Shipping a Car from Houston, TX to Knoxville, TN
Ship from Houston and the car covers about 940 miles heading northeast to Knoxville, through Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. That is around 19 hours of driving at car-hauler speeds; our transit estimate is 2–3 days after dispatch. Demand is moderate, so pickup windows are usually easy to fill.
Pickup and Delivery Details
Pickup in Houston. Houston sits on busy trucking corridors, which helps with availability. Houston has port activity, so imported or exported vehicles may need extra release time. Giant Gulf Coast metro and port with deep carrier supply, but exposed to hurricane-season delays.
Delivery in Knoxville. Knoxville sits on busy trucking corridors, which helps with availability. Winter weather near Knoxville is a real scheduling factor from December to March. East Tennessee city at the I-40/I-75 junction at the edge of the Smokies.
What Houston to Knoxville Costs
We estimate open transport for a standard sedan at $565–$800, which is about $0.73 per mile over 940 miles. SUVs and pickups usually add about 12% ($635–$895); enclosed sedan transport is $820–$1,160, roughly 45% more than open. For scale, Philadelphia, PA to St. Louis, MO is a similar 962-mile move at $575–$820.
| Trailer | Car Type | Price Range | Good For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Sedan / Coupe | $565–$800 | Budget-friendly default |
| Open | SUV / Truck | $635–$895 | Taller, heavier vehicles |
| Open | Minivan | $635–$895 | Taller, heavier vehicles |
| Enclosed | Sedan / Coupe | $820–$1,160 | High-value or low cars |
Figures assume a standard sedan; actual quotes vary with pickup and drop-off points, condition and season.
Timing and Seasonality
High Plains winter storms and spring thunderstorms are the main weather risks, so late spring and early fall are calmest. From June to November, tropical weather can force carriers to reroute near the coast, so leave a few spare days. Start getting quotes roughly three weeks ahead for a move of 940 miles. Across Texas expect severe spring storms, Gulf hurricanes and desert heat in the west; across Tennessee, winter ice on the Cumberland Plateau.
The Route and Corridor
The direct line between the two cities crosses Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. Expect winter ice on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. In Texas, I-35, I-10, I-45, I-20 and I-40 cross a state where El Paso to Houston is about 750 miles. Louisiana: I-10 crosses the long Atchafalaya Basin bridge and I-20 runs across the north. Jackson (MS) sit close to the corridor, which is why trucks often add or drop vehicles there. Pickup is on Central time and delivery on Eastern time, so a driver's call can come an hour off your clock.
Practical Tips for This Lane
- Choose the trailer deliberately. Open at $565–$800 fits most cars; enclosed at $820–$1,160 suits luxury, classic or low cars.
- Inspect at both ends. Walk around the car with the driver in Houston and again in Knoxville, and note anything on the bill of lading.
- Compare nearby pickup points. Moving the handoff a short drive from Houston can change the price on a 940-mile lane.