Moving from Dallas to Austin — Firefighter-Owned, Veteran-Operated
Firefighting’s Finest moves the 195 miles from Dallas to Austin down I-35 with our own crews, start to finish — no third-party carrier, no handoff to a partner truck. A recent full-service Dallas to Austin move ran $3,800. We operate physical, fully staffed locations in both Dallas and Austin, which is why this is one of our most-booked intrastate routes.
You trust firefighters to protect your home in an emergency. The same standard applies when we’re carrying your furniture down I-35.
4.8 / 5
572+ Google reviews
BBB A+
Accredited Business
ProMover
SMA Pinnacle Mover
Vetted crews
Background & drug screened
Moving down I-35 is more than a straightforward drive. Transporting a full household through Waco and Temple construction traffic, then unloading into a different city’s access rules, takes real logistical planning — which is why Firefighting’s Finest staffs this route with our own people, not a subcontractor.
Firefighting’s Finest Moving & Storage was established in 2001 by two off-duty firefighters in Fort Worth and has since grown to four Texas locations — including our own staffed operations in both Dallas and Austin. We are owned and operated by off-duty professional firefighters and military veterans, and we bring the same discipline we have for public service right to your driveway.
Licensed & insured: TX DMV No. 006924557C · US DOT 2783472 · MC #1016781
Our Dallas location
Our Austin location
How much does it cost to move from Dallas to Austin?
A recent full-service Dallas to Austin move ran $3,800. That’s an average based on a real completed move on this exact route, not a fixed price — useful for budgeting, not a quote. Long-distance and intrastate pricing isn’t quoted by the hour the way a local move is; it’s built from your shipment size, the services you add, and your date. Your own number could land above or below $3,800 depending on the factors below.
What actually moves the number on this route
- The size of your shipment. A one-bedroom apartment and a four-bedroom house are not close in truck space, crew size, or hours — this is the single biggest driver of your final price.
- Service level. Are you packing your own boxes, or do you want our crew to fully pack and unpack for you? Professional packing is billed as an add-on, not bundled into the base rate.
- Specialty items. Pianos, gun safes, large safes, and custom art or antiques require extra equipment and specialized handling, which carries an additional charge.
- Access at both ends. A ground-floor Dallas home where the truck parks at the door prices differently than a third-floor Austin walk-up with no elevator and a long carry from the curb.
- Storage needs. If your Austin closing date or lease start doesn’t line up with your Dallas move-out date, climate-controlled storage adds a line item but saves you from a second move.
- Timing. Like every Texas route we run, summer and month-end dates are the busiest — and priciest — weeks of the year.
Because we don’t hand this move to a broker or a partner carrier, there’s no markup for a middleman — you’re paying for the truck and crew that actually shows up at your door, in both cities.
For comparison, here’s what other routes from our Dallas operation typically run:
| Route | Type | Representative quote |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas to Austin, TX | Intrastate | $3,800 |
| Houston to Dallas, TX | Intrastate, inbound | $4,000 |
| Dallas to San Diego, CA | Interstate | $13,500 |
| Dallas to San Francisco, CA | Interstate | $17,500 |
Representative full-service quotes from our Dallas operation. Your written estimate depends on shipment size, services, and date.
Dallas to Austin is one of our fastest, most predictable routes to price — a single-day drive with no interstate mileage — which is part of why it tends to run well below our California routes even on comparable-sized homes. See the full breakdown on our Dallas moving costs page.
Navigating the I-35 Corridor
Moving the 195 miles from Dallas to Austin might look like a straightforward drive down I-35 South, but transporting a whole household through Waco and Temple construction traffic requires real logistical expertise.
Because we operate physical, fully staffed locations in both Dallas and Austin, you aren’t just hiring someone to put your boxes in a truck — you’re partnering with a team that controls your entire move, from your old driveway in the Metroplex to your new front door in Central Texas.
What movers actually have to go through on a Dallas to Austin move
A move down I-35 isn’t just “drive south.” Here’s what our crews plan around on every Dallas-to-Austin job:
- Two different truck-access environments. Dallas neighborhoods like Uptown and the Design District often require a certificate of insurance, a reserved freight elevator, and an assigned loading dock before a crew can even enter the building. Austin’s downtown high-rises and dense central neighborhoods present their own version of the same problem — narrow streets, limited curb space, and buildings that need advance notice before a moving truck can stage. We confirm access at both addresses before the date, not on it.
