Driving from California to Texas by Car
California to Texas is about 1,300 to 1,750 miles and 19 to 28 hours of driving, depending on the cities. Driving it yourself takes 2 to 3 days. A professional driver from Cross Country Driver does it in 1 to 2 days, door to door, for $1,025 to $1,950 base plus fuel and tolls at actual cost.
How long is the drive from California to Texas?
About 19 to 28 hours behind the wheel, which is 2 to 3 days if you drive it yourself and 1 to 2 days with our drivers.
| Who drives | Distance | Driving time | Days on the road |
|---|---|---|---|
| You, in your own car | About 1,300 to 1,750 miles | 19 to 28 hours | 2 to 3 days |
| Cross Country Driver | About 1,300 to 1,750 miles | 19 to 28 hours | 1 to 2 days |
How many hours is it from California to Texas by car?
About 19 to 28 hours of driving, not counting stops. Los Angeles to Dallas is about 21 to 23 hours behind the wheel; San Francisco to Houston is the long end at about 27 to 28.
How far is it from California to Texas?
About 1,350 miles from Los Angeles to San Antonio or Austin, 1,435 to Dallas and 1,550 to Houston. From the Bay Area add 300 to 350 miles. Texas itself is wide: El Paso to Houston alone is about 750 miles.
California to Texas: city-to-city miles and prices
Typical base prices for a professional driver between the largest cities in California and Texas. These are ranges, not quotes; fuel and tolls are added at actual cost, and the same prices apply in the other direction.
| Route | Distance | Our delivery | Base price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego ↔ San Antonio | ~1,270 mi | 1–1.5 days | $1,025–$1,475 |
| Los Angeles ↔ San Antonio | ~1,355 mi | 1–1.5 days | $1,075–$1,550 |
| Los Angeles ↔ Austin | ~1,400 mi | 1–2 days | $1,100–$1,600 |
| Los Angeles ↔ Dallas | ~1,435 mi | 1.5 days | $1,125–$1,675 |
| Los Angeles ↔ Houston | ~1,550 mi | 1.5–2 days | $1,250–$1,825 |
| San Francisco ↔ Dallas | ~1,730 mi | ~2 days | $1,425–$1,925 |
| San Francisco ↔ Austin | ~1,760 mi | ~2 days | $1,425–$1,950 |
Your exact price depends on the pickup and delivery addresses and the date. A pickup or delivery far from a major airport costs a little more, because the driver’s trip there and home takes longer.
Can you drive from California to Texas?
Yes. The right route depends on where you start and finish and on the month.
I-10: to San Antonio, Austin and Houston
I-10 runs from Los Angeles through Palm Springs, Phoenix, Tucson and El Paso, then across West Texas to San Antonio and Houston. For Austin, drivers leave I-10 for US-290 or go up I-35 from San Antonio. It is the most direct line to Central and South Texas.
I-20: to Dallas–Fort Worth
For Dallas–Fort Worth, drivers follow I-10 to West Texas and split onto I-20 east of Van Horn, through Odessa, Midland and Abilene. From the Bay Area, I-5 and CA-58 to I-40 through Flagstaff and Albuquerque, then US-287 from Amarillo, is often shorter.
Weather and seasons
The southern routes are open year-round. Summer heat in the Mojave, Arizona and West Texas is the main risk. In winter, I-40 near Flagstaff sits at 7,000 feet and can get snow and ice, so drivers favor I-10 and I-20 from December to March. Spring brings severe thunderstorms to North Texas.
What the road is like
Long, open and fast: West Texas has 80 mph limits and very few towns between Van Horn and Fort Stockton. Phoenix, El Paso and the Texas metros are the slow parts, and Houston and Dallas traffic is heavy at rush hour.
Tolls
Almost none on the interstates. Texas cities have cashless toll roads, such as the Dallas North Tollway, the Sam Houston Tollway and SH-130 near Austin, which bill by plate and can be avoided. Heading west, California inspects cars for fruit and plants at the border stations on I-10 and I-40.
California to Texas car shipping vs. hiring a driver
Driving yourself: roughly $200 to $350 in fuel and tolls (rough estimate, November 2026), hotels and meals for 2 to 3 days on the road, and the days off work.
