Lane · STEP · Oct 2026
Houston, TX to Santa Maria, CA step deck rate
$5,625step deck
+3.6% from last month
- Per mile
- $3.18
- Distance
- 1,771 mi
- Typical range
- $4,725–$6,525
- Transit
- 4 days
Step deck · estimated all-in cost per load · monthly
Houston to Santa Maria price history
- 3 months
- +8.9%
- 1 year
- +18.7%
- 5 years
- +25.2%
Cost breakdown
- Linehaul
- $3,839
- Fuel
- $1,786
- All-in estimate
- $5,625
Return trip
Santa Maria → Houston$8,262This direction runs 32% below the return trip. Leaving TX prices below the national average and arriving in CA prices below it.
Houston to Santa Maria by truck type
| Truck type | Relative cost | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53' dry van | $4,301 | $2.43 | |
| 53' refrigerated | $5,124 | $2.89 | |
| 48' flatbed | $5,168 | $2.92 | |
| Step deck | $5,625 | $3.18 | |
| Power only | $3,817 | $2.16 | |
| Hotshot | $2,882 | $1.63 | |
| 26' box truck | $2,817 | $1.59 | |
| Sprinter van | $1,721 | $0.97 |
Live market check
Get live dry van quotes on this lane
The index is an estimate. For a price you can act on, ask connected freight providers for a live 53' dry van rate, or send the load details and get quoted for any truck type.
More lanes from Houston
| To | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $7,197 | $4.30 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $5,234 | $3.22 |
| Chicago, IL | $3,759 | $3.40 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $4,488 | $3.75 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $6,535 | $4.12 |
| San Antonio, TX | $1,471 | $6.57 |
| San Diego, CA | $4,976 | $3.25 |
| Dallas, TX | $1,580 | $6.01 |
More lanes into Santa Maria
| From | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $9,512 | $3.17 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $1,756 | $11.26 |
| Chicago, IL | $8,541 | $3.97 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $1,936 | $3.37 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $8,273 | $2.82 |
| San Antonio, TX | $5,087 | $3.23 |
| San Diego, CA | $2,246 | $7.94 |
| Dallas, TX | $5,185 | $3.22 |
About this lane
How much does it cost to ship a truckload from Houston, TX to Santa Maria, CA?
A Step deck from Houston, TX to Santa Maria, CA is estimated at $5,625 all-in in October 2026, or $3.18 a mile over about 1,771 mi. Quotes typically land between $4,725 and $6,525.
How far is Houston, TX from Santa Maria, CA by truck?
About 1,771 mi by road, estimated from the straight-line distance. A solo driver covers it in roughly 4 days of transit.
How much of the price is fuel?
About $1,786 of the $5,625 estimate is fuel at the current national diesel price; the remaining $3,839 is linehaul.
Is it cheaper to ship from Santa Maria, CA to Houston, TX?
The reverse direction is estimated at $8,262, which makes Houston, TX to Santa Maria, CA 32% cheaper. Direction matters because trucks are scarcer leaving some markets than others.
Figures are estimates for a standard full load. Get a firm quote for this lane →