Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 438 miles, a gas price of $4.281 and a diesel price of $6.489 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 | 27 | $117 | $138 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 40 | $170 | $201 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 49 | $208 | $245 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 55 | $234 | $276 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 63 | $268 | $315 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 55 | $355 | $418 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $151 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | $4.312 | $6.508 | Central Atlantic average |
| Boston, MA | $4.249 | $6.470 | Boston 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 Washington, DC to Boston, MA a one-day drive. The rental itself and any per-mile fees are charged separately from fuel.
Other moves
Going the other way? See Boston, MA to Washington, DC.
More moves from Washington
- Washington to New York
- Washington to Los Angeles
- Washington to Chicago
- Washington to Houston
- Washington to Phoenix
- Washington to Philadelphia
- Washington to San Diego
- Washington to Dallas
- Washington to Austin
- Washington to Charlotte
- Washington to San Francisco
- Washington to Seattle
- Washington to Denver
- Washington to Nashville
- Washington to Atlanta
- Washington to Miami
- Washington to Las Vegas
- Washington to Orlando
- Washington to Tampa
- Washington to Raleigh
- Washington to San Antonio
- Washington to Jacksonville
- Washington to Columbus
- Washington to Indianapolis
- Washington to Sacramento
- Washington to Oklahoma City
- Washington to Portland
- Washington to Louisville
- Washington to Memphis
- Washington to Baltimore
- Washington to Milwaukee
- Washington to Albuquerque
- Washington to Tucson
- Washington to Kansas City
- Washington to Salt Lake City
- Washington to Minneapolis
- Washington to Detroit
- Washington to Cleveland
- Washington to Pittsburgh
- Washington to St. Louis
- Washington to Cincinnati
- Washington to New Orleans
- Washington to Boise
- Washington to Richmond
- Washington to Birmingham
- Washington to Omaha
- Washington to Charleston
- Washington to El Paso
More moves to Boston
- New York to Boston
- Los Angeles to Boston
- Chicago to Boston
- Houston to Boston
- Phoenix to Boston
- Philadelphia to Boston
- San Diego to Boston
- Dallas to Boston
- Austin to Boston
- Charlotte to Boston
- San Francisco to Boston
- Seattle to Boston
- Denver to Boston
- Nashville to Boston
- Atlanta to Boston
- Miami to Boston
- Las Vegas to Boston
- Orlando to Boston
- Tampa to Boston
- Raleigh to Boston
- San Antonio to Boston
- Jacksonville to Boston
- Columbus to Boston
- Indianapolis to Boston
- Sacramento to Boston
- Oklahoma City to Boston
- Portland to Boston
- Louisville to Boston
- Memphis to Boston
- Baltimore to Boston
- Milwaukee to Boston
- Albuquerque to Boston
- Tucson to Boston
- Kansas City to Boston
- Salt Lake City to Boston
- Minneapolis to Boston
- Detroit to Boston
- Cleveland to Boston
- Pittsburgh to Boston
- St. Louis to Boston
- Cincinnati to Boston
- New Orleans to Boston
- Boise to Boston
- Richmond to Boston
- Birmingham to Boston
- Omaha to Boston
- Charleston to Boston
- El Paso to Boston