Winter Texan Car Shipping
Driving the RV down? Flying in? Either way, your car can meet you in the Rio Grande Valley. ShipMyCar US arranges car shipping from Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, the Dakotas and the rest of the Midwest to McAllen, Mission, Weslaco, Harlingen and South Padre — and back north in spring.
Quick Answer
Short answer: shipping a car from the Upper Midwest to the Rio Grande Valley costs about $850–$1,400 on open transport, with 3–6 days in transit on I-35. Most Winter Texans 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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Winter Texans are the seasonal residents who fill the Rio Grande Valley every winter — many of them from Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, the Dakotas and the rest of the Midwest, settling into RV resorts, park models and winter homes from Mission to Harlingen and out to South Padre Island.
A lot of Winter Texans share the same problem: two vehicles and one driver. Either it's the motorhome plus the car, or the truck and fifth wheel plus a second car, or simply a 1,300-to-1,700-mile drive nobody wants to do twice a year anymore. Shipping the car solves it. You drive the RV (or fly), and the car arrives on a carrier.
This guide covers how Winter Texans combine RV travel and car shipping, delivery to RV resorts, costs from the main Midwest origins, and round-trip booking for the spring return.
Driving the RV? Ship the Car Instead of Towing It
Flat-towing a car behind a motorhome works, but it isn't free: a tow bar and base plate, a supplemental braking system, wear on the car, and 1,500 miles of watching your mirrors. Some cars can't be flat-towed at all without modifications. Shipping the car separately is the common alternative:
- Motorhome owners: drive the coach down without a car in tow, and the car arrives on a carrier around the same time.
- Fifth-wheel and travel-trailer owners: your truck pulls the trailer; the second car ships so you aren't driving two vehicles in convoy.
- Park-model and winter-home owners: fly into McAllen or Harlingen and ship the car — no RV involved.
- Couples with two cars: both cars can ship together to the same address.
If you'd rather not drive the RV either, we arrange fifth-wheel transport too.
Timing Your Car With the RV
Lock in your resort arrival date
Work backward from your site check-in. Valley resorts fill up in November, so confirm your space first.
Schedule pickup a few days before you leave
The car typically needs three to six days in transit from the Upper Midwest. A pickup two or three days before you pull out lets it arrive around when you do.
Tell us who will receive it
If the car beats you there, the resort office or a neighbor can receive it — they need to be present for the delivery inspection.
Plan the spring return now
Most Winter Texans leave in March or early April. Book both legs together and round-trip bookings typically save 5–10%.
Delivery to RV Resorts and Winter Parks
Meeting at the entrance
Most resorts have speed bumps, tight turns, low branches and no room for a 75-foot carrier. The usual handoff is the resort entrance, the main road or a nearby store lot.
Resort office coordination
Some resorts ask to be told when a car carrier is coming. Give us the resort name and we'll factor in any rules.
Someone to receive the car
If you're still on the road, a resort neighbor or the office can sign for the car — after inspecting it against the pickup report.
Second vehicles
A second car, SUV or pickup can ship to the same resort on the same booking.
Coastal parks
Port Isabel and South Padre parks are close to salt water. Wash the car after arrival and before the trip home.
Pickup for the trip home
Leaving before your car? The office or a neighbor can release it in spring, with the key and the pickup inspection.
What Winter Texan Car Shipping Costs
Estimated one-way prices for a standard sedan on open transport:
| From | To | Distance | Open transport | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | McAllen | ~1,260 mi | $850–$1,200 | 3–5 days |
| Minneapolis, MN | McAllen | ~1,500 mi | $950–$1,300 | 4–6 days |
| Sioux Falls, SD | Mission | ~1,430 mi | $900–$1,300 | 4–6 days |
| Madison, WI | Weslaco | ~1,580 mi | $1,000–$1,350 | 4–6 days |
| Chicago, IL | Brownsville | ~1,450 mi | $950–$1,300 | 4–5 days |
| Fargo, ND | Harlingen | ~1,700 mi | $1,050–$1,450 | 5–6 days |
SUVs and pickups add 15–30%. Peak weeks in November and late March sit at the high end of each range.
FAQ
Winter Texan Car Shipping — FAQ
Straight answers for Winter Texans shipping a car to the Valley.
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 Meets You in the Valley
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