Moving truck gas cost from Tucson, AZ to Milwaukee, WI

The drive is about 1,804 miles. In a 15 to 17 ft rental truck getting around 9 MPG, fuel comes to roughly $917 at this week’s prices.

miles
Trip
$/ gallon

Average of West Coast (excluding California) and Midwest 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$917Likely $834 to $1,019

Compare

  • 10 to 12 ft truck$750save $167
  • 20 to 22 ft truck$1,032+$115
  • Towing a car$1,079+$162
  • Round trip$1,834+$917

1,804 miles at 9 MPG: 200.4 gallons, $0.51 a mile. The likely range allows for fuel economy 10% better or worse.

TucsonMilwaukee

Routes from OSRM using© OpenStreetMap contributors data

Distance
1,804 miles
Driving days
5 at 450 mi a day
Behind the wheel
About 33 hours
Gas price used
$4.576 a gallon

Fuel cost by truck size

Based on 1,804 miles, a gas price of $4.576 and a diesel price of $6.506 a gallon. Towing a car on a trailer or dolly lowers fuel economy by about 15%.

TruckMPGGallonsFuel costTowing a car
Cargo van16113$516$607
10 to 12 ft truck11164$750$883
15 to 17 ft truck9200$917$1,079
20 to 22 ft truck8226$1,032$1,214
26 ft truck7258$1,179$1,387
26 ft truck (diesel)8226$1,467$1,726

The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $663 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
Tucson, AZ$5.007$6.659West Coast (excluding California) average
Milwaukee, WI$4.145$6.352Midwest average

Gas runs about $0.86 a gallon cheaper around Milwaukee, WI. Most one-way rentals are returned near Milwaukee, 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 Tucson, AZ to Milwaukee, WI a 5-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 Milwaukee, WI to Tucson, AZ.