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Texas to Florida Moving: Movers vs. a Rental Truck With a Driver You rent and load the truck. Our professional driver takes it east on I-10. Moving Florida to Texas? Same service.
Texas to Florida is about 900 to 1,350 miles of Gulf Coast interstate, through Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. It’s long enough that driving a loaded box truck yourself eats two or three days, and short enough that a full-service mover’s long-distance pricing can feel out of proportion. Here is how the options compare.
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Texas to Florida at a Glance
Nearly every trip follows I-10 east from Houston or San Antonio; Dallas and Austin routes join it or run through Shreveport and Jackson. Miles are approximate. The driver fee is a typical range; your quote is personal.
| Route (either direction) | Approx. miles | Drive it yourself | With our driver | Typical driver fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston ↔ Orlando | ~965 | 2 days | 1–2 days | $1,075–$1,475 |
| Houston ↔ Tampa | ~980 | 2 days | 1–2 days | $1,100–$1,500 |
| Austin ↔ Jacksonville | ~1,015 | 2 days | 1–2 days | $1,100–$1,500 |
| Dallas ↔ Orlando | ~1,110 | 2–3 days | 1–2 days | $1,150–$1,550 |
| San Antonio ↔ Orlando | ~1,160 | 2–3 days | 1–2 days | $1,175–$1,575 |
| Dallas ↔ Miami | ~1,320 | 2–3 days | 1–2 days | $1,275–$1,725 |
Driver fee covers the driver and the driver’s travel. The truck rental is paid to the rental company; fuel and tolls are paid at cost.
Movers vs. Renting a Truck and Hiring a Driver
Full-service movers bundle the truck, crew and driver. With a rental truck and our driver, you pay each piece separately and handle the loading, yourself or with local help hired by the hour.
| What you pay for | Full-service movers | Rental truck + our driver | Drive the truck yourself |
|---|---|---|---|
| Truck | Included | One-way rental, quoted by the rental company | One-way rental |
| Driving | Included | $1,075–$1,725 driver fee (by city) | Your time: 2–3 days |
| Fuel and tolls | Included | At cost (see below) | At cost |
| Loading and unloading | Included | You, or local help by the hour | You, or local help by the hour |
| Hotels and meals on the road | None | None for you | 1–2 nights of hotels and meals |
| Typical total, 3–4 bedroom home | $2,350–$7,750 (500–1,000 miles) to $3,850–$15,250+ (1,000+ miles), national estimates | Rental + driver fee + fuel + tolls | Rental + fuel + tolls + travel costs |
Extra Space Storage puts full-service moves of 500 to 1,000 miles at about $1,650 to $6,150 for one or two bedrooms and $2,350 to $7,750 for three or four; past 1,000 miles the ranges climb to $3,150 to $15,250+. Most Texas–Florida trips sit right around that 1,000-mile line. These are national estimates; get one-way truck quotes for your dates.
Route Notes: I-10, Tolls and the Florida Line
- Mostly toll-free. I-10 through Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama has no tolls. In Florida, I-75 and I-4 are free; Florida’s Turnpike, a faster way to Orlando and South Florida, charges tolls.
- The Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. In Louisiana, I-10 crosses about 18 miles of swamp on a bridge with narrow shoulders. Crashes there stop traffic for hours, so time it outside rush hour.
- Plan for a Florida agricultural inspection stop. Florida law requires vehicles other than exempt ones, such as passenger cars, RVs and certain pickups, to stop at agricultural inspection stations. Rental box trucks aren’t exempt, so expect to pull in at the I-10 station when it’s open.
- Texas toll roads are optional but cashless. Around Houston, Dallas and Austin, many toll roads bill by plate. A rental truck’s toll bill may come through the rental company with a fee, so most drivers stay on the free interstates.
Fuel Cost: Texas to Florida in a Moving Truck
Fuel is miles ÷ MPG × price per gallon. A loaded 26-foot truck gets about 8 to 10 MPG:
| Route | Approx. miles | Gallons (8–10 MPG) | Fuel at $3.50/gal (example) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston ↔ Orlando | ~965 | 97–121 | $340–$425 |
| Dallas ↔ Orlando | ~1,110 | 111–139 | $390–$485 |
| Dallas ↔ Miami | ~1,320 | 132–165 | $460–$580 |
When to Move Between Texas and Florida
- Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30 along the entire Gulf Coast route. Keep a day or two of flexibility and watch the forecast the week before.
- Summer afternoons bring heat and thunderstorms. Heavy rain on I-10 cuts visibility for a tall truck; professional drivers plan around it.
- Snowbird and school calendars push demand up in late summer and early fall heading to Florida. Book trucks and drivers early in those windows.
How It Works
- Request a quote with pickup and delivery cities, truck size, dates and any towing.
- Rent a one-way truck in your name from U-Haul, Penske or Budget and add our driver to the agreement.
- Load the truck yourself or with hired local help.
- Our driver meets the loaded truck at your pickup address.
- Delivery to your new address. Passengers don’t ride along; you travel separately.
Get a Driver for Your Texas ↔ Florida Move
Tell us your pickup and delivery cities, truck size and move date. The owner prices every trip personally and replies within hours. No obligation.
Texas to Florida FAQ
How much does it cost to have someone drive my moving truck from Texas to Florida?
The driver fee typically runs about $1,075 to $1,725 depending on the cities, plus the one-way truck rental, fuel and tolls at cost. Every trip is priced personally by the owner.
Is it cheaper than hiring movers from Texas to Florida?
Often. National estimates put full-service moves around 1,000 miles at roughly $2,350 to $7,750 for a three- or four-bedroom home, and more past 1,000 miles. A rental truck plus our driver costs the rental, the driver fee, fuel and tolls, and you handle the loading.
Do you drive from Florida to Texas too?
Yes. Every route on this page works in both directions.
Do rental trucks stop at Florida agricultural inspection stations?
Plan on it. Florida exempts passenger cars, RVs and certain pickups, but not rental box trucks.
How long does the drive take?
About 950 to 1,350 miles: 2 to 3 days if you drive it yourself, and typically 1 to 2 days with a professional driver.
Can I ride with the driver?
No. Passengers don’t ride with our drivers, so plan to fly or drive your own car.
Key facts
- Route: Texas to Florida and back, mostly on I-10.
- Typical driver fee: about $1,075 to $1,725 depending on cities; truck rental, fuel and tolls are separate.
- The customer rents and loads the truck; the driver meets the loaded truck at the pickup address.
- No passengers ride with the driver.
- Quotes are personal and come back within hours.
Related
Sources: Extra Space Storage, How Much Does It Cost to Hire Movers (Oct 2026), Angi, cost to move across the country, Florida Statutes §570.15 (agricultural inspection stations); checked November 2026. Mover and truck-rental prices are third-party national estimates, not quotes. TruckRentalDriver.com is an independent driver service and is not affiliated with U-Haul, Penske, Budget or Enterprise.