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%.
| Truck | MPG | Gallons | Fuel cost | Towing a car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo van | 16 | 63 | $254 | $298 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 92 | $369 | $434 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 112 | $451 | $531 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 126 | $507 | $597 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 144 | $580 | $682 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 126 | $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
| Where | Gas | Diesel | Price basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa, FL | $3.981 | $5.740 | Florida average |
| Columbus, OH | $4.049 | $6.352 | Ohio 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.
More moves from Tampa
- Tampa to New York
- Tampa to Los Angeles
- Tampa to Chicago
- Tampa to Houston
- Tampa to Phoenix
- Tampa to Philadelphia
- Tampa to San Diego
- Tampa to Dallas
- Tampa to Austin
- Tampa to Charlotte
- Tampa to San Francisco
- Tampa to Seattle
- Tampa to Denver
- Tampa to Nashville
- Tampa to Atlanta
- Tampa to Miami
- Tampa to Boston
- Tampa to Las Vegas
- Tampa to Orlando
- Tampa to Raleigh
- Tampa to San Antonio
- Tampa to Jacksonville
- Tampa to Indianapolis
- Tampa to Sacramento
- Tampa to Oklahoma City
- Tampa to Portland
- Tampa to Louisville
- Tampa to Memphis
- Tampa to Baltimore
- Tampa to Washington
- Tampa to Milwaukee
- Tampa to Albuquerque
- Tampa to Tucson
- Tampa to Kansas City
- Tampa to Salt Lake City
- Tampa to Minneapolis
- Tampa to Detroit
- Tampa to Cleveland
- Tampa to Pittsburgh
- Tampa to St. Louis
- Tampa to Cincinnati
- Tampa to New Orleans
- Tampa to Boise
- Tampa to Richmond
- Tampa to Birmingham
- Tampa to Omaha
- Tampa to Charleston
- Tampa to El Paso
More moves to Columbus
- New York to Columbus
- Los Angeles to Columbus
- Chicago to Columbus
- Houston to Columbus
- Phoenix to Columbus
- Philadelphia to Columbus
- San Diego to Columbus
- Dallas to Columbus
- Austin to Columbus
- Charlotte to Columbus
- San Francisco to Columbus
- Seattle to Columbus
- Denver to Columbus
- Nashville to Columbus
- Atlanta to Columbus
- Miami to Columbus
- Boston to Columbus
- Las Vegas to Columbus
- Orlando to Columbus
- Raleigh to Columbus
- San Antonio to Columbus
- Jacksonville to Columbus
- Indianapolis to Columbus
- Sacramento to Columbus
- Oklahoma City to Columbus
- Portland to Columbus
- Louisville to Columbus
- Memphis to Columbus
- Baltimore to Columbus
- Washington to Columbus
- Milwaukee to Columbus
- Albuquerque to Columbus
- Tucson to Columbus
- Kansas City to Columbus
- Salt Lake City to Columbus
- Minneapolis to Columbus
- Detroit to Columbus
- Cleveland to Columbus
- Pittsburgh to Columbus
- St. Louis to Columbus
- Cincinnati to Columbus
- New Orleans to Columbus
- Boise to Columbus
- Richmond to Columbus
- Birmingham to Columbus
- Omaha to Columbus
- Charleston to Columbus
- El Paso to Columbus