In U.S. Census figures for 2021 and 2022, the move from California to Texas was the largest state-to-state flow in the country, at more than 100,000 people a year. California and Texas are also the two most populous states, so the traffic between them is heavy. Car carriers fill trailers in both directions throughout the year, not just during a single peak season.
The route depends on where you’re going in Texas. For Houston and San Antonio, carriers leave Los Angeles on I-10 through Phoenix, Tucson, and El Paso. For Dallas-Fort Worth, they usually take I-40 through Flagstaff and Albuquerque and then drop to I-20. Trips from San Diego often start on I-8 east to Arizona. Most trips cover 1,200 to 1,700 miles and take 3 to 5 days.
A practical tip for El Paso: the city uses Mountain Time, while most of Texas uses Central Time. Your coordinator confirms delivery times in local time.
Ports and auctions sit at both ends. The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach anchor the western end, and Port Houston and Port Freeport handle vehicle traffic on the Texas Gulf Coast. Dealer stock moves between auction lots in Riverside and Anaheim and lots in Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio.
Seasonal patterns are steady. Spring and summer bring family moves to Austin, the Dallas suburbs, and Houston. Military families transfer between Camp Pendleton, Fort Irwin, and Naval Base San Diego on one end and Fort Bliss, Fort Hood, and Joint Base San Antonio on the other. Summer temperatures through the desert often top 100°F.
Safeeds Transport books your shipment with a licensed, insured carrier that runs this lane regularly.
Shipping somewhere else? See how state-to-state car shipping works.
