We drive this route often enough that our crews have opinions about which stretch of I-20 has the worst coffee. California to Dallas–Fort Worth has become one of the most common long-distance moves in the country, and most of the advice online about it is written by people who have never loaded a truck. This is the version we give customers on the phone.
What actually drives the price
Long-distance moving is not priced like a local move. A local job is mostly about hours: crew size times time on the clock. A cross-country job is priced on weight or volume, distance, and access — and the biggest single lever is how much stuff is on the truck.
Which means the cheapest thing you can do to lower a California-to-Texas quote has nothing to do with negotiating. It's getting rid of things.
The other factors that move the number:
- Access on both ends. A third-floor walk-up in the Mission with no loading zone costs more than a suburban driveway.
- Packing. Full pack, partial pack, or you do it yourself.
- Specialty items. Pianos, safes, large artwork, wine collections.
- Timing. May through September is peak season everywhere.
Watch for this
Be careful with quotes given over the phone in under two minutes with no inventory. Ask for the quote in writing and ask directly whether the price can change on move day.
How long the truck really takes
San Francisco to Dallas is roughly 1,750 miles of driving. Los Angeles to Dallas is about 1,435.
Realistically, transit is a few days on the road. What determines your actual delivery date is whether your shipment has a dedicated truck or is sharing space with other households.
Shared loads are cheaper and the delivery window is wider. Dedicated costs more and gives you a date.
Want the real number for your move?
Send us your address, destination, and the size of your place.
Your first 90 days in Texas
This is the part almost everyone underestimates. Texas has a clock on new residents, and it starts when you arrive.
Vehicles and licenses
New residents are generally expected to register their vehicles within about 30 days of moving in, and to get a Texas driver's license within about 90 days.
Electricity is something you shop for
Most of DFW sits in a deregulated electricity market, which means you choose a retail provider and a plan before you move in.
Tolls
DFW is threaded with toll roads. Get a toll tag set up early.
Property taxes and the homestead exemption
Texas has no state income tax, but property taxes can be higher than many Californians expect.
The four things people always forget
- Plants. Decide whether live plants are traveling in your car or staying behind.
- The "open first" box. Sheets, towels, chargers, coffee, medication, and first-night essentials.
- The garage and shed. Propane, gasoline, paint, solvents, ammunition, and fireworks cannot go on the moving truck.
- School enrollment paperwork. Gather residency and immunization documents before you need them.
Where people actually land in DFW
The metroplex is enormous — it is not one city, but dozens of cities with very different personalities and commutes.
- Uptown and downtown Dallas — high-rise living and more urban neighborhoods.
- Plano, Frisco, McKinney and Allen — northern corridor and corporate relocations.
- Fort Worth and Arlington — more space and a different character from the Dallas side.
- Irving, Grand Prairie, Mansfield and Carrollton — central options for many commuters.
One last thing about August
Loading a truck in triple-digit heat is a different job from loading one in San Francisco fog.
The parts that go wrong are usually small, boring, and preventable.
Moving between California and Texas?
We run this route both directions with our own trucks and crews.