Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 1,512 miles, a gas price of $5.267 and a diesel price of $6.659 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 | 95 | $498 | $586 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 137 | $724 | $852 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 168 | $885 | $1,041 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 189 | $995 | $1,171 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 216 | $1,138 | $1,338 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 189 | $1,259 | $1,481 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $640 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | $5.527 | $6.659 | Seattle average |
| Tucson, AZ | $5.007 | $6.659 | West Coast (excluding California) average |
Gas runs about $0.52 a gallon cheaper around Tucson, AZ. Most one-way rentals are returned near Tucson, 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 Tucson, AZ 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 Tucson, AZ to Seattle, WA.
More moves from Seattle
- Seattle to New York
- Seattle to Los Angeles
- Seattle to Chicago
- Seattle to Houston
- Seattle to Phoenix
- Seattle to Philadelphia
- Seattle to San Diego
- Seattle to Dallas
- Seattle to Austin
- Seattle to Charlotte
- Seattle to San Francisco
- Seattle to Denver
- Seattle to Nashville
- Seattle to Atlanta
- Seattle to Miami
- Seattle to Boston
- Seattle to Las Vegas
- Seattle to Orlando
- Seattle to Tampa
- Seattle to Raleigh
- Seattle to San Antonio
- Seattle to Jacksonville
- Seattle to Columbus
- Seattle to Indianapolis
- Seattle to Sacramento
- Seattle to Oklahoma City
- Seattle to Portland
- Seattle to Louisville
- Seattle to Memphis
- Seattle to Baltimore
- Seattle to Washington
- Seattle to Milwaukee
- Seattle to Albuquerque
- Seattle to Kansas City
- Seattle to Salt Lake City
- Seattle to Minneapolis
- Seattle to Detroit
- Seattle to Cleveland
- Seattle to Pittsburgh
- Seattle to St. Louis
- Seattle to Cincinnati
- Seattle to New Orleans
- Seattle to Boise
- Seattle to Richmond
- Seattle to Birmingham
- Seattle to Omaha
- Seattle to Charleston
- Seattle to El Paso
More moves to Tucson
- New York to Tucson
- Los Angeles to Tucson
- Chicago to Tucson
- Houston to Tucson
- Phoenix to Tucson
- Philadelphia to Tucson
- San Diego to Tucson
- Dallas to Tucson
- Austin to Tucson
- Charlotte to Tucson
- San Francisco to Tucson
- Denver to Tucson
- Nashville to Tucson
- Atlanta to Tucson
- Miami to Tucson
- Boston to Tucson
- Las Vegas to Tucson
- Orlando to Tucson
- Tampa to Tucson
- Raleigh to Tucson
- San Antonio to Tucson
- Jacksonville to Tucson
- Columbus to Tucson
- Indianapolis to Tucson
- Sacramento to Tucson
- Oklahoma City to Tucson
- Portland to Tucson
- Louisville to Tucson
- Memphis to Tucson
- Baltimore to Tucson
- Washington to Tucson
- Milwaukee to Tucson
- Albuquerque to Tucson
- Kansas City to Tucson
- Salt Lake City to Tucson
- Minneapolis to Tucson
- Detroit to Tucson
- Cleveland to Tucson
- Pittsburgh to Tucson
- St. Louis to Tucson
- Cincinnati to Tucson
- New Orleans to Tucson
- Boise to Tucson
- Richmond to Tucson
- Birmingham to Tucson
- Omaha to Tucson
- Charleston to Tucson
- El Paso to Tucson