PumpTally

Moving truck gas cost from Seattle, WA to Nashville, TN

The drive is about 2,396 miles. In a 15 to 17 ft rental truck getting around 9 MPG, fuel comes to roughly $1,287 at this week’s prices.

SeattleNashville

Routes from OSRM using© OpenStreetMap contributors data

Driving distance
2,396 miles
Time behind the wheel
About 42 hours at car speeds
Driving days in a truck
6 days at 450 miles a day
Gas price used
$4.836 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 Seattle and Midwest prices from EIA for the week of October 19, 2026. Change it to what you pay.

Fuel cost$1,287.45
Gallons266.2
Per mile$0.54

2,396 miles at 9 MPG

Fuel cost by truck size

Based on 2,396 miles, a gas price of $4.836 and a diesel price of $6.506 a gallon. Towing a car on a trailer or dolly lowers fuel economy by about 15%.

TruckMPGGallonsFuel costTowing a car
Cargo van16150$724$852
10 to 12 ft truck11218$1,053$1,239
15 to 17 ft truck9266$1,287$1,515
20 to 22 ft truck8300$1,448$1,704
26 ft truck7342$1,655$1,947
26 ft truck (diesel)8300$1,949$2,292

The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $931 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
Seattle, WA$5.527$6.659Seattle average
Nashville, TN$4.145$6.352Midwest average

Gas runs about $1.38 a gallon cheaper around Nashville, TN. Most one-way rentals are returned near Nashville, 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 Seattle, WA to Nashville, TN a 6-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 Nashville, TN to Seattle, WA.