to Boise
- Dallas to Boise
- Austin to Boise
- Charlotte 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