Minnesota to Arizona Car Shipping
Snowbird car shipping from the Twin Cities, Rochester, St. Cloud and Duluth to Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Sun City, Tucson and Yuma. Skip 1,650 miles of driving — fly to Phoenix and your car meets you.
Quick Answer
Short answer: shipping a car from Minnesota to Arizona typically costs $950–$1,500 on open transport with a 4–6-day transit time over ~1,650 miles. It's built for snowbirds moving a car between seasonal homes, and anyone else shipping on this corridor — use the form to the right for your exact price.
Last updated: October 1, 2026
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Minnesota snowbirds split their winters between Florida, Texas and Arizona, and the Phoenix valley, Tucson and Yuma all have large Minnesota communities in winter. Every fall those cars make the 1,600-to-1,800-mile trip southwest.
Minneapolis to Phoenix is about 1,650 miles. On open transport, Minnesota to Arizona car shipping typically costs $950–$1,500 for a standard sedan, with four to six days in transit. It's a long drive to do twice a year — three long days each way, with a stretch of I-40 across northern Arizona and New Mexico that can see winter weather in exactly the months snowbirds travel.
This page covers the routes carriers take, city-to-city costs, when to book in each season, and what to know at both ends.
Minnesota to Arizona Route Overview
I-35 to I-40: The most common path runs south on I-35 from the Twin Cities through Des Moines and Kansas City to Oklahoma City, then west on I-40 through Amarillo, Albuquerque and Flagstaff, and down I-17 into Phoenix.
Through Denver: Some carriers head west across Nebraska on I-80 to Denver, then south on I-25 into New Mexico to join I-40. It's used more in early fall, before Colorado weather turns.
Winter on I-40: Near Flagstaff, I-40 climbs above 7,000 feet, and storms in northern Arizona and New Mexico can close it for hours. Carriers wait out closures rather than drive through them — in December and January, allow an extra day.
Shared loads: Minnesota cars often ride with Wisconsin, Iowa and Dakotas cars bound for the same Phoenix-area communities, which keeps this lane well covered in the fall.
Minnesota to Arizona Car Shipping Cost
Estimated prices for a standard sedan. The high end of each range is peak season (November southbound); the low end is off-peak. SUVs add 15–25% and pickups 20–30%.
| Route | Open | Enclosed | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis → Phoenix (~1,650 mi) | $950–$1,400 | $1,400–$2,000 | 4–6 days |
| St. Paul → Scottsdale (~1,650 mi) | $950–$1,400 | $1,400–$2,000 | 4–6 days |
| Minneapolis → Mesa (~1,630 mi) | $950–$1,400 | $1,400–$2,000 | 4–6 days |
| Minneapolis → Tucson (~1,750 mi) | $1,050–$1,450 | $1,500–$2,100 | 5–6 days |
| Duluth → Sun City (~1,800 mi) | $1,100–$1,500 | $1,550–$2,150 | 5–7 days |
| Rochester → Yuma (~1,800 mi) | $1,100–$1,500 | $1,550–$2,150 | 5–7 days |
When Minnesota Snowbirds Should Book
Fall: Minnesota-to-Arizona shipments build from mid-October and peak in November, when most Twin Cities snowbirds head southwest. Book three to four weeks ahead for a November pickup.
Snow at pickup: A late-November pickup in Minnesota may mean snow on the ground. Carriers load in it routinely, but a plowed driveway — or a meeting point on a main road — keeps the schedule on track.
Spring: Arizona returns peak in late March and April, ahead of the desert heat. Reserve your return by mid-March, or book both legs now — round-trip bookings typically save 5–10%.
Minnesota to Arizona — Cities We Serve
Minnesota pickups: Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, Edina, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Woodbury, Eagan, Burnsville, Lakeville, Stillwater, Rochester, St. Cloud, Mankato, Duluth, Brainerd, Alexandria and greater Minnesota.
Arizona deliveries: Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Apache Junction, Gilbert, Chandler, Sun Lakes, Gold Canyon, Sun City, Sun City West, Surprise, Peoria, Goodyear, Fountain Hills, Tucson, Green Valley, Oro Valley, Yuma and Lake Havasu City.
Preparing Your Car for the Trip Southwest
Rinse off the salt: If the first storms have hit, wash road salt off before pickup so the inspection report captures the paint's real condition.
Winter tires: You won't need dedicated winter tires in Arizona, and soft winter compounds wear quickly on warm, dry pavement. Swap them before you go if you can.
Toll tags: I-35 runs on the Kansas Turnpike south of Emporia, and I-44 in Oklahoma is tolled too. Remove or shield your transponder.
Personal items and fuel: Up to 100 lbs in the trunk, a quarter tank of fuel, and one working key for the driver.
Shipping Your Car Back to Minnesota in Spring
Most Arizona snowbirds send the car north again between March and May, and those return weeks book up the same way the fall trip does. If you already know roughly when you'll head home, book the Arizona → Minnesota leg together with this one — round-trip bookings typically qualify for 5–10% off the combined rate, and your return pickup window is planned months ahead instead of scrambled for in April.
State-Level Auto Transport Info
FAQ
Minnesota to Arizona Car Shipping — Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers about minnesota to arizona auto transport from the ShipMyCar US team.
Still have questions? Our team is ready to help.
Source: every broker and carrier's operating authority, safety rating, and insurance status is public record — verify any company for free at the FMCSA SAFER System.
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