Usually, yes. Most moves from Austin to Dallas (about 195 miles), Houston (about 165 miles) or San Antonio (about 80 miles) are billed by the hour, like a local move, and done in one day by one crew. San Antonio is always a one-day move, and only the biggest Dallas or Houston moves sometimes need an overnight.
We get this question a lot, usually from someone who just got a new job offer and a start date that is way too soon. The good news: moving between Texas's big cities is a lot simpler than a cross-country move. Here's how the day actually works, and what you can do to keep it to one day.
How a one-day move to Dallas works
Here's the whole day, start to finish:
- Early start in Austin. The crew shows up, protects your floors and doorways, and takes apart beds, tables and desks.
- Pad, wrap and load. Every piece of furniture gets padded and wrapped. Heavy items go in first and everything is packed tight, so nothing shifts on the highway.
- The same crew drives the truck. No hand-off to another driver or another company. The people who loaded your stuff are the people who unload it.
- Unload and set up. Furniture goes into the right rooms, and beds and tables get put back together. You sleep in a real bed that night, in a new city.
That last part matters more than people think. After a 195-mile day, nobody wants to build a bed frame at 10pm with a butter knife and a prayer.
For the details on the drive itself (the route, traffic and the Dallas suburbs we serve), see our Austin to Dallas movers page.
Why it's billed by the hour, not a flat long-distance rate
A lot of people expect a long-distance quote with a big flat number. For Dallas, Houston and San Antonio, we usually quote it like a local move instead: by the hour, for the crew and the truck, plus a travel charge. Your estimate is free and walks through the hours, crew size and travel charge line by line, so you know what you're looking at before you book.
A few things to know:
- You pay for actual time. The estimate is our best guess. The bill is based on the real hours.
- The clock starts when the first item is moved. Not when the crew leaves the shop.
- The drive between homes counts as moving time. Your stuff is on the truck and the crew is working, so that part of the day is on the clock.
- You're in control of the time. The more that's packed and ready when we walk in, the shorter the day.
Moving out of state, or farther than Texas's big cities? That's different. Those moves get a custom quote built by a manager, based on your inventory, the distance and how many driving days the trip needs.
When a move might need two days
Most of these moves fit in one day. A few things can stretch it:
- A big home. A large house can mean a second truck and more loading time. Some of the biggest Dallas and Houston moves get an overnight, so the crew isn't rushing your stuff at the end of a long day.
- Packing on moving day. If we're packing the whole house, we'll often pack the day before, so moving day is just moving.
- Extra stops. A storage unit, a second address or a pickup on the way adds time.
- Hard access at either end. A long walk to the truck, lots of stairs, or a high-rise with one freight elevator all add up.
We'll tell you up front if your move looks like a two-day job, so there are no surprises on the road.
Austin to Houston and San Antonio
The same setup works for our other big routes:
- Houston: about 165 miles, usually east on US 290. Most moves are hourly and done in one day. Read more about our Austin to Houston movers, including Katy and The Woodlands.
- San Antonio: about 80 miles down I-35. Hourly and done in one day, every time. No overnights.
- Coming the other way? We also move people from Dallas and Houston to Austin. Same crew, same one-day plan.
Moving this fall or winter? Plan around I-35
A lot of our one-day moves between Texas cities happen in November and December. New jobs often start in January, leases turn over at the end of the year, and people try to move while they're off work. A few Austin-specific tips for this time of year:
- Avoid Thanksgiving week if you can. I-35 between Austin and Dallas is packed with holiday traffic, and every extra hour in traffic is an extra hour of moving time.
- Pick a weekday. A Tuesday or Wednesday is usually the calmest drive and the easiest date to get. Weekends and the last few days of the month fill first.
- Watch the forecast. Central Texas doesn't get much ice, but when it does, I-35 can turn ugly fast. If the forecast looks bad, call us early so we can talk through your options.
- Book 2 to 3 weeks out. That's ideal for most moves. Earlier is better for December, since the end of the year books up.
How to keep it to one day
The fastest long-distance day is the one where the crew walks in and starts carrying. Here's what helps most:
- Be fully packed before the truck shows up. Boxes taped, labeled by room, and stacked near the door. If that sounds like a lot, our packing services can do just the kitchen, or the whole house the day before.
- Reserve parking at both ends. A box truck needs room close to the door. Ask your apartment or HOA about loading zones and truck rules ahead of time.
- Get your building paperwork done early. Many apartments and high-rises want a certificate of insurance from the movers. Send us the requirements for both buildings and we can turn them around quickly.
- Get rid of what you don't want first. Every box you don't move is time you don't pay for, and space you don't need in your new place.
- Drive separately and keep the essentials with you. Meds, chargers, documents, a change of clothes, and anything you can't replace ride in your car, not the truck.
- Pick a protection plan you're comfortable with. Basic coverage is free. If you have fragile, expensive or sentimental pieces, ask about upgrading to full value protection when you book.
Do those things and your move from Austin to Dallas looks a lot like a local move, just with a longer drive in the middle. Call us at (512) 676-5375 and we'll walk you through what your day would look like.
