Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 657 miles, a gas price of $3.883 and a diesel price of $5.822 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 | 41 | $159 | $188 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 60 | $232 | $273 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 73 | $283 | $333 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 82 | $319 | $375 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 94 | $364 | $429 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 82 | $478 | $563 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $205 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 |
| New Orleans, LA | $3.784 | $5.903 | Gulf Coast average |
Gas runs about $0.20 a gallon cheaper around New Orleans, LA. Most one-way rentals are returned near New Orleans, 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 Tampa, FL to New Orleans, LA 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 New Orleans, LA 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 Columbus
- 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 Boise
- Tampa to Richmond
- Tampa to Birmingham
- Tampa to Omaha
- Tampa to Charleston
- Tampa to El Paso
More moves to New Orleans
- New York to New Orleans
- Los Angeles to New Orleans
- Chicago to New Orleans
- Houston to New Orleans
- Phoenix to New Orleans
- Philadelphia to New Orleans
- San Diego to New Orleans
- Dallas to New Orleans
- Austin to New Orleans
- Charlotte to New Orleans
- San Francisco to New Orleans
- Seattle to New Orleans
- Denver to New Orleans
- Nashville to New Orleans
- Atlanta to New Orleans
- Miami to New Orleans
- Boston to New Orleans
- Las Vegas to New Orleans
- Orlando to New Orleans
- Raleigh to New Orleans
- San Antonio to New Orleans
- Jacksonville to New Orleans
- Columbus to New Orleans
- Indianapolis to New Orleans
- Sacramento to New Orleans
- Oklahoma City to New Orleans
- Portland to New Orleans
- Louisville to New Orleans
- Memphis to New Orleans
- Baltimore to New Orleans
- Washington to New Orleans
- Milwaukee to New Orleans
- Albuquerque to New Orleans
- Tucson to New Orleans
- Kansas City to New Orleans
- Salt Lake City to New Orleans
- Minneapolis to New Orleans
- Detroit to New Orleans
- Cleveland to New Orleans
- Pittsburgh to New Orleans
- St. Louis to New Orleans
- Cincinnati to New Orleans
- Boise to New Orleans
- Richmond to New Orleans
- Birmingham to New Orleans
- Omaha to New Orleans
- Charleston to New Orleans
- El Paso to New Orleans