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Santa Monica, CA

Carlsbad, CA → Santa Monica, CA · Short-haul move

Movers from Carlsbad to Santa Monica

About 109 road miles heading northwest. Typical two-bedroom cost $2,460–$3,670, delivery in 1–2 days, 85 carriers on the Carlsbad side and 603 in Santa Monica.

  • 109 miroad distance
  • 2 h 35 mindriving time
  • 1–2 daysdelivery window
  • $2,460–$3,6702-bedroom estimate
Photo: User:User2004 · Public domain
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Route summary

Road distance
≈ 109 miles (93 straight-line)
Drive time
2 h 35 min
Delivery window
1–2 days
Move type
In-state (California)
Movers at origin
85 (27 interstate)
Movers at destination
603 (222 interstate)

Reverse: Santa Monica → Carlsbad

The route from Carlsbad, CA to Santa Monica, CA covers roughly 109 miles by road, a northwest-bound trip that falls into the short-haul move category for pricing purposes.

Because the two cities are close together, most companies quote this move by the hour: a crew of two to four movers plus a truck, with the drive of about 2 h 35 min counted as billable travel time. A typical two-bedroom household lands between $2,460 and $3,670, before packing or storage.

On the Carlsbad side there are 85 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (27 of them authorized for interstate work), and 603 around Santa Monica (222 interstate). For an in-state move you can book from either end; movers near the origin handle loading and are usually the better first call, while a destination-side company can be useful if you need storage or delivery-day help in Santa Monica.

Carlsbad has a population of about 112,260 and Santa Monica about 92,000. Santa Monica is the denser city (11,069 people per square mile versus 3,036 in Carlsbad), which often means shuttle trucks, parking restrictions or building move-in windows on delivery day.

Cost of moving from Carlsbad to Santa Monica

Full-service estimate for 109 miles, by home size
Home sizeEst. weightLowTypicalHigh
Studio 2,000 lb $1,540 $1,880 $2,290
1 Bedroom 3,000 lb $1,540 $1,880 $2,290
2 Bedrooms 5,000 lb $2,460 $3,010 $3,670
3 Bedrooms 8,000 lb $3,940 $4,810 $5,870
4+ Bedrooms 11,000 lb $5,420 $6,610 $8,070

Rental truck (DIY)

$260–$370

One-way truck for the distance, mileage and fuel included; you load and drive.

Portable container

$1,120–$1,640

Container delivered, you load, company transports; transit is slower than a mover.

Full-service mover

$2,460–$3,670

Two-bedroom reference; crew loads, hauls and unloads.

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Carlsbad, CA → Santa Monica, CA. Adjust the other options to see your range.

—to—

Typical full-service range.

Estimates use market baselines described on the cost guide; your quotes will vary by inventory, access and date.

Moving companies for this route

Near Carlsbad (origin)

Altman Specialty Plants LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
440672
MC
277756
Based in
Vista, CA 92084 (8 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
311 trucks, 309 drivers
USDOT registered
1991
Call (760) 744-8191 Route Verify on FMCSA

Cronus Transportation INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
1840993
MC
701726
Based in
Oceanside, CA 92057 (9 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
13 trucks, 13 drivers
USDOT registered
2008
Call (760) 618-0707 Route Verify on FMCSA

Online Trucking Logistics INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
2159029
MC
750403
Based in
Vista, CA 92081 (4 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
8 trucks, 1 drivers
USDOT registered
2011
Call (760) 598-5800 Route Verify on FMCSA

Smooth Operator Logistics Co

Licensed interstate
USDOT
2660024
MC
1709631
Based in
Vista, CA 92083 (5 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
5 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered
2015
Call (619) 941-9901 Route Verify on FMCSA

Resendiz Bros Trucking INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3398785
MC
1134994
Based in
Escondido, CA 92026 (11 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
5 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered
2020
Call (760) 509-5808 Route Verify on FMCSA

