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

Movers from Palo Alto to McAllen

About 1,882 road miles heading east. Typical two-bedroom cost $7,210–$10,730, delivery in 5–10 days, 233 carriers on the Palo Alto side and 357 in McAllen.

1,882 miroad distance
33 hours (4 driving days)driving time
5–10 daysdelivery window
$7,210–$10,7302-bedroom estimate

Photo: Theunderratedtaco · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Route summary

From: Palo Alto, California
To: McAllen, Texas
Road distance: ≈ 1,882 miles (1,595 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: 357 (213 interstate)

Reverse: McAllen → Palo Alto

The route from Palo Alto, CA to McAllen, TX covers roughly 1,882 miles by road, a east-bound trip that falls into the cross-country move category for pricing purposes.

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 $7,210 to $10,730 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 357 around McAllen (213 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 McAllen.

Palo Alto has a population of about 67,000 and McAllen about 150,640. The two cities have comparable density (2,851 and 2,283 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 McAllen

Full-service estimate for 1,882 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$2,880	$3,520	$4,290
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$4,330	$5,280	$6,440
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$7,210	$8,790	$10,730
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$11,540	$14,070	$17,160
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$15,860	$19,340	$23,600

Rental truck (DIY)

$2,680–$3,790

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

Portable container

$2,700–$3,970

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

Full-service mover

$7,210–$10,730

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Palo Alto, CA → McAllen, 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 McAllen (destination)

Rapid Transport

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Rapid Logistics LLC

USDOT: 1502769
MC: 564203
Based in: Pharr, TX 78577 (5 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 325 trucks, 303 drivers
USDOT registered: 2006

Call (956) 702-0700 Route Verify on FMCSA

Unimex Logistics LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 1970020
MC: 697365
Based in: Pharr, TX 78577 (5 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 310 trucks, 151 drivers
USDOT registered: 2009

Call (956) 213-8150 Route Verify on FMCSA

Spirit Truck Lines LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 437028
MC: 152490
Based in: San Juan, TX 78589 (7 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 446 trucks, 218 drivers
USDOT registered: 1991

Call (956) 781-7715 Route Verify on FMCSA

Aleman Trucking LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2959196
MC: 3661
Based in: Alamo, TX 78516 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 324 trucks, 158 drivers
USDOT registered: 2017

Call (956) 202-0779 Route Verify on FMCSA

Premier 1 Trucking LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3187957
MC: 303464
Based in: Hidalgo, TX 78557 (8 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 128 trucks, 146 drivers
USDOT registered: 2018

Call (956) 213-1400 Route Verify on FMCSA

Msf Transport LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1930892
MC: 714680
Based in: Hidalgo, TX 78557 (8 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 80 trucks, 87 drivers
USDOT registered: 2009

Call (956) 800-4473 Route Verify on FMCSA

Gec Transport Solutions LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3127200
MC: 91149
Based in: Pharr, TX 78577 (5 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 70 trucks, 69 drivers
USDOT registered: 2018

Call (956) 843-1000 Route Verify on FMCSA

Ang Nation Wide Transport

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4251409
MC: 1647997
Based in: McAllen, TX 78501 (1 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 61 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 2024

Call (956) 855-3359 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 357 movers in McAllen

Tips for this move

Compare a full-service van line against a container service; for a small household the container often wins.
Ask about consolidated versus dedicated truck options—dedicated is faster but costs more.
Read the FMCSA 'Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move' booklet the carrier must provide.
Ship the car separately if you plan to fly; auto transport is priced by the mile like household goods.

Near Palo Alto

Near McAllen

Related routes

Other destinations from Palo Alto

Other origins to McAllen

Frequently asked questions

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

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,880 to $4,290 for a studio, $4,330 to $6,440 for a one-bedroom, $7,210 to $10,730 for a two-bedroom, $11,540 to $17,160 for a three-bedroom and $15,860 to $23,600 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is McAllen from Palo Alto?

About 1,882 road miles (1,595 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 McAllen?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $2,680 to $3,790 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,700 to $3,970. 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–McAllen corridor.