Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 1,150 miles, a gas price of $4.229 and a diesel price of $6.430 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 | 72 | $304 | $358 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 105 | $442 | $520 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 128 | $540 | $636 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 144 | $608 | $715 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 164 | $695 | $817 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 144 | $924 | $1,087 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $391 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 |
| Omaha, NE | $4.145 | $6.352 | Midwest average |
Gas runs about $0.17 a gallon cheaper around Omaha, NE. Most one-way rentals are returned near Omaha, 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 Omaha, NE 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 Omaha, NE 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 Boston
- 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 Charleston
- Washington to El Paso
More moves to Omaha
- New York to Omaha
- Los Angeles to Omaha
- Chicago to Omaha
- Houston to Omaha
- Phoenix to Omaha
- Philadelphia to Omaha
- San Diego to Omaha
- Dallas to Omaha
- Austin to Omaha
- Charlotte to Omaha
- San Francisco to Omaha
- Seattle to Omaha
- Denver to Omaha
- Nashville to Omaha
- Atlanta to Omaha
- Miami to Omaha
- Boston to Omaha
- Las Vegas to Omaha
- Orlando to Omaha
- Tampa to Omaha
- Raleigh to Omaha
- San Antonio to Omaha
- Jacksonville to Omaha
- Columbus to Omaha
- Indianapolis to Omaha
- Sacramento to Omaha
- Oklahoma City to Omaha
- Portland to Omaha
- Louisville to Omaha
- Memphis to Omaha
- Baltimore to Omaha
- Milwaukee to Omaha
- Albuquerque to Omaha
- Tucson to Omaha
- Kansas City to Omaha
- Salt Lake City to Omaha
- Minneapolis to Omaha
- Detroit to Omaha
- Cleveland to Omaha
- Pittsburgh to Omaha
- St. Louis to Omaha
- Cincinnati to Omaha
- New Orleans to Omaha
- Boise to Omaha
- Richmond to Omaha
- Birmingham to Omaha
- Charleston to Omaha
- El Paso to Omaha