Moving from Houston to Reno

Houston city has about 2.3 million residents and the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands metro area about 7.4 million. The Census counts about 195 people a year moving from the four Houston-area counties on this route (Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris and Montgomery) to Washoe County, based on 2016 to 2020 estimates. The distance is the first thing to plan around.

The drive: 1,846 miles from the Gulf Coast to the Truckee Meadows

From Houston to our Sparks warehouse the road distance is about 1,846 miles, with a straight-line distance of 1,534 miles. The highways add about 312 miles to that line. Free-flow driving is about 33 h 54 min, and at 500 miles a day it is four days of road time. Treat that as a road figure only; your written estimate sets the delivery window.

The route uses a different mix of highways from the other Texas runs. I-40 supplies 586 miles, US 84 supplies 309, US 95 supplies 272 and TX 6 supplies 192. Together they cover 1,359 of the 1,846 miles. TX 6 is a Texas state highway, and US 95 is the Nevada road that finishes the trip.

From sea level to 4,930 feet

Houston sits at about 52 feet above sea level, and Reno sits at 4,930 feet. The routing tool lists no named mountain pass between the two, so the rise is spread over the whole drive.

Gulf Coast weather is part of the planning. NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals show about 56 inches of precipitation a year at Houston Hobby Airport, against about 7 inches in Reno. Check DriveTexas on the Texas end and the NDOT site on the Nevada end during storms or winter snow.

Reading the road numbers

Split into 500-mile days, the 1,846 miles are three full days and a fourth day of about 346 miles. Free-flow driving of 33 h 54 min over 1,846 miles implies a pace of about 54 miles per hour, with no stops, traffic or weather counted. The figure describes the road and not the delivery.

I-40 is about 32 percent of the distance here, less than on the Dallas route, because the first leg from Houston uses TX 6 and US 84 to get there. If you follow the truck in your own vehicle, plan your fuel around the 272 miles of US 95 at the Nevada end.

What changes when you arrive

Houston's median rent is $1,361 and its median home value is $277,800, against $1,556 and $548,300 in Reno. The median household income is $64,813 in Houston and $80,760 in Reno. The table above prints both ends.

A January day in Houston has a high near 63.8 degrees and a low near 46.1. In Reno the January high is near 47.7 and the low near 26.1, and the city sees about 21 inches of snow a year while Houston's records show none worth counting. Warm clothes and winter tires are worth planning for before the first cold snap.

How the move works with O'Brien's

On a move from Houston, you book the move with O'Brien's, the Bekins agent in Sparks, and we coordinate it from your Houston home through the Bekins Van Lines network, then handle delivery, unpacking and storage in Sparks. Your written estimate sets the delivery window.

Your estimate is itemized and in writing, and a long-distance move is priced by weight. You get an itemized inventory and condition report before packing. A phone ballpark or an online request is the quickest way to start, and you can call 775-359-6683 for either.

Getting settled in Reno

Nevada's registration and licensing deadlines are both 30 days for new residents. Our Texas to Reno guide compares the two states, and the long-distance moving checklist covers the last weeks before loading.