Planning a driveaway from Iowa to Texas
Last updated: July 27, 2026
A Des Moines to Dallas driveaway is about 720 miles and 1 to 2 days. SelectDrive's illustrative day-rate model produces about $1,200 to $1,500 for a gas vehicle. Houston, Austin, and San Antonio are farther. This page is route planning information, not an offer of currently active interstate transportation.
Planning status as of July 27, 2026: SelectDrive is accepting route details for planning estimates only while its federal interstate operating authority is pending. No interstate for-hire move will start until the required operating authority is granted and active, and the specific trip has current insurance, vehicle, driver, and signed agreement approvals. A pet that travels well may accompany the vehicle it belongs to, and ordinary belongings that fit safely below the window line may be accommodated, but both require advance disclosure and written approval in the trip agreement. Approval is separate from the price estimate and is never automatic. These accommodations are incidental to delivering the vehicle. SelectDrive does not offer household goods moving, standalone goods delivery, or standalone pet transport. No person may ever travel in the vehicle.
The Iowa to Texas route
From the Des Moines metro, an Iowa to Texas driveaway runs south on Interstate 35 through Kansas City and Oklahoma City straight into the Dallas-Fort Worth area, about 720 miles and one to two days. Houston is roughly 960 miles, Austin about 880, and San Antonio about 960, each a two-day drive with one overnight stop. It is a steady lane: Texas is a major destination for Iowans relocating for work, families moving south, and buyers who bought a vehicle in one state and need it in the other.
Planning cost for this lane
The table below is an illustrative Des Moines to Dallas planning worksheet at 720 miles. It is not a quote or reservation. Any future written quote would use exact addresses and then-current approved terms.
Driver pay is $450 per day, billed in half-day increments with a one-day floor. A planning day is about 8 driving hours or roughly 500 miles. This gas-vehicle worksheet uses fuel at about $0.18 per mile, tolls at about $0.02 per mile, lodging at $120 per night, and an insurance surcharge at 8 percent of driver pay.
| Driver pay (1.5 days at $450 per day) | $675 |
| Gas fuel planning amount (720 mi at about $0.18 per mile) | $130 |
| Tolls planning amount (about $0.02 per mile) | $14 |
| Lodging planning amount (1 night at $120) | $120 |
| Insurance surcharge (8 percent of driver pay) | $54 |
| Positioning, cheaper feasible round-trip drop-off or flight plus ground transport | Itemized from exact addresses |
| Illustrative gas-vehicle total | $1,200 to $1,500 |
Electric vehicle note: Charging is billed at documented actual cost with receipts, not the gas fuel planning amount shown above. The exact vehicle and battery affect highway range and trip duration, and an EV usually takes longer on the same route because of charging stops.
Planning estimate only. Houston, Austin, and San Antonio are farther. No price or date is offered or reserved while interstate authority is pending. Plan another route.
Why driveaway for this lane
On a one-to-two-day run to Texas, driveaway can be faster door to door than waiting for a broker to assign a trailer and batch a car with others. A future approved trip could let the customer fly while an assigned driver handles the car. Any pet or ordinary belongings would require advance written trip approval, and no person may ever travel in the vehicle. See the current vehicle contents policy and the honest driveaway vs driving it yourself breakdown.
Frequently asked questions
What is a planning estimate for an Iowa to Texas driveaway?
Des Moines to Dallas is about 720 miles. Under the day-rate model, an illustrative gas-vehicle total is about 1,200 to 1,500 USD, including route-specific positioning. Driver pay is 450 USD per day in half-day increments with a one-day floor. For an electric vehicle, charging is billed at documented actual cost with receipts instead of the gas fuel allowance. Houston, Austin, and San Antonio are farther. This is not a booking quote, and interstate service is not active while required operating authority is pending.
How long does the Iowa to Texas drive take?
A planning schedule for Des Moines to Dallas is 1 to 2 days using about 8 driving hours or roughly 500 miles per day. Houston, Austin, and San Antonio are roughly 900 to 960 miles and plan as two days with an overnight stop. An electric vehicle may take longer because charging stops depend on the exact vehicle and battery.
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Considering an Iowa to Texas move?
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