1-2
DAYS TO PICKUP, SAN DIEGO METRO
$370-$1,900
OPEN TRANSPORT, BY DESTINATION
I-5 · I-8 · I-15
CARRIER CORRIDORS SERVING SAN DIEGO
Key Takeaways
Typical cost: Open transport from San Diego runs $370-$600 to Phoenix, $800-$1,200 to Texas, $1,300-$1,800 to Florida, and $1,400-$1,900 to New York. Enclosed transport typically adds 40-60 percent.
Transit time: Expect 1-2 days to Phoenix, 3-5 days to Texas, and 7-10 days to the East Coast.
Directionality: Outbound from Southern California is generally the cheaper direction. Carriers discount to leave the region full, so shipping a car out of San Diego usually costs less than bringing one in.
Savings tip: Military PCS moves around the naval bases keep two-way carrier flow steady all year, and flexible pickup dates cut another $75-$150 off the price.
Process: You work with a dedicated coordinator, your vehicle moves on a vetted and insured carrier, nothing is due until a driver is assigned, and GPS tracking covers the trip.
Popular Routes to and from San Diego
Carriers leave San Diego on I-5 north toward Los Angeles, run I-8 east across the desert, and take I-15 up to Las Vegas and the mountain west. Steady military and university demand keeps trucks cycling through the county all year, which is why San Diego pickups usually land inside a 1-2 day window.
- San Diego to Dallas - 1,360 miles, 3-5 days (see route guide)
- San Diego to Miami - 2,620 miles, 7-10 days (see route guide)
- San Diego to New York - 2,760 miles, 7-10 days (see route guide)
- San Diego to Phoenix - 360 miles, 1-2 days
- San Diego to Seattle - 1,250 miles, 3-5 days
Pickup and Delivery Logistics in San Diego
San Diego is a military town, and base access rules shape a lot of pickups. Carriers cannot enter most installations, so vehicles moving near Naval Base San Diego, MCAS Miramar, and Camp Pendleton stage just outside the gate at a commissary lot, a park-and-ride, or a wide street the driver can work. Your coordinator plans the exact meeting point with you before pickup day, which keeps PCS timelines on track.
Terrain matters too. Canyon and hillside neighborhoods like Mission Hills, La Mesa, and parts of North County have streets a 75-foot hauler cannot climb or turn around on, so drivers may stage on a wide street or a shopping center lot a few minutes away. Near the border, carriers work the U.S. side only. If your move touches the San Ysidro or Otay Mesa area, your coordinator sets a meeting point north of the crossing so the handoff stays simple.
