Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 1,228 miles, a gas price of $3.925 and a diesel price of $6.127 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 | 77 | $301 | $354 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 112 | $438 | $515 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 136 | $536 | $630 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 154 | $602 | $709 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 175 | $689 | $810 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 154 | $940 | $1,106 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $387 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 |
| El Paso, TX | $3.704 | $5.903 | Texas average |
Gas runs about $0.44 a gallon cheaper around El Paso, TX. Most one-way rentals are returned near El Paso, 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 St. Louis, MO to El Paso, TX a 3-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 El Paso, TX 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 Denver
- 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
More moves to El Paso
- New York to El Paso
- Los Angeles to El Paso
- Chicago to El Paso
- Houston to El Paso
- Phoenix to El Paso
- Philadelphia to El Paso
- San Diego to El Paso
- Dallas to El Paso
- Austin to El Paso
- Charlotte to El Paso
- San Francisco to El Paso
- Seattle to El Paso
- Denver to El Paso
- Nashville to El Paso
- Atlanta to El Paso
- Miami to El Paso
- Boston to El Paso
- Las Vegas to El Paso
- Orlando to El Paso
- Tampa to El Paso
- Raleigh to El Paso
- San Antonio to El Paso
- Jacksonville to El Paso
- Columbus to El Paso
- Indianapolis to El Paso
- Sacramento to El Paso
- Oklahoma City to El Paso
- Portland to El Paso
- Louisville to El Paso
- Memphis to El Paso
- Baltimore to El Paso
- Washington to El Paso
- Milwaukee to El Paso
- Albuquerque to El Paso
- Tucson to El Paso
- Kansas City to El Paso
- Salt Lake City to El Paso
- Minneapolis to El Paso
- Detroit to El Paso
- Cleveland to El Paso
- Pittsburgh to El Paso
- Cincinnati to El Paso
- New Orleans to El Paso
- Boise to El Paso
- Richmond to El Paso
- Birmingham to El Paso
- Omaha to El Paso
- Charleston to El Paso