- Statewide commercial vehicle parking rules. Texas Transportation Code Sec. 545.307 restricts parking a commercial motor vehicle overnight (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.) on a posted street in or near a residential subdivision, with an exception while the vehicle is actively transporting persons or property to or from that subdivision. That statute applies in Dallas and in Austin alike, which is why our trucks are scheduled to load, drive, and unload — not sit staged overnight in either city.
- Truck size and clearance. Our fleet runs 26- to 28-foot fully enclosed box trucks. That needs roughly 13 feet of overhead clearance and a driving/parking surface rated for 26,000 pounds, which rules out some parking garages and narrow alley access in both the Dallas Design District and Austin’s older central neighborhoods. Tell us your access at booking and we size the truck to the property.
- A full day of loading, then a same-day or next-day delivery. The drive itself is only 3 to 4 hours, but a full-service move — packing verification, loading, driving, and unloading — is typically scheduled over a carefully planned 1-to-2 day window, depending on the size of your home and your closing dates.
- Construction and traffic timing through Waco and Temple. I-35 between Dallas and Austin runs through active, long-term construction zones. Our drivers build that variability into the schedule so your delivery window doesn’t slip because of a traffic report.
- What we can’t do. Our crews cannot disconnect or reconnect water or gas lines to any appliance, cannot change a dryer power cord, and cannot break down or assemble cribs. Front-loading washers need the drum secured beforehand with the manufacturer’s hardware.
Dallas to Austin, in numbers
- 195 miles down I-35 South, Dallas to Austin
- 3–4 hours drive time; full-service moves typically complete in 1–2 days
- $3,800 representative full-service quote for this route
- 2 locations — our own staffed operations in Dallas and Austin, no third-party handoff
Why Dallas Residents Are Making the Move to Austin
It’s no secret why Dallas residents are heading down to the state capital. Whether you’re relocating for a career change or a lifestyle upgrade, Austin offers a genuinely different Texas experience:
- The Tech Boom. Many DFW professionals are trading corporate Dallas for Austin’s booming tech corridor, home to major campuses for Apple, Tesla, Oracle, and a long list of startups.
- A Cultural Shift. Austin’s “Keep Austin Weird” identity runs on live music, food trucks, and a slower, more creative pace than the Metroplex.
- Unmatched Outdoor Living. Trade concrete for the Hill Country — paddleboarding on Lady Bird Lake, hiking the Barton Creek Greenbelt, and swimming at Barton Springs are weekend staples for new Austin residents.
Austin is now the 10th-largest city in the United States and the fourth-largest in Texas, with roughly 980,000 residents in the city proper and over 2.3 million across the metro — a big part of why we built a permanent, staffed location there instead of treating it as an occasional route.
Services You’ll Need for a Dallas to Austin Move
A full-service intrastate move like this one typically draws on several of our services working together, all under one roof.
Professional Packing Services
From fine china and artwork to electronics, our trained packers use proper materials so nothing shifts over a multi-hour highway drive. Packing is booked ahead of move day — our crews can’t pack the same day they load.
Loading & Unloading
Pads, stretch film, and dollies to protect your belongings loading out of Dallas and unloading in Austin.
Special Care Items Handling
Pianos, gun safes, fine art, and antiques require specialized equipment and technique. See our special care items movers — flag these before your estimate is finalized.
Climate-Controlled Storage
Austin’s housing market moves fast. If your new place isn’t ready when you arrive, our storage holds your belongings in our own facility rather than a shared warehouse.
Commercial & Corporate Moving
Relocating a DFW business to the Austin area? Our commercial moving services minimize downtime so your team is back online quickly.
Furniture Disassembly & Reassembly
Standard furniture is broken down and reassembled as part of the base service at no extra charge — cribs are the one exception our crews can’t handle.
Why Choose Firefighting’s Finest for This Move
- First Responder & Military Founded. We were established in 2001 by two off-duty firefighters in Fort Worth. That same discipline, organization, and integrity shows up on every long-distance job we run.
- Your Crew, the Whole Way. Because we’re staffed in both Dallas and Austin, the team that loads your home is the same team that unloads it 195 miles later — never handed off to a partner carrier.
- Highly Trained, Background-Checked Crews. Every mover on our team passes a background check and drug screening before stepping into a customer’s home.
