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Moving truck gas cost from Washington, DC to Charlotte, NC

The drive is about 397 miles. In a 15 to 17 ft rental truck getting around 9 MPG, fuel comes to roughly $180 at this week’s prices.

miles
Trip
$/ gallon

Average of Central Atlantic and Lower Atlantic 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$180Likely $164 to $200

Compare

  • 10 to 12 ft truck$147save $33
  • 20 to 22 ft truck$203+$23
  • Towing a car$212+$32
  • Round trip$360+$180

397 miles at 9 MPG: 44.1 gallons, $0.45 a mile. The likely range allows for fuel economy 10% better or worse.

WashingtonCharlotte

Routes from OSRM using© OpenStreetMap contributors data

Distance
397 miles
Driving days
1 at 450 mi a day
Behind the wheel
About 8 hours
Gas price used
$4.086 a gallon

Fuel cost by truck size

Based on 397 miles, a gas price of $4.086 and a diesel price of $6.124 a gallon. Towing a car on a trailer or dolly lowers fuel economy by about 15%.

TruckMPGGallonsFuel costTowing a car
Cargo van1625$101$119
10 to 12 ft truck1136$147$173
15 to 17 ft truck944$180$212
20 to 22 ft truck850$203$239
26 ft truck757$232$273
26 ft truck (diesel)850$304$358

The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $130 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
Washington, DC$4.312$6.508Central Atlantic average
Charlotte, NC$3.860$5.740Lower Atlantic average

Gas runs about $0.45 a gallon cheaper around Charlotte, NC. Most one-way rentals are returned near Charlotte, 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 Washington, DC to Charlotte, NC a one-day drive. The rental itself and any per-mile fees are charged separately from fuel.

Other moves

Going the other way? See Charlotte, NC to Washington, DC.

More moves from Washington

More moves to Charlotte