Texas Snowbird Car Shipping
Ship your car to the Rio Grande Valley, Corpus Christi or the Hill Country for the winter — and home again in spring. Door-to-door transport from Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, the Dakotas and the rest of the Midwest.
Quick Answer
Short answer: shipping a car to South Texas for the winter costs about $850–$1,400 one way on open transport from the Upper Midwest, with 3–6 days in transit on I-35. Most snowbirds arrive in November and head home in March or early April — book 3–4 weeks ahead for both.
Last updated: October 1, 2026
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Texas snowbirds — Winter Texans, as the Rio Grande Valley calls them — come mostly from the Upper Midwest: Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, the Dakotas, Illinois and Michigan. The draw is the far southern tip of the state, where McAllen, Mission, Harlingen, Brownsville and South Padre Island stay mild all winter, plus the Coastal Bend around Corpus Christi and Rockport.
The geography keeps shipping simple: I-35 runs from Minnesota down through Iowa, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Dallas and Austin to San Antonio, and from there it's a short run to the coast or the Valley. Shipping a car to South Texas for the winter typically costs $850–$1,400 one way on open transport, with three to six days in transit.
This guide covers the Texas snowbird regions, the I-35 corridor, the Texas calendar, and delivery to RV resorts and winter communities. If you're driving an RV down and shipping the car, see the Winter Texan guide.
Where Snowbirds Ship Cars in Texas
Upper Rio Grande Valley
McAllen, Mission, Edinburg, Pharr, Alamo, Donna and Weslaco. The heart of Winter Texan country, with RV resorts and winter parks along the US-83 / I-2 corridor.
Lower Rio Grande Valley
Harlingen, San Benito, Mercedes, Brownsville and Los Fresnos. Close to the coast and the Laguna Madre.
South Padre & Port Isabel
Condo and island deliveries — tight streets and condo lots often mean a meeting point in Port Isabel or near the causeway.
Coastal Bend
Corpus Christi, Rockport, Fulton, Port Aransas and Aransas Pass. Reached via I-37 from San Antonio.
Hill Country & San Antonio
San Antonio, New Braunfels, Kerrville and Fredericksburg. The shortest Texas haul from the Midwest, right on or near I-35.
Upper Gulf Coast
Galveston, Clear Lake and the coast south of Houston. Midwest cars usually arrive via Dallas and I-45.
I-35: The Winter Texan Highway
Minnesota and Iowa: I-35 runs from Duluth through Minneapolis, Des Moines and Kansas City to Oklahoma City, Dallas–Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio. For Texas snowbirds it's essentially one road.
The Dakotas and western Iowa: I-29 runs south from North Dakota through Sioux Falls and Sioux City to Kansas City, where it meets I-35.
Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan: these cars usually join I-35 at Kansas City or come down I-55 and I-44 into Oklahoma.
The last leg: from San Antonio, I-37 heads to Corpus Christi and the Coastal Bend, and US-281 (I-69C) heads south to Edinburg and McAllen. Harlingen and Brownsville deliveries often come down US-77 (I-69E) from Corpus Christi.
Shipping Your Car to Texas: Routes and Prices
Open-transport price ranges for a standard sedan; the high end is peak season.
Shipping Your Car Home From Texas
The Valley empties out in March and early April. Book your return by late February.
Texas Snowbird Shipping Calendar
| Month | Heading south | Heading north | Texas notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| October | Building | — | Early arrivals; still warm and humid in the Valley |
| November | Busy | — | Most Winter Texans arrive; RV resorts fill up |
| December – January | Steady | — | Holiday arrivals; occasional ice storms on I-35 in Oklahoma and North Texas |
| February | — | Light | Height of the Winter Texan season in the Valley |
| March | — | Busy | Returns begin; book by late February |
| April | — | Peak, then easing | Most cars head north by mid-April |
| May – September | — | — | Off-season; Gulf hurricane season runs June through November |
Texas Delivery: RV Resorts, Parks and the Coast
RV resorts and winter parks
Most Valley resorts have speed bumps, tight turns and no room for a 75-foot carrier. The usual handoff is the resort entrance or a nearby store lot.
Someone to receive the car
If the car beats you there, the resort office or a neighbor can receive it — they need to inspect it against the pickup report before signing.
Driving the RV, shipping the car
Many Winter Texans drive a motorhome or fifth wheel and ship the car instead of towing it. The Winter Texan guide covers how to time the two.
Salt air on the coast
South Padre, Port Isabel and Corpus Christi are close to salt water. Wash the car after arrival and again before the trip home.
Ice storms on I-35
Winter ice storms occasionally shut I-35 in Oklahoma and North Texas for a day or two. Carriers wait them out rather than risk your car — build a little slack into a December or January arrival.
Kansas Turnpike tolls
I-35 is a toll road through southern Kansas. Remove or shield your transponder before pickup.
FAQ
Texas Snowbird Car Shipping — FAQ
Straight answers about shipping a car to South Texas for the winter.
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.
Your Car Moves With Your Season
Tell us when you head south and roughly when you come home. We plan both trips around your calendar — free quote, no upfront payment.