Free tool
Snowbird route planner
A New York to Florida snowbird round trip for an open-carrier sedan is estimated at $2,210–$2,750 in the October 2026 price model: $1,095–$1,360 south in October and $1,115–$1,390 north in April, both peak months. A September pickup is estimated about 11% lower than October. Enter your home and winter states and your travel months to price both legs.
Updated October 2026
Snowbird round-trip estimates, 2026-27 season
Open-carrier sedan, main carrier hub to main carrier hub, priced with the October 2026 HaulFare model: pickup going south in October 2026 and going north in April 2027. All figures are estimates; the licensed transport partner confirms the actual price.
| Corridor | Road miles | South, Oct 2026 (est.) | North, Apr 2027 (est.) | Round trip (est.) | Transit each way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York to FloridaNew York City to Orlando · Florida to New York | 1,108 | $1,095–$1,360 | $1,115–$1,390 | $2,210–$2,750 | 3-5 days |
| New Jersey to FloridaNewark to Orlando | 1,105 | $1,095–$1,360 | $1,115–$1,390 | $2,210–$2,750 | 3-5 days |
| Michigan to FloridaDetroit to Orlando | 1,130 | $1,105–$1,380 | $1,130–$1,405 | $2,235–$2,785 | 3-5 days |
| Illinois to FloridaChicago to Orlando | 1,164 | $1,125–$1,400 | $1,150–$1,430 | $2,275–$2,830 | 3-5 days |
| Minnesota to ArizonaMinneapolis to Phoenix | 1,508 | $1,265–$1,575 | $1,285–$1,600 | $2,550–$3,175 | 4-6 days |
| Illinois to ArizonaChicago to Phoenix | 1,713 | $1,345–$1,675 | $1,375–$1,710 | $2,720–$3,385 | 4-6 days |
Moving either pickup by one month changes the estimate. On New York to Florida, going south in September is estimated about 11% lower than October ($1,080 versus $1,215 at the midpoint), and coming north in March is estimated about 3% lower than April.
$2,210–$2,750
New York to Florida round trip, open-carrier sedan, south in October and north in April (October 2026 estimate)
−11%
September pickup going south, against October
−17%
January pickup going south, against October
3-5 days
in transit each way, about 1,108 road miles
New York and Florida by month, both directions
Estimated midpoints for an open-carrier sedan at October 2026 rates. "Peak" marks the busy direction for that month (+15%); "Backhaul" marks the quiet direction, when carriers look for loads (-7%).
| Month | New York to Florida (est.) | Florida to New York (est.) |
|---|---|---|
| January | $1,015 | $1,015 |
| February | $1,005 | $1,005 |
| March | $975Backhaul | $1,205Peak |
| April | $1,005Backhaul | $1,240Peak |
| May | $1,030Backhaul | $1,275Peak |
| June | $1,150 | $1,150 |
| July | $1,165 | $1,165 |
| August | $1,130 | $1,130 |
| September | $1,080 | $1,080 |
| October | $1,215Peak | $985Backhaul |
| November | $1,190Peak | $965Backhaul |
| December | $1,205Peak | $975Backhaul |
How the planner works
Priced by the same model as the cost calculator, plus a snowbird adjustment by direction and month.
Seasonal migration is large and runs one way at a time. A University of Florida study estimated more than 800,000 elderly temporary in-migrants in Florida at peak times in 2005 (Smith and House, 2006). Car carriers fill quickly heading south in the fall and north in the spring, then run the opposite direction looking for loads.
Each trip is priced by the same model as the car shipping cost calculator: a per-mile curve by distance, vehicle class, open or enclosed, the national month index and a diesel index tied to EIA on-highway diesel prices. On lanes from the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest to Arizona, Florida, South Carolina and Texas, it adds 15% in the busy months for that direction (south in October, November and December; north in March, April and May) and takes off 7% when you ship against the flow. Other lanes use the national month index only.
With a ZIP code, distance runs from the center of that ZIP code's three-digit prefix area; with only a state, it runs from that state's main carrier hub (for example Orlando for Florida). Transit assumes about 450 driven miles a day within federal hours-of-service limits, plus a pickup window while the carrier builds a load.
The booking window is HaulFare booking guidance, not an industry rule: 4 to 6 weeks before a peak-direction month, 3 to 4 weeks in June to August, 2 to 3 weeks otherwise, counted back from the first of your pickup month. Booking early does not lock a price; it gives the broker more time to find a truck already running your lane. See snowbird car shipping and the best time to ship tool for more on seasonal timing.
Snowbird route planner FAQ
How much does it cost to ship a car to Florida for the winter and back?
In the October 2026 HaulFare price model, an open-carrier sedan from New York to Florida is estimated at $1,095–$1,360 southbound in October and $1,115–$1,390 northbound in April, or $2,210–$2,750 for the round trip. From Chicago the round trip is estimated at $2,275–$2,830. Enclosed transport adds about 42% and a full-size SUV about 20%. These are estimates: the licensed transport partner confirms the actual price. Plates, insurance and gated-community delivery are covered in shipping a car to Florida for the winter.
When is the cheapest time to ship a car south for the winter?
Outside the southbound peak, which the model sets at October, November and December. On New York to Florida, a September pickup is estimated about 11% lower than October, and a January pickup about 17% lower than October. If your dates fall inside the peak, a few days of flexibility on pickup gives the broker more trucks to choose from.
When should I ship my car back north in the spring?
Northbound demand peaks in March, April and May, when seasonal residents head home. On Florida to New York, a February pickup is estimated about 19% lower than April and a June pickup about 7% lower than April. If you must return in April, request the northbound leg early so it is posted before the rush builds.
How far ahead should I book a snowbird car shipment?
Our booking guidance is 4 to 6 weeks before a peak-direction month, 3 to 4 weeks in June to August, and 2 to 3 weeks otherwise. Booking early does not fix the price, because the actual price is confirmed only when a carrier takes the load, but it gives the broker more time to find a truck already running your lane. The snowbird booking calendar lists the dates that squeeze trucks this season.
How long does it take to ship a car from New York to Florida?
About 3-5 days in transit for roughly 1,108 road miles, after a pickup window of 1-5 days, so 4-10 days door to door. Our transit model assumes about 450 driven miles a day within federal hours-of-service limits, and peak-season weeks can lengthen the wait for pickup.
Does hurricane season affect fall snowbird shipments?
It can. The North Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with August through October the peak months, according to the NOAA Climate Prediction Center. A storm near Florida or the Gulf Coast can delay pickups and deliveries on those routes, so leave a buffer before a fixed arrival date and keep your phone number current with the broker and carrier.
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