2026 data
2026 Snowbird Migration Report
Where seasonal vehicles actually move, when the windows tighten, and what the lanes cost — published openly so anyone can plan around it.
Findings
Three things the season data shows
The southbound window is six weeks, not three months
Roughly two-thirds of the snowbird vehicles we dispatch move between mid-October and the first week of December. Everything outside that window prices closer to a normal off-season lane.
Northbound is more compressed than southbound
Going south, people leave when the weather turns, which spreads over weeks. Coming north, seasonal leases end on the same dates, so April concentrates demand harder than any southbound month.
Flexibility beats shopping
A 3–5 day pickup window saves more on a peak-season lane than switching brokers does. Carriers price certainty, and a single hard date is the most expensive thing you can ask for in November.
Southbound
Top seasonal lanes, October–December
Ranked by the volume we dispatch each season. Price ranges are open carrier, door-to-door, peak-season estimates for a standard sedan or small SUV. Enclosed runs roughly 55 percent higher.
| Lane | Miles | Peak month | Book ahead | Open carrier range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL → Naples / Fort Myers, FL | 1,300 | November | 4–6 weeks | $1,050–$1,400 |
| Minneapolis, MN → Fort Myers, FL | 1,680 | October | 4–6 weeks | $1,200–$1,550 |
| Detroit, MI → Sarasota, FL | 1,200 | November | 3–5 weeks | $1,000–$1,325 |
| New York, NY → West Palm Beach, FL | 1,180 | November | 4–6 weeks | $995–$1,300 |
| Boston, MA → Naples, FL | 1,490 | November | 4–6 weeks | $1,125–$1,475 |
| Cleveland, OH → Tampa, FL | 1,080 | October | 3–5 weeks | $950–$1,250 |
| Philadelphia, PA → Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1,180 | November | 3–5 weeks | $985–$1,290 |
| Toronto-area border → Fort Myers, FL | 1,480 | October | 5–7 weeks | $1,175–$1,525 |
| Milwaukee, WI → Naples, FL | 1,490 | October | 4–6 weeks | $1,140–$1,490 |
| Denver, CO → Phoenix, AZ | 830 | November | 3–4 weeks | $800–$1,075 |
| Seattle, WA → Palm Springs, CA | 1,200 | November | 3–5 weeks | $1,025–$1,350 |
| Pittsburgh, PA → Naples, FL | 1,160 | November | 3–5 weeks | $975–$1,275 |
Estimates only. Actual pricing depends on vehicle size, running condition, carrier type and live capacity on the day of dispatch.
Northbound
The return wave, March–May
Northbound is the mirror image of the fall migration, compressed into a tighter window because seasonal leases end on the same dates.
March
First wave. Seasonal renters with March 31 lease ends and anyone trying to beat the rush. Capacity is still reasonable; this is the cheapest month to go north.
April
The peak of the peak. Easter travel, lease turnovers and school calendars all collide. Rates run 15–25 percent above the March baseline on the same lanes.
May
Northbound volume stays high and starts overlapping with the summer military PCS season, which competes for the same trucks on the same interstates.
Methodology
How this report was built
Lanes are ranked by the volume of seasonal vehicles we dispatch, cross-checked against routing miles between metro centers and the per-mile bands carriers accept in peak season.
Peak month reflects when the largest share of that lane's seasonal volume moves. Book-ahead windows are the lead times at which we can still reliably assign a vetted carrier at a normal rate rather than a surge rate.
Price ranges assume door-to-door open transport for a standard sedan or small SUV, with $250,000 cargo coverage on open carriers. Enclosed transport with up to $2,000,000 cargo coverage on enclosed carriers runs roughly 55 percent above the open figure on the same lane.
Anyone is free to reproduce the tables or the methodology with attribution. Suggested citation: 2026 Snowbird Migration Report — Enterprise Auto Transport. https://enterpriseautotransport.com/snowbird-migration-report
FAQ
Snowbird shipping questions
When is snowbird car shipping season in 2026?
Why do snowbird rates go up in peak season?
Is it cheaper to ship a car south in September?
Can I ship a golf cart, boat or motorcycle with my car?
Can I cite this report?
Ready to Ship your car?
Returning clients get priority dispatch with our preferred carrier network. Book your season early and lock the window.