Palo Alto, CA → Houston, TX · Cross-country move

Movers from Palo Alto to Houston

About 1,912 road miles heading east. Typical two-bedroom cost $7,260–$10,800, delivery in 5–10 days, 233 carriers on the Palo Alto side and 3,257 in Houston.

1,912 miroad distance
33 hours (4 driving days)driving time
5–10 daysdelivery window
$7,260–$10,8002-bedroom estimate

Photo: Katie Haugland Brown · CC BY 2.0

Open navigation Google Maps Apple Maps Waze

Route summary

From: Palo Alto, California
To: Houston, Texas
Road distance: ≈ 1,912 miles (1,621 straight-line)
Drive time: 33 hours (4 driving days)
Delivery window: 5–10 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 233 (62 interstate)
Movers at destination: 3,257 (1,374 interstate)

Reverse: Houston → Palo Alto

Moving from Palo Alto to Houston is a cross-country move of roughly 1,912 road miles, heading east from California to Texas.

At this distance carriers price by shipment weight and mileage rather than by the hour. A two-bedroom home (around 5,000 lb of goods) typically costs $7,260 to $10,800 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 5 to 10 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 33 hours (4 driving days).

On the Palo Alto side there are 233 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (62 of them authorized for interstate work), and 3,257 around Houston (1,374 interstate). For an interstate move you can book from either end; movers near the origin handle loading and are usually the better first call, while a destination-side company can be useful if you need storage or delivery-day help in Houston.

Palo Alto has a population of about 67,000 and Houston about 2.4 million. The two cities have comparable density (2,851 and 3,599 people per square mile), so loading and unloading conditions are usually similar at both ends. Labor and living costs run lower in Texas than in California, which tends to make destination-side services such as unpacking or storage cheaper than the same services back home. Texas levies no state income tax on wages, a frequent reason people make this exact move.

Cost of moving from Palo Alto to Houston

Full-service estimate for 1,912 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$2,900	$3,540	$4,320
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$4,360	$5,310	$6,480
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$7,260	$8,860	$10,800
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$11,620	$14,170	$17,290
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$15,980	$19,480	$23,770

Rental truck (DIY)

$2,710–$3,830

One-way truck for the distance, mileage and fuel included; you load and drive.

Portable container

$2,730–$4,010

Container delivered, you load, company transports; transit is slower than a mover.

Full-service mover

$7,260–$10,800

Two-bedroom reference; crew loads, hauls and unloads.

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Palo Alto, CA → Houston, TX. Adjust the other options to see your range.

—to—

Typical full-service range.

Estimates use market baselines described on the cost guide; your quotes will vary by inventory, access and date.

Moving companies for this route

Near Palo Alto (origin)

Piranha Ops LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3389468
MC: 1089109
Based in: San Jose, CA 95126 (13 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 49 trucks, 100 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (510) 798-4604 Route Verify on FMCSA

Kilam INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3251388
MC: 1023623
Based in: Fremont, CA 94538 (13 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 30 trucks, 68 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (415) 740-2340 Route Verify on FMCSA

Crown Worldwide Moving And Storage LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 2970
MC: 138953
Based in: Union City, CA 94587 (14 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 25 trucks, 18 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (510) 614-4105 Route Verify on FMCSA

Lucid USA INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3488549
MC: 1147342
Based in: Newark, CA 94560 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 22 trucks, 38 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (341) 236-1056 Route Verify on FMCSA

Managed Facility Solutions

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Managed Facilities Solutions LLC

USDOT: 2974713
MC: 10809
Based in: San Jose, CA 95131 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 22 trucks, 43 drivers
USDOT registered: 2017

Call (408) 920-0110 Route Verify on FMCSA

Careful Movers

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Careful Movers INC

USDOT: 1464935
MC: 553377
Based in: Union City, CA 94587 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 14 trucks, 14 drivers
USDOT registered: 2006

Call (650) 595-8400 Route Verify on FMCSA

Arjak&agnes Sons Trucking

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3247717
MC: 1021407
Based in: Santa Clara, CA 95050 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 7 trucks, 6 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (510) 359-9498 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mav Moving LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4340425
MC: 77787146
Based in: Newark, CA 94560 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 6 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2024

Call (510) 456-5745 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 233 movers in Palo Alto

Near Houston (destination)

Ceva Logistics US INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Ceva Contract Logistics US INC

USDOT: 187774
MC: 152620
Based in: Houston, TX 77032 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 452 trucks, 679 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (614) 482-5046 Route Verify on FMCSA

Xlr8 Delivery INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2926913
MC: 987802
Based in: Houston, TX 77073 (15 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 331 trucks, 272 drivers
USDOT registered: 2016

Call (281) 784-2302 Route Verify on FMCSA

Tri Star Freight System INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 325836
MC: 1742035
Based in: Houston, TX 77028 (7 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 282 trucks, 140 drivers
USDOT registered: 1988

Call (713) 631-1095 Route Verify on FMCSA

Palletized Trucking INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 152429
MC: 148279
Based in: Houston, TX 77009 (1 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 224 trucks, 184 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (713) 225-3303 Route Verify on FMCSA

W W Rowland Trucking Company LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 213641
MC: 161344
Based in: Houston, TX 77013 (9 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 170 trucks, 170 drivers
USDOT registered: 1982

Call (713) 675-1200 Route Verify on FMCSA

Jetco Delivery

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Jetco Delivery LLC

USDOT: 1470034
MC: 555157
Based in: Houston, TX 77032 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 159 trucks, 124 drivers
USDOT registered: 2006

Call (713) 676-1111 Route Verify on FMCSA

Shark Trucking INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 541564
MC: 269507
Based in: Houston, TX 77016 (8 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 126 trucks, 121 drivers
USDOT registered: 1993

Call (281) 458-2649 Route Verify on FMCSA

Ranger Energy Services LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2544062
MC: 10575
Based in: Houston, TX 77042 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 105 trucks, 178 drivers
USDOT registered: 2014

Call (713) 935-8900 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 3,257 movers in Houston

Related routes

Other destinations from Palo Alto

Other origins to Houston

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Palo Alto to Houston?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,900 to $4,320 for a studio, $4,360 to $6,480 for a one-bedroom, $7,260 to $10,800 for a two-bedroom, $11,620 to $17,290 for a three-bedroom and $15,980 to $23,770 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Houston from Palo Alto?

About 1,912 road miles (1,621 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 33 hours (4 driving days).

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 5 to 10 days after pickup. Carriers give a spread rather than a fixed date because long-distance trucks carry several shipments; a dedicated truck or expedited service shortens the window for an extra fee.

Does my mover need interstate authority for this move?

Yes. Crossing from California into Texas makes this an interstate move, so the carrier must hold active FMCSA operating authority (an MC number) in addition to its USDOT number. The company cards on this page flag which carriers are authorized for interstate work.

Is it cheaper to rent a truck or use a container for Palo Alto to Houston?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $2,710 to $3,830 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,730 to $4,010. Both save money versus a full-service crew but you do the loading, and container transit can take longer than a mover's delivery window.

When is the least expensive time to book this move?

Rates are highest in summer and around the last days of any month, when demand peaks. Mid-month, mid-week and winter dates are usually quoted below the standard rate. Booking four to eight weeks ahead gives you the widest choice of carriers on the Palo Alto–Houston corridor.