Lane · STEP · Oct 2026
San Francisco, CA to Washington, DC step deck rate
$16,906step deck
+3.4% from last month
- Per mile
- $5.80
- Distance
- 2,913 mi
- Typical range
- $14,201–$19,611
- Transit
- 7 days
Step deck · estimated all-in cost per load · monthly
San Francisco to Washington price history
- 3 months
- +8.6%
- 1 year
- +18.6%
- 5 years
- +25.0%
Cost breakdown
- Linehaul
- $13,969
- Fuel
- $2,937
- All-in estimate
- $16,906
Return trip
Washington → San Francisco$8,881This direction runs 90% above the return trip. Leaving CA prices above the national average and arriving in DC prices above it.
San Francisco to Washington by truck type
| Truck type | Relative cost | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53' dry van | $13,027 | $4.47 | |
| 53' refrigerated | $15,513 | $5.33 | |
| 48' flatbed | $15,550 | $5.34 | |
| Step deck | $16,906 | $5.80 | |
| Power only | $11,619 | $3.99 | |
| Hotshot | $8,774 | $3.01 | |
| 26' box truck | $8,556 | $2.94 | |
| Sprinter van | $5,211 | $1.79 |
Live market check
Get live dry van quotes on this lane
The index is an estimate. For a price you can act on, ask connected freight providers for a live 53' dry van rate, or send the load details and get quoted for any truck type.
More lanes from San Francisco
| To | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $17,444 | $5.68 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $2,813 | $6.54 |
| Chicago, IL | $9,584 | $4.31 |
| Houston, TX | $9,072 | $4.60 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $4,674 | $5.85 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $16,291 | $5.41 |
| San Antonio, TX | $8,333 | $4.66 |
| San Diego, CA | $3,319 | $5.92 |
More lanes into Washington
| From | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $2,123 | $8.85 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $15,890 | $5.84 |
| Chicago, IL | $4,765 | $6.77 |
| Houston, TX | $6,443 | $4.48 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $7,958 | $3.41 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $1,567 | $10.52 |
| San Antonio, TX | $7,173 | $4.38 |
| San Diego, CA | $15,653 | $5.85 |
About this lane
How much does it cost to ship a truckload from San Francisco, CA to Washington, DC?
A Step deck from San Francisco, CA to Washington, DC is estimated at $16,906 all-in in October 2026, or $5.80 a mile over about 2,913 mi. Quotes typically land between $14,201 and $19,611.
How far is San Francisco, CA from Washington, DC by truck?
About 2,913 mi by road, estimated from the straight-line distance. A solo driver covers it in roughly 7 days of transit.
How much of the price is fuel?
About $2,937 of the $16,906 estimate is fuel at the current national diesel price; the remaining $13,969 is linehaul.
Is it cheaper to ship from Washington, DC to San Francisco, CA?
The reverse direction is estimated at $8,881, which makes San Francisco, CA to Washington, DC 90% more expensive. Direction matters because trucks are scarcer leaving some markets than others.
Lane history applies the current origin and destination adjustments to the national series back to December 2003. Methodology