($1,015+) Washington DC, MD to San Antonio, TX Movers

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Background image of a moving truck moving from Washington DC, MD to San Antonio, TX

Moving from Washington DC, MD, to San Antonio, TX, runs anywhere from $1,025 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $9,855 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,602 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 4 to 15 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.

  • Full-service moves for smaller spaces (studio apartments and 1-bedrooms) start around $2,202, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $9,855 or more.
  • Moving containers run $1,446 - $5,400, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $1,025 - $2,806.
  • Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Washington DC, MD, to San Antonio, TX. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,069 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.

Compare moving options from Washington DC, MD to San Antonio, TX

Moving options from Washington DC to San Antonio fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move costs $3,069 - $6,763 on this route, with movers handling all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 30% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 60% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This 1,602-mile route typically takes 4 to 15 days door to door.

Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 1,602-mile route from Washington DC to San Antonio, broken down by home size:

Home size Full-service movers Moving container Rental truck Freight trailer
Studio / 1 bedroom $2,202 - $5,369 $1,446 - $2,858 $1,025 - $1,988 $1,381 - $2,396
2 - 3 bedrooms $3,069 - $6,763 $1,982 - $3,800 $1,087 - $2,318 $1,617 - $3,009
4+ bedrooms $5,399 - $9,855 $2,624 - $5,400 $1,384 - $2,806 $1,994 - $4,027

Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated September 16, 2026.

Professional
Safeway Moving
star star star star star 4.9 / 5
Read our full Safeway review
Best overall value
Portion to charity
Veteran-owned
Container
Unlimited storage
3 container sizes
10% discount
Rental Truck
Budget Truck Rental
star star star star star 4.3 / 5
Read our full Budget review
Affordable pricing
Online estimates
Several discounts
Freight
MovingYourself
star star star star star 4.5 / 5
Read our full MovingYourself review
Fast delivery
Nationwide
100+ miles moves

Full-service moving costs from Washington DC, MD to San Antonio, TX

A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 1,602-mile move from Washington DC, Maryland, to San Antonio, Texas, with prices running from $2,202 - $9,855. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $381 - $2,540 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Washington DC and San Antonio are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, Washington DC movers tend to run around $180 as a base rate plus $85/hour per mover, for comparison.

Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Washington DC to San Antonio:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,202 - $5,369
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,069 - $6,763
  • 4+ bedrooms: $5,399 - $9,855

Packing, storage, shuttle fees, and added coverage can stack on top of the base price. See the full add-ons and specialty services table below for what each runs from Washington DC to San Antonio.

The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Maryland to Texas. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.

Pro tip: Moving company rates climb during peak moving season (May –-September) when demand peaks. Scheduling your move outside of that window can lead to noticeably lower costs and better availability.

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Specialty moving services from Washington DC, MD to San Antonio, TX

Specialty needs vary by market — 93% of Washington DC movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In San Antonio, 90% of movers offer the same service.

Service When you need it Typical cost
Full packingFull crew packing100% of local movers$635 - $6,350
Storage in transitNew place not ready93% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: 495 Movers, Inc$254 - $1,524/mo
Shuttle feeTruck can't reach door$381 - $3,048
Full-value protectionMore than $0.60/lb coverage30% of local movers$300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value)
Small movesUnder ~2,000 lbs58% of local movers$1,270 - $3,810
Office / commercialWorkplace relocation$3,175 - $12,700
Car shippingSecond vehicle$951 - $1,807
Antiques & fine artFragile, high-value items53% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: 495 Movers, Inc$1,270 - $3,175
PianoAny piano type70% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: 495 Movers, Inc$1,016 - $4,445
Pool tableDisassembly & re-leveling39% of local movers$381 - $1,905
Hot tubHeavy, needs disconnect27% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: 495 Movers, Inc$826 - $2,540
Wine collectionClimate-controlled transport$381 - $19,050+
Pet relocationGround, air, or concierge$381 - $4,445+

What are the best full-service movers from Washington DC to San Antonio?

Movers licensed to operate in Texas are typically members of the Southwest Movers Association, worth checking for before you book any of the three below.

  1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 customer support, and 30 days of free storage are included with every move.
  2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list, with 30+ years in business since 1995. AVL is one of the few national carriers that uses full-time in-house crews instead of contracted labor.
  3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, combining fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan that covers damage, loss, and breakage.

Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Washington DC, MD. At that distance, local movers often charge 30% - 40% more because they don't spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments the way national carriers do. If a direct route and faster delivery (averaging 2 days) are priorities, a local mover may be worth considering, but that service comes at a higher price.

Moving container costs from Washington DC, MD to San Antonio, TX

Moving containers from Washington DC, Maryland, to San Antonio, Texas, cost between $1,446 and $5,400. You're in charge of loading, and the timeline is yours to set. U-Haul allows 3 days while PODS gives you a full 30. After that, the company picks it up and delivers it to your new address. Running behind schedule? Storage in Washington DC costs roughly $100/month if you need it.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Washington DC to San Antonio:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,446 - $2,858
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,982 - $3,800
  • 4+ bedrooms: $2,624 - $5,400

What other costs come with moving containers?

  • Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $95 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $191 per month.
  • Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in San Antonio, TX, if you need to retrieve anything while items are still in storage.
  • Moving labor: Since you're responsible for loading the container yourself, many customers bring in hourly help. Based on moveBuddha data, hiring 2 movers for approximately 5 hours costs about $889 in Washington DC, MD. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
  • Added contents protection: Full-value protection goes beyond the standard minimum and covers repair, replacement, or reimbursement at declared value. Pricing is typically 1% - 2% of your total shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 move.

Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Maryland to Texas move in the past 90 days. Our pricing data is drawn from 1,500+ monthly data points across our vetted mover network and refreshed every month.

Pro tip: Before ordering moving containers, take a careful inventory of everything you're moving. A typical 1-bedroom home weighs around 3,000 pounds and fits in a single container starting at $1,446. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,982 - $3,800, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.

What are the best moving containers Washington DC to San Antonio?

  1. Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
  2. U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
  3. MovingYourself (5.0/5 stars)

Want a hand without paying for full service? A container or truck move does not mean doing all the heavy lifting yourself. You can hire a labor-only crew in Washington DC to load and unload while you handle the drive, then book full help later if you change your mind. Three top-rated local crews for labor-only help in Washington DC:

  • BoxStar Movers (5.0/5), 5 years in business
  • Zip Moving And Storage, Inc. (4.9/5), 10 years in business
  • Bookstore Movers, LLC (4.8/5), 20 years in business

Moving truck rental costs from Washington DC, MD to San Antonio, TX

Renting a moving truck for the 1,602-mile move from Washington DC, Maryland, to San Antonio, Texas, costs between $1,025 and $2,806, before these typical add-ons:

  • Fuel for the drive: $647 - $740
  • Daily insurance: $38/day
  • Equipment rentals: $9 - $25
  • Washington DC daily rental rate: $19 - $39
  • Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.99 - $1.19
Home sizeTypical truck size
Studio / 1 bedroom10 - 12 ft
2 - 3 bedrooms15 - 17 ft
4+ bedrooms20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel)

These are typical moving truck rental costs from Washington DC to San Antonio based on home size:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,025 - $1,988
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,087 - $2,318
  • 4+ bedrooms: $1,384 - $2,806

Pro tip: The base rate of $1,025 - $2,806 is just the starting point for a rental truck move from Washington DC to San Antonio. Fuel ($647 - $740) , lodging at around $191/night, meals, and equipment rentals are all on top of that. Factor in an extra $600 - $1,200 to get a realistic picture of what the move will actually cost.

What other costs come with rental trucks?

  • Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
  • Lodging: Budget around $191 per night if your drive requires an overnight stop. Typically, you'll make 1 - 3 overnight stops, depending on move distance.
  • Moving labor: Bringing in professional loading help in Washington DC, Maryland, usually costs about $889 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
  • Gas: Fuel for the 1,602-mile drive falls between $647 and $740, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
  • Equipment: Appliance dollies, moving pads, and vehicle trailers are easy to overlook but can add between $64 and $381 to your total.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Washington DC to San Antonio?

  1. Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
  2. Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
  3. U-Haul Truck Rental (4.2/5 stars)

The best truck rental companies for this route, based on moveBuddha's ratings.

Freight trailer costs from Washington DC, MD to San Antonio, TX

Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from Washington DC, Maryland, to San Antonio, Texas. Standard trailers run 28 feet long, and you're only charged for the portion you actually fill. The carrier drops the trailer off, you load it at your own pace, and they handle the drive to your new city.

Pricing is based entirely on the linear footage your shipment occupies, not the full trailer length. Most long-distance freight moves land somewhere between $1,143 and $3,009.

Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Washington DC to San Antonio:

  • Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,381 - $2,396
  • 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,617 - $3,009
  • 4+ bedrooms: $1,994 - $4,027

Pro tip: Freight trailers offer generous space but reward good packing strategy. The 4-foot ramp can be challenging for large or heavy pieces, and using the full 8-foot height takes careful stacking. Because you're billed by the linear foot, maximizing vertical space keeps your costs lower.

What other costs come with freight trailers?

  • Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading help. In Washington DC, Maryland, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $889.
  • More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $95 - $191 per additional foot to your total.
  • Time of year: Rates tend to climb during peak moving season (mid-May through mid-September) when trailer demand is at its highest.

What are the best freight companies from Washington DC to San Antonio?

  1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Primarily known as a top moving container option for its DIY hybrid model where customers load and the company drives, MovingYourself also functions as a strong freight option thanks to its 53-foot trucks and pay-only-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
  2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. Best known for its container service, U-Pack also runs a top-notch freight trailer operation with the same no-deposit, pay-by-the-foot approach that keeps overall costs lower than most freight competitors.
  3. Terminal Transportation Services (4.7/5 stars): Terminal Transportation Services is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned facilities and accessible live support staff make scheduling and route coordination easier on local-area routes than what most national freight providers can offer.

Pro tip: One of the biggest advantages of freight trailers is speed. For an interstate move, freight delivery is one of the fastest options you have short of driving a rental truck yourself. It's a smart choice when your timeline is firm and you'll be ready to receive your shipment. If there's any chance your new place won't be ready or you need a few weeks of storage, a moving container with built-in storage may serve you better.

Cost of living: Washington DC, MD vs San Antonio, TX

The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in San Antonio, side by side with Washington DC on housing, income, and taxes.

Measure Washington DC, MD San Antonio, TX
Cost of living index15191
Average rent$2,400/mo$1,496/mo
Median home value$594,337$216,453
Average income$101,027/yr$62,917/yr
Unemployment rate7.0%3.8%
State income taxUp to 5.75%None
Walkability score77/10037/100
Safety index39.63/10051.94/100
Air qualityGoodModerate

Cost of living index is relative to the U.S. average of 100. Figures reflect the latest available city and state data.

Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our San Antonio, TX to Washington DC, MD guide.

Why you should use moveBuddha to find a mover:

In the past 3 months, we've processed 10 real quotes from Maryland to Texas, so our pricing data stays current. Use our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and spot bad actors early. We track 52 movers licensed in Maryland, useful context for sizing up this 1,602-mile move.

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Our take

Full-service movers on the 1,602-mile route from Washington DC, MD, to San Antonio, TX, run $2,202 - $9,855 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $1,446 - $5,400, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $1,025 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,069, 30 days of free storage, and a 24/7 support team you can actually reach.

Beyond the move itself, people who've relocated to San Antonio tend to point to diversity and sight-seeing, though abundant stray pets and brutal summers come up as common complaints. Major employers in the area include Joint Base San Antonio (Three Military Bases) and H-E-B.

FAQs: Moving from Washington DC, MD, to San Antonio, TX

What is the cheapest way to move from Washington DC, MD to San Antonio, TX?

Renting a moving truck is almost always the most affordable option, since you handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself. A 2-bedroom rental truck move on this route averages $1,087 - $2,318. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.

What are the best neighborhoods in San Antonio?

For families, Alamo Heights, Great Northwest, and Northwest Crossing are worth a look in San Antonio. If you're moving solo or without kids, Alamo Heights, Downtown, and Tobin Hill tend to be popular picks instead.

How long does a move from Washington DC, MD to San Antonio, TX take?

Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 5 - 7 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are usually the fastest option outside of driving yourself, with deliveries in 3 - 5 days, though you'll need to be ready to receive your shipment on arrival. Driving a rental truck yourself puts the schedule entirely in your hands.

What do local movers charge in Washington DC?

Local movers based in Washington DC typically start around $180 as a base rate, plus $85/hour per mover. That's a useful baseline if you're hiring help just to load a rental truck or container rather than booking a full long-distance move. Rates in San Antonio run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.

What are some tips for saving money on a move from Washington DC, MD to San Antonio, TX?

Cutting 500 pounds from your shipment, roughly one bedroom's worth of items, saves approximately $200 - $400 on a full-service move on this route. Beyond that, staying organized matters just as much. A solid moving checklist keeps you on schedule and helps you avoid costly last-minute mistakes.

What percentage of Washington DC movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?

About 70% of movers in Washington DC handle piano moves, and 53% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.