Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 1,175 miles, a gas price of $3.843 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 | 73 | $282 | $332 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 107 | $411 | $483 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 131 | $502 | $590 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 147 | $564 | $664 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 168 | $645 | $759 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 147 | $855 | $1,006 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $363 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 |
| San Antonio, TX | $3.704 | $5.903 | Texas average |
Gas runs about $0.28 a gallon cheaper around San Antonio, TX. Most one-way rentals are returned near San Antonio, 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 San Antonio, 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 San Antonio, TX 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 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 New Orleans
- Tampa to Boise
- Tampa to Richmond
- Tampa to Birmingham
- Tampa to Omaha
- Tampa to Charleston
- Tampa to El Paso
More moves to San Antonio
- New York to San Antonio
- Los Angeles to San Antonio
- Chicago to San Antonio
- Houston to San Antonio
- Phoenix to San Antonio
- Philadelphia to San Antonio
- San Diego to San Antonio
- Dallas to San Antonio
- Austin to San Antonio
- Charlotte to San Antonio
- San Francisco to San Antonio
- Seattle to San Antonio
- Denver to San Antonio
- Nashville to San Antonio
- Atlanta to San Antonio
- Miami to San Antonio
- Boston to San Antonio
- Las Vegas to San Antonio
- Orlando to San Antonio
- Raleigh to San Antonio
- Jacksonville to San Antonio
- Columbus to San Antonio
- Indianapolis to San Antonio
- Sacramento to San Antonio
- Oklahoma City to San Antonio
- Portland to San Antonio
- Louisville to San Antonio
- Memphis to San Antonio
- Baltimore to San Antonio
- Washington to San Antonio
- Milwaukee to San Antonio
- Albuquerque to San Antonio
- Tucson to San Antonio
- Kansas City to San Antonio
- Salt Lake City to San Antonio
- Minneapolis to San Antonio
- Detroit to San Antonio
- Cleveland to San Antonio
- Pittsburgh to San Antonio
- St. Louis to San Antonio
- Cincinnati to San Antonio
- New Orleans to San Antonio
- Boise to San Antonio
- Richmond to San Antonio
- Birmingham to San Antonio
- Omaha to San Antonio
- Charleston to San Antonio
- El Paso to San Antonio