Santa Barbara, CA → Austin, TX · Cross-country move

Movers from Santa Barbara to Austin

About 1,546 road miles heading east. Typical two-bedroom cost $6,620–$9,850, delivery in 5–10 days, 27 carriers on the Santa Barbara side and 868 in Austin.

1,546 miroad distance
27 hours (4 driving days)driving time
5–10 daysdelivery window
$6,620–$9,8502-bedroom estimate

Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0

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Route summary

From: Santa Barbara, California
To: Austin, Texas
Road distance: ≈ 1,546 miles (1,310 straight-line)
Drive time: 27 hours (4 driving days)
Delivery window: 5–10 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 27 (9 interstate)
Movers at destination: 868 (241 interstate)

Reverse: Austin → Santa Barbara

Austin sits about 1,546 miles east of Santa Barbara, which makes this an interstate relocation from California to Texas that most movers classify as a cross-country move.

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 $6,620 to $9,850 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 27 hours (4 driving days).

On the Santa Barbara side there are 27 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (9 of them authorized for interstate work), and 868 around Austin (241 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 Austin.

Santa Barbara has a population of about 88,000 and Austin about 1 million. Santa Barbara is considerably denser (4,549 people per square mile versus 3,007), so expect tighter loading conditions, parking permits or elevator reservations at the origin and easier truck access at the destination. 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 Santa Barbara to Austin

Full-service estimate for 1,546 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$2,650	$3,230	$3,940
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$3,970	$4,840	$5,910
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$6,620	$8,070	$9,850
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$10,590	$12,910	$15,750
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$14,560	$17,760	$21,660

Rental truck (DIY)

$2,190–$3,090

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

Portable container

$2,400–$3,530

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

Full-service mover

$6,620–$9,850

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Santa Barbara, CA → Austin, TX. Adjust the other options to see your range.

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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 Santa Barbara (origin)

Aussie Moving

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Aussie Moving INC

USDOT: 2424966
MC: 876037
Based in: Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 2 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2013

Call (805) 456-6498 Route Verify on FMCSA

Twentyfour7 Msi

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Twenty Four 7 Moving Specialists INC

USDOT: 1821147
MC: 661157
Based in: Carpinteria, CA 93013 (12 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 2 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered: 2008

Call (805) 696-9247 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mammoth Van Lines

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Mammoth Moving Holding Corporation

USDOT: 374567
MC: 225136
Based in: Santa Barbara, CA 93111 (6 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 1 truck, 2 drivers
USDOT registered: 1989

Call (805) 968-8643 Route Verify on FMCSA

All Things Home Services LLC

Interstate carrier

USDOT: 8395520
Based in: Santa Barbara, CA 93111 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 1 truck, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 2026

Call (805) 245-3822 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bushnell Moving

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Kenneth Lee Bushnell

USDOT: 1355626
MC: 608117
Based in: Santa Barbara, CA 93105 (9 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 1 truck, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2005

Call (805) 682-5454 Route Verify on FMCSA

Santa Barbara Home Improvement Center

Intrastate carrier

Legal name: Santa Barbara Home Improvement Center INC

USDOT: 2735884
Based in: Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (805) 963-7825 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mike'S Deliveries

Intrastate carrier

Legal name: Miguel A Barrios

USDOT: 3008579
Based in: Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2017

Call (805) 331-0318 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bright Delivery And Install INC

Intrastate carrier

USDOT: 3544323
Based in: Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2021

Call (805) 679-1020 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 27 movers in Santa Barbara

Near Austin (destination)

Apple Moving

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Apple Moving LLC

USDOT: 3538096
MC: 1361596
Based in: Austin, TX 78759 (7 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 185 trucks, 120 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (757) 397-1248 Route Verify on FMCSA

Doxa LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2608633
MC: 917444
Based in: Austin, TX 78750 (10 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 114 trucks, 78 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (737) 444-7778 Route Verify on FMCSA

Spur Freight Services INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2190438
MC: 1544165
Based in: Austin, TX 78753 (8 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 106 trucks, 101 drivers
USDOT registered: 2011

Call (866) 250-8589 Route Verify on FMCSA

Aifleet

Licensed interstate

Legal name: The Ai Fleet INC

USDOT: 3443025
MC: 1118730
Based in: Austin, TX 78701 (2 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 72 trucks, 73 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (737) 937-6883 Route Verify on FMCSA

Lvs Logistics LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3903424
MC: 1438723
Based in: Austin, TX 78729 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 67 trucks, 67 drivers
USDOT registered: 2022

Call (781) 266-7968 Route Verify on FMCSA

Square Cow Moovers

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Square Cow Moovers LLC

USDOT: 1748594
MC: 640166
Based in: Cedar Park, TX 78613 (15 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 62 trucks, 84 drivers
USDOT registered: 2008

Call (512) 401-6683 Route Verify on FMCSA

Azuma

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Azuma Leasing LLC

USDOT: 4074353
MC: 1548580
Based in: Austin, TX 78705 (1 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 39 trucks, 39 drivers
USDOT registered: 2023

Call (512) 233-5019 Route Verify on FMCSA

Cadogan Tate Texas Cadogan Tate Austin Cadogan Tate Dallas

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: White Glove Storage And Delivery LLC

USDOT: 1598596
MC: 591409
Based in: Austin, TX 78744 (9 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 26 trucks, 30 drivers
USDOT registered: 2007

Call (512) 490-1500 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 868 movers in Austin

Tips for this move

Expect a delivery spread of one to two weeks; plan temporary housing in Austin accordingly.
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.

Near Santa Barbara

Near Austin

Related routes

Other destinations from Santa Barbara

Other origins to Austin

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Santa Barbara to Austin?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,650 to $3,940 for a studio, $3,970 to $5,910 for a one-bedroom, $6,620 to $9,850 for a two-bedroom, $10,590 to $15,750 for a three-bedroom and $14,560 to $21,660 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Austin from Santa Barbara?

About 1,546 road miles (1,310 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 27 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 Santa Barbara to Austin?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $2,190 to $3,090 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,400 to $3,530. 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 Santa Barbara–Austin corridor.