Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 852 miles, a gas price of $4.195 and a diesel price of $6.387 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 | 53 | $223 | $263 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 77 | $325 | $382 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 95 | $397 | $467 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 107 | $447 | $526 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 122 | $511 | $601 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 107 | $680 | $800 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $287 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO | $4.145 | $6.352 | Midwest average |
| Denver, CO | $4.244 | $6.422 | Denver 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 St. Louis, MO to Denver, CO 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 Denver, CO to St. Louis, MO.
More moves from St. Louis
- St. Louis to New York
- St. Louis to Los Angeles
- St. Louis to Chicago
- St. Louis to Houston
- St. Louis to Phoenix
- St. Louis to Philadelphia
- St. Louis to San Diego
- St. Louis to Dallas
- St. Louis to Austin
- St. Louis to Charlotte
- St. Louis to San Francisco
- St. Louis to Seattle
- St. Louis to Nashville
- St. Louis to Atlanta
- St. Louis to Miami
- St. Louis to Boston
- St. Louis to Las Vegas
- St. Louis to Orlando
- St. Louis to Tampa
- St. Louis to Raleigh
- St. Louis to San Antonio
- St. Louis to Jacksonville
- St. Louis to Columbus
- St. Louis to Indianapolis
- St. Louis to Sacramento
- St. Louis to Oklahoma City
- St. Louis to Portland
- St. Louis to Louisville
- St. Louis to Memphis
- St. Louis to Baltimore
- St. Louis to Washington
- St. Louis to Milwaukee
- St. Louis to Albuquerque
- St. Louis to Tucson
- St. Louis to Kansas City
- St. Louis to Salt Lake City
- St. Louis to Minneapolis
- St. Louis to Detroit
- St. Louis to Cleveland
- St. Louis to Pittsburgh
- St. Louis to Cincinnati
- St. Louis to New Orleans
- St. Louis to Boise
- St. Louis to Richmond
- St. Louis to Birmingham
- St. Louis to Omaha
- St. Louis to Charleston
- St. Louis to El Paso
More moves to Denver
- New York to Denver
- Los Angeles to Denver
- Chicago to Denver
- Houston to Denver
- Phoenix to Denver
- Philadelphia to Denver
- San Diego to Denver
- Dallas to Denver
- Austin to Denver
- Charlotte to Denver
- San Francisco to Denver
- Seattle to Denver
- Nashville to Denver
- Atlanta to Denver
- Miami to Denver
- Boston to Denver
- Las Vegas to Denver
- Orlando to Denver
- Tampa to Denver
- Raleigh to Denver
- San Antonio to Denver
- Jacksonville to Denver
- Columbus to Denver
- Indianapolis to Denver
- Sacramento to Denver
- Oklahoma City to Denver
- Portland to Denver
- Louisville to Denver
- Memphis to Denver
- Baltimore to Denver
- Washington to Denver
- Milwaukee to Denver
- Albuquerque to Denver
- Tucson to Denver
- Kansas City to Denver
- Salt Lake City to Denver
- Minneapolis to Denver
- Detroit to Denver
- Cleveland to Denver
- Pittsburgh to Denver
- Cincinnati to Denver
- New Orleans to Denver
- Boise to Denver
- Richmond to Denver
- Birmingham to Denver
- Omaha to Denver
- Charleston to Denver
- El Paso to Denver