Moving truck gas cost from Tampa, FL to Columbus, OH

The drive is about 1,011 miles. In a 15 to 17 ft rental truck getting around 9 MPG, fuel comes to roughly $451 at this week’s prices.

miles
Trip
$/ gallon

Average of Florida and Ohio prices from EIA for the week of October 19, 2026.

More options: MPG, towing
MPG

Loaded rental trucks usually get 6 to 12 MPG. If the rental paperwork lists a figure for your truck, use that.

Fuel cost$451Likely $410 to $501

Compare

  • 10 to 12 ft truck$369save $82
  • 20 to 22 ft truck$507+$56
  • Towing a car$531+$80
  • Round trip$902+$451

1,011 miles at 9 MPG: 112.3 gallons, $0.45 a mile. The likely range allows for fuel economy 10% better or worse.

TampaColumbus

Routes from OSRM using© OpenStreetMap contributors data

Distance
1,011 miles
Driving days
3 at 450 mi a day
Behind the wheel
About 19 hours
Gas price used
$4.015 a gallon

Fuel cost by truck size

Based on 1,011 miles, a gas price of $4.015 and a diesel price of $6.046 a gallon. Towing a car on a trailer or dolly lowers fuel economy by about 15%.

TruckMPGGallonsFuel costTowing a car
Cargo van1663$254$298
10 to 12 ft truck1192$369$434
15 to 17 ft truck9112$451$531
20 to 22 ft truck8126$507$597
26 ft truck7144$580$682
26 ft truck (diesel)8126$764$899

The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $326 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
Tampa, FL$3.981$5.740Florida average
Columbus, OH$4.049$6.352Ohio 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 Tampa, FL to Columbus, OH 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 Columbus, OH to Tampa, FL.