Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 1,670 miles, a gas price of $5.073 and a diesel price of $7.297 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 | 104 | $529 | $623 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 152 | $770 | $906 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 186 | $941 | $1,107 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 209 | $1,059 | $1,246 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 239 | $1,210 | $1,424 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 209 | $1,523 | $1,792 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $681 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 |
| Omaha, NE | $4.145 | $6.352 | Midwest average |
Gas runs about $1.86 a gallon cheaper around Omaha, NE. Most one-way rentals are returned near Omaha, 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 Omaha, NE a 4-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 Omaha, NE 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 Boise
- San Francisco to Richmond
- San Francisco to Birmingham
- San Francisco to Charleston
- San Francisco to El Paso
More moves to Omaha
- New York to Omaha
- Los Angeles to Omaha
- Chicago to Omaha
- Houston to Omaha
- Phoenix to Omaha
- Philadelphia to Omaha
- San Diego to Omaha
- Dallas to Omaha
- Austin to Omaha
- Charlotte to Omaha
- Seattle to Omaha
- Denver to Omaha
- Nashville to Omaha
- Atlanta to Omaha
- Miami to Omaha
- Boston to Omaha
- Las Vegas to Omaha
- Orlando to Omaha
- Tampa to Omaha
- Raleigh to Omaha
- San Antonio to Omaha
- Jacksonville to Omaha
- Columbus to Omaha
- Indianapolis to Omaha
- Sacramento to Omaha
- Oklahoma City to Omaha
- Portland to Omaha
- Louisville to Omaha
- Memphis to Omaha
- Baltimore to Omaha
- Washington to Omaha
- Milwaukee to Omaha
- Albuquerque to Omaha
- Tucson to Omaha
- Kansas City to Omaha
- Salt Lake City to Omaha
- Minneapolis to Omaha
- Detroit to Omaha
- Cleveland to Omaha
- Pittsburgh to Omaha
- St. Louis to Omaha
- Cincinnati to Omaha
- New Orleans to Omaha
- Boise to Omaha
- Richmond to Omaha
- Birmingham to Omaha
- Charleston to Omaha
- El Paso to Omaha