Shipping by carrier: quoted at about $1,160 to $1,490 between California and Texas cities (MoveBuddha city-pair estimates, checked November 2026). These are third-party figures, not our prices. Expect pickup and delivery windows of several days each, and carriers usually limit or ban personal items in the car. Shipping is usually cheaper and slower.
Hiring our driver: $1,025 to $1,950 base plus fuel and tolls at actual cost, delivered in 1 to 2 days, with a reasonable amount of personal items inside. Your car is never loaded onto a carrier, and it arrives on the delivery date planned with you.
Who hires a driver for California to Texas
California to Texas is one of the most common moves in the country, and it is one of our steadiest routes: job relocations to Dallas, Austin and Houston, families, students and military moves to Fort Hood, Fort Bliss and San Antonio. Texas to California runs all year too.
We drive U-Haul, Penske and Budget trucks on this route too. See driving a U-Haul cross country, or get a U-Haul/Truck Quote.
How our California to Texas service works
We pick up anywhere in California, from San Diego and Los Angeles to the Bay Area, Sacramento and Fresno, and deliver anywhere in Texas: Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Houston, El Paso and the smaller cities between. Your driver inspects and photographs the car at pickup, drives about 1,000 miles a day with the trip GPS-monitored by our office, and walks the car with you at delivery.
One professional driver drives your car the whole way, never handed off. Our drivers are ex-long-haul truckers and former police officers, vetted with criminal, driving-record, drug and reference checks.
What the price includes
Your base price includes your driver’s travel home, usually a flight, and towing if you need a trailer or a second vehicle behind the one we drive. We give you a fuel and toll estimate up front; fuel and tolls are then charged at actual cost, with receipts. A deposit is due before pickup, and the rest after delivery. Cash or check is fine.
A typical schedule
- Day 1: Los Angeles to West Texas, about 900 miles, through Phoenix, Tucson and El Paso.
- Day 2: West Texas to Dallas, about 530 miles on I-20 through Midland and Abilene, or to Houston, about 650 miles on I-10 through San Antonio.
The exact stops move with weather and traffic, and the driver rests properly each night: we do not run drivers through the night. Your driver will call you about eight hours before delivery.
If you drive it yourself
- Cross the Mojave and West Texas early in the day in summer, and carry water.
- Between Van Horn and Fort Stockton services are far apart; refill at half a tank.
- Avoid I-40 near Flagstaff in a winter storm; I-10 is the safer choice from December to March.
- Set up toll-by-plate billing or avoid toll roads around Dallas, Houston and Austin.
- Time your arrival in Dallas or Houston outside rush hour.
- Check tires, fluids, lights and brakes before you leave.
California to Texas questions
How many days does it take to drive from California to Texas?
Two to three days if you drive it yourself. A professional driver does it in 1 to 2 days: Los Angeles to Dallas is about 1,435 miles, about a day and a half with proper rest.
What is the best route from California to Texas?
I-10 for San Antonio, Austin and Houston; I-10 to I-20 for Dallas–Fort Worth. From Northern California, I-40 through Albuquerque and Amarillo can be shorter, except in winter storms.
How much does it cost to have someone drive my car from California to Texas?
$1,025 to $1,950 base with Cross Country Driver, plus fuel and tolls at actual cost. Los Angeles to Austin, about 1,400 miles, is typically $1,100 to $1,600, the same range shown on our pricing page.
Is it cheaper to ship a car from California to Texas?
Often, yes. Carrier shipping is quoted at about $1,160 to $1,490 between California and Texas cities (third-party estimates, not our prices), with pickup windows of several days. A driver delivers in 1 to 2 days with personal items allowed.
Does one driver take the car the whole way?
Yes. One driver, no handoffs. The car is photographed at pickup and delivery and GPS-monitored by our office.
Do you drive to smaller Texas towns?
Yes. We deliver anywhere in Texas. A delivery far from a major airport can cost a little more, because the driver’s trip home takes longer.
Can I pack the car?
Yes. A reasonable amount of personal items can travel with the car.
Do you also go Texas to California?
Yes, at the same pricing, all year.
How do I get a price?
Request a Vehicle Quote online; it takes about a minute. The owner prices your trip personally and replies within one business day. Tell us the pickup address, the delivery address and roughly when you want the car moved.