Shipping a Car from Orlando, FL to Seattle, WA
The Orlando–Seattle route covers roughly 3,004 road miles northwestbound, across 12 states, from Florida to Washington. Transit after dispatch is about 5–8 days (60 hours of driving, plus stops). Volume is middling, so most customers find a carrier without much waiting.
What Orlando to Seattle Costs
A sedan on an open trailer is priced at roughly $1,200–$1,800 on this route, or $0.50 for each of the 3,004 miles. The longer the haul, the lower the cost per mile, and this one is long. SUVs and pickups usually add about 12% ($1,345–$2,015); enclosed sedan transport is $1,740–$2,610, roughly 45% more than open. Going the other way, Seattle, WA to Orlando, FL is estimated at $1,210–$1,820. A comparable-length trip, Seattle, WA to Jersey City, NJ (2,856 mi), is priced at $1,140–$1,715. Ending in Tacoma instead (34 mi from Seattle) is estimated at $1,210–$1,815.
| Trailer | Vehicle | Price Range | Good For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Sedan / Coupe | $1,200–$1,800 | Standard choice for everyday cars |
| Open | SUV / Truck | $1,345–$2,015 | Bigger cars, same open trailers |
| Open | Minivan | $1,345–$2,015 | Bigger cars, same open trailers |
| Enclosed | Sedan / Coupe | $1,740–$2,610 | High-value or low cars |
Estimates are for a standard sedan; actual quotes vary with pickup and drop-off points, condition and season.
Pickup and Delivery Details
Pickup in Orlando. Orlando International Airport is the usual reference point for staging in the area. Central Florida tourism and relocation hub on I-4, very busy in snowbird season. Trucks working Orlando lean on I-4.
Delivery in Seattle. The nearest major airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, is a common landmark for meeting a driver. Puget Sound port city on I-5/I-90; Cascade passes and rain affect winter timing. The main approaches to Seattle are I-5 and I-90.
Timing and Seasonality
Northbound moves out of Orlando surge from March to May as seasonal residents head home; request quotes three to four weeks out. Mountain passes along the way can close in winter storms, adding a day or two between December and March. Hurricane season (June to November) can pause or reroute trucks along the coast. For a 3,004-mile trip, request quotes about four weeks before pickup. Across Florida expect afternoon thunderstorms and hurricane season from June to November; across Washington, rain and snow on Snoqualmie Pass and the Cascades.
The Route and Corridor
Along the way the route touches Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Washington. In Washington, I-5 runs the Puget Sound corridor and I-90 crosses the Cascades. Arkansas: I-40 and I-30 cross at Little Rock. Kansas: I-70 and I-35 cross, and the Kansas Turnpike is tolled. Montgomery (AL), Birmingham (AL) and Memphis (TN) sit close to the corridor, which is why trucks often add or drop vehicles there. Pickup is on Eastern time and delivery on Pacific time, so a driver's call can come an hour off your clock. Toll roads in Florida and Kansas are built into carrier pricing.
Practical Tips for This Lane
- Ask for a call-ahead. Request a heads-up about a day before the truck reaches Seattle.
- Pad winter dates. If you ship between December and March, build in slack for pass closures.
- Vet the carrier. Check the MC number on safer.fmcsa.dot.gov and get insurance terms in writing before paying a deposit.