Antida Trucking LLC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
2619707
MC
913842
Based in
San Diego, CA 92127 (12 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
5 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered
2015
Call (619) 398-6994 Route Verify on FMCSA

A&r Moving & Transportation INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
2925375
MC
987038
Based in
Carlsbad, CA 92011 (2 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
4 trucks, 6 drivers
USDOT registered
2016
Call (619) 807-0772 Route Verify on FMCSA

Servpro Of North Vista San Marcos

Interstate carrier

Legal name: Araya Construction INC

USDOT
2129355
Based in
San Marcos, CA 92069 (8 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
4 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered
2011
Call (760) 758-3454 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 85 movers in Carlsbad

Near Santa Monica (destination)

Clutter INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
2719785
MC
934868
Based in
Culver City, CA 90230 (6 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
191 trucks, 382 drivers
USDOT registered
2015
Call (877) 626-1887 Route Verify on FMCSA

Arru Group INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
4420956
MC
1738102
Based in
Los Angeles, CA 90029 (13 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
52 trucks, 180 drivers
USDOT registered
2025
Call (424) 335-1991 Route Verify on FMCSA

Ing Logistics

Licensed interstate
USDOT
1778992
MC
648911
Based in
Los Angeles, CA 90037 (12 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
50 trucks, 21 drivers
USDOT registered
2008
Call (213) 944-0878 Route Verify on FMCSA

Dsd Trucking INC

Interstate carrier Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
465743
MC
309255
Based in
Redondo Beach, CA 90278 (12 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
39 trucks, 31 drivers
USDOT registered
1991
Call (310) 725-1999 Route Verify on FMCSA

Grt Logistics LLC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3410979
MC
1099772
Based in
Los Angeles, CA 90008 (9 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
35 trucks, 80 drivers
USDOT registered
2020
Call (310) 508-6676 Route Verify on FMCSA

Harmony Home Remodels

Licensed interstate
USDOT
4468385
MC
1763223
Based in
Van Nuys, CA 91411 (12 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
33 trucks, 45 drivers
USDOT registered
2025
Call (818) 747-3439 Route Verify on FMCSA

Dlvr

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3471374
MC
1136305
Based in
Culver City, CA 90230 (6 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
25 trucks, 55 drivers
USDOT registered
2020
Route Verify on FMCSA

Melogistix INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3479671
MC
1141564
Based in
LA, CA 90019 (10 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
25 trucks, 48 drivers
USDOT registered
2020
Call (323) 377-8628 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 603 movers in Santa Monica

Related routes

Other destinations from Carlsbad

Other origins to Santa Monica

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Carlsbad to Santa Monica?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $1,540 to $2,290 for a studio, $1,540 to $2,290 for a one-bedroom, $2,460 to $3,670 for a two-bedroom, $3,940 to $5,870 for a three-bedroom and $5,420 to $8,070 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Santa Monica from Carlsbad?

About 109 road miles (93 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 2 h 35 min.

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 1 to 2 days after pickup. Carriers give a spread rather than a fixed date because long-distance trucks carry several shipments; a dedicated truck or expedited service shortens the window for an extra fee.

Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for an in-state move?

No. Because both Carlsbad and Santa Monica are in California, this is an intrastate move regulated by the state rather than the FMCSA. Still, choosing a carrier with an active USDOT number is the easiest way to confirm the company is a registered motor carrier with insurance on file.

Is it cheaper to rent a truck or use a container for Carlsbad to Santa Monica?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $260 to $370 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,120 to $1,640. Both save money versus a full-service crew but you do the loading, and container transit can take longer than a mover's delivery window.

When is the least expensive time to book this move?

Rates are highest in summer and around the last days of any month, when demand peaks. Mid-month, mid-week and winter dates are usually quoted below the standard rate. Booking four to eight weeks ahead gives you the widest choice of carriers on the Carlsbad–Santa Monica corridor.