Moving from Austin, TX to McAllen, TX
About 328 miles inside Texas. Past the 100-mile local band movers price on distance and weight, but because the truck never crosses a state line the move is regulated by Texas, not by the federal FMCSA. That changes which licence to check and which estimate rules protect you.
Distance estimated from city coordinates; the calculator measures your exact route. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Austin, TX to McAllen, TX covers about 328 miles and is a move within Texas. Full-service movers cost $1,476 – $1,968 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 544 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 328 miles, about 6 hours of driving. Long enough to be priced on weight, short enough that most carriers run it on a dedicated truck rather than pooling your goods with other shipments — a two-bedroom home typically runs $1,476 – $1,968. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Within Texas
- Driving
- about 6 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Austin to McAllen
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,107 – $1,476 | $797 – $1,063 | $531 – $708 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,328 – $1,771 | $956 – $1,275 | $638 – $850 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,476 – $1,968 | $1,063 – $1,417 | $708 – $945 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,697 – $2,263 | $1,222 – $1,630 | $815 – $1,086 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,919 – $2,558 | $1,382 – $1,842 | $921 – $1,228 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $2,214 – $2,952 | $1,594 – $2,125 | $1,063 – $1,417 |
Transport only, for an estimated 328 miles, from our published model: distance × home-size factor × service rate, shown as −10% to +20% around the base figure. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items sit on top. How we price it.
Worked example: a two-bedroom home, Austin to McAllen
328 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $1,640. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $1,476 to $1,968, transport only. Every parameter is on the methodology page; moving cost per mile explains why the rate falls with distance.
How many people move from Austin to McAllen
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 544 people a year (±259) moved from Travis County, TX, home to Austin, to Hidalgo County, TX, home to McAllen. Going the other way: about 278 people a year (±119). Movers from Travis County make up 3.2% of the 16,815 people a year who moved into Hidalgo County from another county or state.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Williamson County, TX | 16,454 ±1,845 |
| Hays County, TX | 5,639 ±1,063 |
| Harris County, TX | 3,974 ±791 |
| Bexar County, TX | 3,130 ±757 |
| Bastrop County, TX | 2,447 ±809 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Harris County, TX | 2,052 ±713 |
| Cameron County, TX | 1,623 ±457 |
| Bexar County, TX | 1,418 ±476 |
| Starr County, TX | 1,106 ±539 |
| Dallas County, TX | 589 ±295 |
Licensed movers at each end
323 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of Austin. 30 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 27.2% of their 114 vehicle inspections ended with a truck put out of service. The largest by registered fleet:
| Carrier | Based in | Size | Inspections, 24 mo | Vehicle out of service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple MovingUSDOT 3538096 | Austin · 9 mi | 185 trucks | 37 | 23.5% of 17 |
| Einstein Moving Company LLCUSDOT 2193963 | Austin · 9 mi | 80 trucks | 0 | — |
| A-1 Freeman Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 1983522 | Round Rock · 20 mi | 30 trucks | 0 | — |
| Next Stop Moving & StorageUSDOT 3756197 | Taylor · 30 mi | 18 trucks | 56 | 31.3% of 32 |
| All My Sons Moving & Storage of Austin LLCUSDOT 902281 | Pflugerville · 15 mi | 12 trucks | 3 | 0.0% of 3 |
| Unicorn Moving and StorageUSDOT 3592100 | Austin · 9 mi | 11 trucks | 8 | 0.0% of 5 |
How these figures are calculated
At the McAllen end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of McAllen: Chapa's Moving Express LLC (McAllen, 6 trucks), Lui Lui Moving Service LLC (Edimburg, 6 trucks), Lone Star Moving Service (McAllen, 4 trucks), Cantu Moving Service (Edinburg, 3 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Both ends are in Texas, so Texas rather than the FMCSA regulates the move: ask the mover which Texas licence or registration it holds and check it with the state. The federal 110% cap on non-binding estimates does not reach a move inside Texas, so your protection on this 328-mile job is the estimate you sign; ask for it binding or not-to-exceed. More in binding vs non-binding estimates.
Before you book Austin to McAllen
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 328 miles some carriers still quote hourly plus mileage rather than by weight. Get both numbers so you can compare like with like — hourly can win on a short haul with easy access at both ends.
Confirm it is a one-day run
Most carriers cover this distance in a single day, which avoids an overnight charge and a second crew. If a quote assumes two days, ask why.
Arriving in McAllen
A local move inside McAllen later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $445 – $733 for a two-bedroom home and $741 – $1,344 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from McAllen are Corpus Christi (about 138 mi), Laredo (about 140 mi), San Antonio (about 258 mi).
Other routes from Austin
All routes from Austin, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Austin to San Antonio, TX | ~86 mi | $445 – $733 |
| Austin to Houston, TX | 162 mi | $729 – $972 |
| Austin to Dallas, TX | 196 mi | $882 – $1,176 |
| Austin to Fort Worth, TX | ~202 mi | $909 – $1,212 |
| Austin to Arlington, TX | ~203 mi | $914 – $1,218 |
| Austin to Corpus Christi, TX | ~203 mi | $914 – $1,218 |
| Austin to McKinney, TX | ~247 mi | $1,112 – $1,482 |
| Austin to Laredo, TX | ~251 mi | $1,130 – $1,506 |
Also moving to McAllen: from Corpus Christi, TX, from Laredo, TX, from San Antonio, TX, from Houston, TX.
Austin to McAllen moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Austin to McAllen?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 328 miles cost about $1,107 – $1,476 for a studio, $1,476 – $1,968 for a two-bedroom home and $1,697 – $2,263 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Austin to McAllen take?
The drive is about 6 hours, but the move usually takes 1 to 3 days because it moves on a dedicated truck, because the corridor is too short to be worth consolidating. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 2 to 4 weeks, 4 to 6 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from Austin to McAllen?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $708 – $945 for a two-bedroom home, against $1,476 – $1,968 with full-service movers; a moving container is $1,063 – $1,417.
Is Austin to McAllen an interstate move?
No. Both cities are in Texas, so the move is regulated by Texas rather than by the federal FMCSA. The carrier needs a USDOT number and whatever Texas requires of household-goods movers; interstate authority (an MC number) is not required for this job. The federal 110% rule on non-binding estimates does not apply either, which is a good reason to ask for a binding estimate.
How many people move from Austin to McAllen each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 544 people a year (margin of error ±259) moved from Travis County, which contains Austin, to Hidalgo County, which contains McAllen.
Sources for this page
The published cost model; US Census Bureau ACS migration flows (± is the 90% margin of error); the FMCSA Motor Carrier Census and Safety Measurement System; 49 CFR Part 375. Data last refreshed September 24, 2026.