Austin and San Antonio are close enough that people move between them all the time, for jobs, family, school, or a change of pace. The I-35 corridor between them is one of the busiest stretches of highway in Texas, and our home base in Buda sits right in the middle of it. We know it well. Here is what to know if you are planning a move between Austin and San Antonio, in either direction.
The Corridor at a Glance
Between Austin and San Antonio, I-35 runs through Buda, Kyle, San Marcos, and New Braunfels, with Schertz and Cibolo on the north edge of San Antonio. SH 130 offers a toll alternative on the east side through Lockhart and Seguin. Because the corridor is so built up, many people move in stages, from Austin to Kyle, or from San Antonio to New Braunfels, before deciding where to settle.
Timing Is Everything
I-35 traffic can change the whole day. Rush hour in Austin and San Antonio, construction zones, and weekend traffic around San Marcos and New Braunfels all add time. A few tips:
- Start early to beat traffic and the afternoon heat.
- Avoid Friday afternoons, especially in summer, when traffic heads toward the rivers and the coast.
- Plan around big events in either city, which can close downtown streets.
- Build a little extra breathing room into your moving day.
Know the Rules at Both Ends
Moving between two cities means two sets of rules. Check with your leasing office, HOA, or building manager at both addresses about move hours, elevator reservations, and where the moving crew can park and load. Send everything to your mover when you book.
Choosing Where to Land
If you are moving between the two cities for work, think about where you will actually drive each day. The towns in between give you options:
- Buda and Kyle: newer neighborhoods with access to South Austin.
- San Marcos: a college town on the river, halfway between the cities.
- New Braunfels: river town with easy access to north San Antonio.
- Schertz and Cibolo: newer neighborhoods on San Antonio’s northeast side.
- Seguin and Lockhart: smaller towns along SH 130.
Drive the commute at rush hour before you commit.
Packing for a Corridor Move
A move between the cities is longer than a cross-town move, so pack like your boxes are going to travel, because they are. Use sturdy boxes, fill empty space so contents do not shift, and label each box with its room at the new home. Keep an open-first box in your car with chargers, medications, toiletries, bedding, and snacks. See our packing services if you want help.
Utilities, Addresses, and Paperwork
- Schedule utilities to start at the new home before you arrive and end at the old one after you leave.
- Update your address with the post office, your bank, and your employer.
- If you are moving to a new county, check your vehicle registration and voter registration.
- Transfer prescriptions to a pharmacy near your new home.
Moving with Kids
If your kids are changing schools, contact the new district early for enrollment requirements. Pack a small bag for each child with a favorite toy, a change of clothes, and snacks so the day feels a little more normal.
How the Move Is Planned
Every corridor move starts with a quote. Our team returns quote calls and asks about your inventory, both addresses, stairs and access, and your timeline. Pricing for an Austin to San Antonio move depends on the size of the move: how much is coming, the crew it takes, and access at both ends. Every move starts with a pre-move survey, and your written quote lays out the cost. Hector Jr leads the crew on move day.
What a Corridor Move Day Looks Like
- Early start: The crew arrives at your old home, walks through, and plans the order of the load.
- Protect and load: Furniture is padded and wrapped, beds and tables come apart, and everything is loaded heavy-to-light.
- Final check: A walk-through of closets, the garage, and the attic so nothing gets left behind.
- On the road: Up or down I-35, timed to avoid the worst of the traffic when possible.
- Unload and set up: Pieces go to the rooms you choose, furniture is reassembled, and we walk through with you before we leave.
Leaving Texas Instead?
If you are moving out of state from Austin or San Antonio, see our long distance moving and long distance movers in San Antonio pages, plus our out-of-state moving checklist.
We Know This Road
Based in Buda, between the two cities, we move families up and down I-35 all the time. We know the traffic, the towns, and the timing. See our Austin movers and San Antonio movers pages for more.
Quick FAQs
How do you plan a move between Austin and San Antonio?
Every move starts with a pre-move survey. We look at the size of the home, access at both ends, and your timeline, and your written quote lays out the plan.
How much does it cost to move from Austin to San Antonio?
It depends on the size of the move: how much you are moving, the crew it takes, and access at both homes. We do not publish prices; your written quote lays out the cost after your pre-move survey.
Do you start from Austin or San Antonio?
Either. We move families in both directions along I-35, and our Buda base sits right between the two.
Planning a Move? We Can Handle It.
Elite Star Movers is a family owned and operated moving company based in Buda, serving all areas around Austin and down the I-35 corridor to San Antonio. Request a free quote or call (512) 358-7827 (main) or toll-free (855) 358-7827. Our team returns quote calls, and Hector Jr leads the crew on move day.
Serving People & Protecting Furniture, Peace by Piece.
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