How many miles can a truck go on a tank of gas?
Most full-size gasoline-powered pickup trucks will travel roughly 350 to 700 miles on a full tank, with diesel models often able to exceed that range and reach toward 1,000 miles under favorable highway conditions. Exact distance depends on tank size, engine efficiency, and how you drive.
Understanding the question means recognizing that “a tank of gas” isn’t a fixed number. Tank capacities vary by model and configuration, and fuel economy changes with load, terrain, weather, and maintenance. This article breaks down the main factors and typical ranges you can expect today.
What determines range per tank
These are the key elements that determine how far a truck can go on a tank of gas. Each factor can move the total by a wide margin, which is why ranges vary so much between vehicles and trips.
- Tank capacity (how many gallons your tank holds). Gasoline pickups typically carry 23 to 36 gallons, while diesel heavy‑duty trucks commonly have 30 to 50 gallons.
- Fuel economy (miles per gallon, mpg). Expect roughly 15–25 mpg combined for many gasoline pickups and often 18–25 mpg highway for diesels depending on load and speed.
- Driving conditions and terrain. Highway cruising at steady speeds yields the best range, while city stop‑and‑go driving, hills, and towing reduce mpg significantly.
- Payload and towing. Carrying heavy loads or towing can dramatically reduce efficiency and shorten the distance per tank.
- Engine type and configuration. Diesel engines typically get better highway mpg than gasoline V8s, but real‑world results vary with weight and gearing.
- Vehicle maintenance and tires. Proper tire inflation, clean air filters, and well‑tuned engines help maximize efficiency.
In practice, the factors above combine to produce a wide spectrum of possible ranges for a given truck and trip.
Typical ranges by truck type
To give a practical sense of what this means in the real world, here are rough ranges you can expect for common configurations on typical highway or mixed driving. Remember: actual numbers depend on your exact model, bed length, drivetrain, and driving style.
- Light‑duty gasoline pickups (half‑ton): Tank sizes commonly around 23–34 gallons; mpg often in the 15–25 combined range. Typical per‑tank distance is roughly 350–850 miles, with higher end achievable on efficient highway cruising and larger tanks.
- Diesel heavy‑duty pickups (2500/3500): Tank sizes around 30–50 gallons and highway mpg commonly around 18–25. Per‑tank ranges commonly fall in the 540–1,250 mile range, depending on tank size and speed.
- Compact or smaller trucks/hybrids: Smaller tanks and modest mpg can yield typical ranges in the 300–650 mile range, depending on configuration.
These ranges illustrate why automakers and drivers talk about estimated driving ranges rather than a fixed number. Your actual number will be a function of everything above.
Examples by popular models
Here are approximate per‑tank ranges for a few popular current models, assuming typical gasoline or diesel configurations and mixed driving. Individual results will vary with options and conditions.
- Ford F‑150 (gasoline, ~23–36 gallon tank): roughly 350–900 miles per tank depending on engine, transmission, and tank size; highway cruising on the larger tanks can push toward the upper end.
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (gasoline, ~24–36 gallon tank): ~350–850 miles per tank under similar conditions.
- Toyota Tundra (gasoline, ~26–38 gallon tank): about 350–900 miles per tank depending on powertrain and tank size.
- Ram 2500/3500 (diesel, ~30–50 gallon tank): commonly 540–1,250 miles per tank on highway driving with light loads; lower with heavy towing.
Note: These figures are approximate and based on manufacturer‑listed tank capacities and typical mpg. Real‑world mileage can differ due to factors like driving style, payload, weather, and maintenance.
Summary
There isn’t a single answer to how far a truck can go on a tank because it depends on the vehicle, the tank size, and how you drive. In general, you can expect roughly 350–700 miles for most gasoline pickups and 500–1,000+ miles for diesels on a full tank, with large tanks and favorable highway conditions pushing toward the upper end. Always check your specific model’s tank size and real‑world mpg to estimate your own range accurately.
Summary: A tank‑to‑tank range varies widely, but understanding tank capacity, mpg, and driving conditions lets you estimate how far you can travel before refueling. This helps with trip planning, fuel budgeting, and avoiding unnecessary stops on long hauls.
How many miles can a Ford F-150 go on a full tank?
A Ford F-150 can travel anywhere from approximately 250 to over 700 miles on a full tank, depending on the model's engine, tank size, and driving conditions. Modern F-150s with a 36-gallon tank can range from about 650 miles to over 700 miles on the highway, while older models or those with smaller tanks typically have a range closer to 350-500 miles.
Factors that influence range
- Engine and drivetrain: Different engine options have varying fuel efficiencies. For example, the 3.5L EcoBoost is known for its efficiency, while a larger V8 will have a lower MPG.
- Tank size: Larger fuel tanks, like the available 36-gallon option on newer models, can significantly increase the driving range.
- Driving conditions: Highway driving, city driving, towing, and carrying heavy loads all affect your actual mileage.
- Driving habits: Aggressive acceleration and high speeds will decrease your range, while a more cautious and fuel-efficient driving style can increase it.
- Other factors: Tire pressure, temperature, and wind can also impact fuel economy.
How to estimate your F-150's range
- Find your truck's fuel tank capacity (in gallons).
- Find the highway MPG for your specific engine and model year.
- Multiply the tank capacity by the highway MPG.
- Example: A truck with a 20-gallon tank and 20 highway MPG can go approximately 400 miles (20 gallons×20 MPG=400 miles20 gallons cross 20 MPG equals 400 miles20 gallons×20 MPG=400 miles).
How far can a truck go on a tank of gas?
about 2,100 miles
Semi-trucks with a capacity of around 300 gallons can expect to travel about 2,100 miles before needing to refuel.
What car can go 1000 miles on one tank?
Today instead the car is equipped with a hydrogen tank. And super capacitors which unlike batteries have a small weight. And work efficiently in extreme temperatures. The Hyperion has a power output
What car gets 700 miles to the tank?
2023 Toyota Tundra Hybrid: 700 Miles
Hybrids are known for their excellent fuel economy, and while their efficiency advantage dips at highway speeds, that didn't stop the gas-electric Toyota Tundra from posting an impressive driving range of 700 miles.
