Northbound corridor
Southwest Florida to Minnesota Car Shipping
The spring return runs on completely different economics from the fall trip south. Here is when to book it, what it costs, and how to hand over a vehicle when you are flying out of RSW.
Why the return trip prices differently
People assume the trip home costs the same as the trip down. It rarely does. Auto transport is priced by direction of demand, and in April the pressure is northbound out of Florida — the same seasonal households leaving in the same few weeks, competing for space on trucks that would otherwise be running north half empty.
March and April are the expensive northbound window. May onward eases considerably. If your return date has any flexibility at all, that flexibility is worth more in the spring than at any other point in the year.
At the Minnesota end, early-spring weather still matters. A March delivery into Duluth, Brainerd or the Iron Range can meet snow and ice, and a driver will not run ramps on an unsafe surface. We build a little margin into northbound schedules for exactly that reason.
Estimated market pricing
Gulf Coast to Minneapolis, by season
Operable sedan, open transport, door to door. Spring is the peak northbound window.
| Origin | Off-season | Spring peak (Mar–Apr) | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naples to Minneapolis | $975–$1,300 | $1,150–$1,525 | 3–6 days in transit once loaded |
| North Naples to Minneapolis | $1,000–$1,300 | $1,175–$1,525 | 3–6 days in transit once loaded |
| East Naples to Minneapolis | $975–$1,300 | $1,175–$1,525 | 3–6 days in transit once loaded |
| Bonita Springs to Minneapolis | $1,000–$1,300 | $1,175–$1,525 | 4–7 days in transit once loaded |
| Estero to Minneapolis | $1,000–$1,300 | $1,175–$1,550 | 4–7 days in transit once loaded |
| Fort Myers to Minneapolis | $1,000–$1,325 | $1,175–$1,550 | 4–7 days in transit once loaded |
| Fort Myers Beach to Minneapolis | $1,000–$1,325 | $1,200–$1,550 | 4–7 days in transit once loaded |
| Cape Coral to Minneapolis | $1,000–$1,325 | $1,200–$1,550 | 4–7 days in transit once loaded |
| Marco Island to Minneapolis | $1,000–$1,300 | $1,175–$1,550 | 4–7 days in transit once loaded |
| Punta Gorda to Minneapolis | $1,025–$1,325 | $1,200–$1,575 | 4–7 days in transit once loaded |
| Ave Maria to Minneapolis | $1,000–$1,300 | $1,175–$1,550 | 4–7 days in transit once loaded |
Auto transport pricing changes with carrier availability, season, vehicle size, fuel costs, pickup location and delivery location. The figures below are estimated market ranges for planning purposes, not guaranteed quotes. Enterprise Auto Transport is a licensed broker: we negotiate with motor carriers and present the offers we actually receive, with our fee disclosed up front.
Destinations
Where we deliver in Minnesota
Minneapolis · Twin Cities core
Downtown and the denser neighborhoods rarely allow a full-size carrier to stop at the curb. A cleared lot on a nearby arterial is the normal solution and costs nothing extra.
St. Paul · Twin Cities core
Older street grids, narrow one-ways and mature tree cover mean overhead clearance matters as much as street width. Highland Park and Summit-University pickups are often staged nearby.
Rochester · Southeast Minnesota
Suburban streets and clinic-area lots handle carriers well. Downtown pickups are usually staged at a nearby retail lot.
Bloomington · South metro
Wide commercial corridors and large lots. One of the simplest pickups in the metro.
Edina · West metro
Curving residential streets, boulevard trees and no-parking rules make curbside loading unrealistic on many blocks. A nearby cleared lot is standard.
Eden Prairie · Southwest metro
Good arterial access off 494 and 212. Townhome associations are the usual constraint, not the streets.
Minnetonka · West metro
Wooded lots, steep driveways and low branches. Expect to meet the truck at a nearby cleared lot in winter.
Wayzata · Lake Minnetonka
Narrow lakeshore lanes and private drives. Nearly every winter pickup here is staged at a commercial lot on the highway.
Excelsior · Lake Minnetonka
Village streets cannot take a full carrier. Staging on a nearby county road is the practical answer.
Plymouth · Northwest metro
Wide collector roads and generous cul-de-sacs. Most pickups happen at the home.
Maple Grove · Northwest metro
Straightforward. Retail lots along the 694/94 corridor are easy staging points if the association objects.
Eagan · South metro
Good. Wide streets and plentiful commercial lots near Cedar Avenue and 35E.
Lakeville · South metro
Excellent. Newer subdivisions and open frontage roads along 35.
Woodbury · East metro
Good. Modern street layout; association rules are the main variable.
Stillwater · St. Croix Valley
Steep, narrow historic streets downtown. Bluff-top and valley homes usually require a staged meeting point.
North Oaks · North metro
Privately owned roads and gate policies. Nearly always staged outside the community.
Medina · West metro
Gravel and unplowed private drives are the winter risk. Confirm the driveway is cleared before the pickup date.
Chanhassen · Southwest metro
Newer subdivisions with wide streets load well; the wooded lots south of Lake Ann and around the arboretum have overhead branches that push loading out to a nearby lot.
Orono · Lake Minnetonka
Long private drives, gate posts and shoreline lanes that a 75-foot trailer cannot turn in. Staging on a main road nearby is the normal arrangement.
Mendota Heights · East metro
Generally good. Curving residential streets in the bluff neighborhoods may require meeting the carrier on a through street.
Prior Lake · South metro
Lakeside streets and cul-de-sacs are tight, and snowbanks narrow them further after a storm. Commercial frontage on 13 and 21 is the usual fallback.
Plan the return
Corridor resources
Questions
The spring return, answered
Can someone else release my vehicle in Minnesota?
Can an auto transporter enter my gated community?
Should I use open or enclosed transport?
How does Minnesota winter weather affect pickup?
Why can Florida-to-Minnesota pricing be different from Minnesota-to-Florida?
Is Enterprise Auto Transport the trucking company?
Who you are dealing with
Enterprise Auto Transport
- Serving customers since 2012
- BBB Accredited Business | A+ Rating
- Federally licensed and bonded auto transport broker
- USDOT #2273104
- MC #774106
- Owner-operated
- Phone: (239) 273-4649
Enterprise Auto Transport is a broker, not a motor carrier. We evaluate carriers and arrange your shipment; a separate, federally licensed trucking company physically moves the vehicle, carries the cargo insurance on it and issues the Bill of Lading. You should always know which carrier has your car.
How we verify carriers · Fraud prevention centre · Broker vs. carrier explained
Book the trip home early
Spring northbound fills fast. Tell us your departure window, or call (239) 273-4649.