Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 601 miles, a gas price of $4.229 and a diesel price of $6.430 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 | 38 | $159 | $187 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 55 | $231 | $272 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 67 | $282 | $332 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 75 | $318 | $374 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 86 | $363 | $427 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 75 | $483 | $568 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $204 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 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $4.312 | $6.508 | Central Atlantic average |
Gas runs about $0.17 a gallon cheaper around St. Louis, MO. Fill the tank before you leave St. Louis and stretch it as far as you safely can.
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 Pittsburgh, PA 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 Pittsburgh, PA 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 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 Pittsburgh
- New York to Pittsburgh
- Los Angeles to Pittsburgh
- Chicago to Pittsburgh
- Houston to Pittsburgh
- Phoenix to Pittsburgh
- Philadelphia to Pittsburgh
- San Diego to Pittsburgh
- Dallas to Pittsburgh
- Austin to Pittsburgh
- Charlotte to Pittsburgh
- San Francisco to Pittsburgh
- Seattle to Pittsburgh
- Denver to Pittsburgh
- Nashville to Pittsburgh
- Atlanta to Pittsburgh
- Miami to Pittsburgh
- Boston to Pittsburgh
- Las Vegas to Pittsburgh
- Orlando to Pittsburgh
- Tampa to Pittsburgh
- Raleigh to Pittsburgh
- San Antonio to Pittsburgh
- Jacksonville to Pittsburgh
- Columbus to Pittsburgh
- Indianapolis to Pittsburgh
- Sacramento to Pittsburgh
- Oklahoma City to Pittsburgh
- Portland to Pittsburgh
- Louisville to Pittsburgh
- Memphis to Pittsburgh
- Baltimore to Pittsburgh
- Washington to Pittsburgh
- Milwaukee to Pittsburgh
- Albuquerque to Pittsburgh
- Tucson to Pittsburgh
- Kansas City to Pittsburgh
- Salt Lake City to Pittsburgh
- Minneapolis to Pittsburgh
- Detroit to Pittsburgh
- Cleveland to Pittsburgh
- Cincinnati to Pittsburgh
- New Orleans to Pittsburgh
- Boise to Pittsburgh
- Richmond to Pittsburgh
- Birmingham to Pittsburgh
- Omaha to Pittsburgh
- Charleston to Pittsburgh
- El Paso to Pittsburgh