- Clear, Upfront Pricing. No hidden fees, no surprise line items on delivery day that weren’t on your written estimate.
- Licensed & Insured. TX DMV No. 006924557C · US DOT 2783472 · MC #1016781. All long-distance moves fall under these same numbers — verify them on any invoice before you book, including ours.
What to Expect on Move Day
Your crew arrives at your Dallas address at the scheduled or flex-start time, having called ahead. We wrap and pad every piece of furniture before it’s loaded, then load methodically to protect everything for the highway drive. Depending on your home’s size and your Austin arrival date, delivery happens the same day or the next — with your same crew handling unloading and basic reassembly at your new front door.
Timing
Your crew will call you at least 30 minutes before they’re on the way, and if a delivery window changes because of construction or traffic on I-35, they’ll call with an updated arrival time.
Changes & Cancellations
Give us at least 48 hours’ notice to change or cancel. Cancellations or date changes after confirmation forfeit the service deposit, and rescheduling requires a new one.
Taking Your Time on I-35
While our truck safely transports your items down I-35, you can travel at your own pace. Feel free to stop for a kolache at the Czech Stop in West or grab snacks at the Buc-ee’s in Temple — we’ll coordinate delivery timing around your schedule.
FAQs About Moving from Dallas to Austin
How long does a move from Dallas to Austin take?
The drive itself is 3 to 4 hours. A full-service move — packing verification, loading, the drive, and unloading — is typically completed over a 1-to-2 day scheduled window, depending on the size of your home and your closing or lease dates.
Will my belongings be transferred to another truck or company?
No. Because we operate dedicated, fully staffed locations in both Dallas and Austin, the uniformed crew that loads your items in DFW is the same crew responsible for them all the way to Central Texas. Your shipment never changes trucks or hands.
How much does it cost to move from Dallas to Austin?
A recent full-service move on this route ran $3,800. That’s an average based on real completed moves, not a fixed rate — your own quote depends on your shipment size, the services you add (packing, storage, specialty items), and your move date. Request a written estimate for a number specific to your home.
What if I need to stop on the way to Austin?
Take your time — while our truck transports your items down I-35, you can travel at your own pace. Feel free to stop for a kolache at the Czech Stop in West or grab snacks at the Buc-ee’s in Temple. We’ll coordinate delivery timing around your schedule.
Do you offer storage if my new Austin home isn’t ready yet?
Yes. We offer secure, month-to-month climate-controlled storage in our own facilities, so your belongings stay with the same company handling your move rather than a third-party warehouse.
Can you move specialty items like a piano or gun safe on this route?
Yes. Pianos, gun safes, televisions, and Tempur-Pedic mattresses all move with specialized equipment and carry an additional charge. Flag them before your estimate is finalized so crew size and equipment reflect the actual job.
Do I need a permit to park a moving truck in Dallas or Austin?
Neither city requires a specific residential moving permit, but Texas Transportation Code Sec. 545.307 restricts overnight parking (10 p.m.–6 a.m.) of a commercial motor vehicle on a posted street in or near a residential subdivision in either city. In practice, this means our truck is scheduled to load, drive, and unload — not stage overnight at either address. High-rises and managed communities in both cities may separately require a certificate of insurance and a reserved elevator or loading dock — let us know your building type when you book.
What’s the difference between a binding and non-binding estimate?
A non-binding estimate is a good-faith projection that can be revised if you add items or services after the walkthrough. A binding estimate is a fixed price we guarantee will not change, though you can still add services on move day at delivery. Both must be given to you in writing, and either way you’ll also receive a bill of lading before loading starts. See our full Dallas moving cost breakdown for more detail.
More routes and locations
Movers in Dallas, TX · Movers in Austin, TX · Dallas Long-Distance Movers · Houston to Dallas · Dallas to San Diego
Ready to Make Your Move Down I-35?
Whether you’re relocating for the tech boom, a lifestyle change, or just ready for Barton Springs on the weekends, let Firefighting’s Finest handle the logistics of getting there. We serve both ends of this move from our own Dallas and Austin locations.
Firefighting’s Finest Moving and Storage, DFD Movers, Inc. · Serving Dallas and Austin from our own locations in both cities · TX DMV No. 006924557C · US DOT 2783472 · MC #1016781
