Moving to Austin: a local's guide

Austin and its suburbs at a glance

Austin sits in Central Texas along I-35. Growth has pushed new neighborhoods out in every direction, so "Austin" for a lot of newcomers really means the whole metro.

Living in Austin itself

Inside the city, you'll find three very different kinds of moves:

• Downtown and high-rise living. Lots of apartments and condos with elevators, loading docks and building rules about when you can move. Reserve the elevator early. See apartment moving.
• Older central neighborhoods. Character homes, but often with narrow doors, tight stairs and street parking. Measure big furniture before moving day.
• Newer neighborhoods on the edges of town. Bigger homes and driveways, and easier truck access.

Our home base is in South Austin. We move homes and offices all over the city. See Austin movers.

The northern suburbs: Round Rock, Georgetown, Pflugerville and Hutto

Round Rock sits right on I-35, just north of Austin. Georgetown goes from historic bungalows near the downtown Square to new master plans like Wolf Ranch and Rancho Sienna, plus Sun City, a large Del Webb 55+ community. It crossed 100,000 people in the Census Bureau's July 2024 estimate.

Pflugerville is mostly master-planned neighborhoods like Blackhawk, Falcon Pointe and Avalon, with the SH-45 and SH-130 toll roads as the usual way around I-35 traffic. Hutto is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country: the Census Bureau ranked it 13th among U.S. cities of 20,000+ for growth from 2023 to 2024. Most of its homes are new builds.

The northwest suburbs: Cedar Park and Leander

Cedar Park has established neighborhoods like Buttercup Creek, Twin Creeks and Cypress Canyon, a mix of family homes and some gated or hilly pockets. Leander, just past it, is newer: big master plans like Crystal Falls, Travisso and Bryson, many on Hill Country terrain. The Census Bureau ranked Leander the 18th fastest-growing U.S. city for 2023–2024. The 183A Toll is the main route into Austin, and Leander is the north end of CapMetro's Red Line commuter rail.

West: Lakeway, Bee Cave and Dripping Springs

Lakeway sits on the south shore of Lake Travis. Think custom homes, lake and golf views, and some steep streets and driveways in areas like Rough Hollow and Old Lakeway. RM 620 is the main road, and it's slow at rush hour.

Bee Cave, next door where SH 71 meets RM 620, has gated Spanish Oaks, golf homes in Falconhead and the Hill Country Galleria. Dripping Springs, about 23 miles west of Austin on US 290, is growing fast, with master plans like Headwaters and Caliterra. Both got an easier drive into Austin when TxDOT finished the Oak Hill Parkway in October 2026. See Bee Cave movers and Dripping Springs movers.

South: Buda, Kyle and San Marcos

Buda and Kyle sit one after the other down I-35 in Hays County, south of Austin. They're a short drive from South Austin, where our trucks are based.

San Marcos, about 30 miles south, is the Hays County seat and home to Texas State University. Expect lots of apartment moves around the August move-in, plus quieter areas like Kissing Tree (55+) and Blanco Vista. See San Marcos movers.

Southeast: Bastrop

Bastrop is about 30 miles southeast of Austin via SH-71, home to historic Main Street, Bastrop State Park and the Lost Pines. Homes range from new builds in The Colony to houses on wooded lots in Tahitian Village and Pine Forest, plus country acreage. SH-71 traffic can be slow, so plan your timing. See Bastrop movers.

What moving day is like around Austin

• Heat. Summers are hot. Book a morning start and keep water handy.
• Traffic. I-35, MoPac, US-183 and RM 620 all back up at rush hour. A mid-morning start often saves drive time.
• HOAs and gates. Many suburban neighborhoods have HOA rules on trucks and parking, and some are gated. Arrange access before moving day.
• New construction. In fast-growing suburbs, confirm your closing date before you book, and send a map pin if your street isn't on maps yet.

Your first month as a new Texan

• Driver license. New residents have 90 days to get a Texas driver license.
• Vehicle registration. Register your vehicle in Texas within 30 days of moving here.
• Utilities. In the City of Austin, electricity is through Austin Energy and water through Austin Water. Suburbs have their own providers, so check your new city's website.
• Voter registration. Update it once you have your new address.

Moving to Austin from another city

Already in Texas, or coming from out of state? We take some long-distance moves that start outside Austin, depending on the job. Call us at (512) 676-5375 to talk it through. Every long-distance move gets a custom quote built by a manager. See long distance moving. Once you're here, moving between Austin and any of these suburbs is a local move with the same crews and care everywhere.