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Palo Alto, CA

Lancaster, PA → Palo Alto, CA · Cross-country move

Movers from Lancaster to Palo Alto

About 2,892 road miles heading west. Typical two-bedroom cost $9,070–$13,490, delivery in 7–14 days, 260 carriers on the Lancaster side and 233 in Palo Alto.

  • 2,892 miroad distance
  • 50 hours (6 driving days)driving time
  • 7–14 daysdelivery window
  • $9,070–$13,4902-bedroom estimate
Photo: Sanfranman59 · CC BY-SA 3.0
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Route summary

Road distance
≈ 2,892 miles (2,451 straight-line)
Drive time
50 hours (6 driving days)
Delivery window
7–14 days
Move type
Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin
260 (171 interstate)
Movers at destination
233 (62 interstate)

Reverse: Palo Alto → Lancaster

Palo Alto sits about 2,892 miles west of Lancaster, which makes this an interstate relocation from Pennsylvania to California that most movers classify as a cross-country move.

At this distance carriers price by shipment weight and mileage rather than by the hour. A two-bedroom home (around 5,000 lb of goods) typically costs $9,070 to $13,490 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 7 to 14 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 50 hours (6 driving days).

On the Lancaster side there are 260 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (171 of them authorized for interstate work), and 233 around Palo Alto (62 interstate). For an interstate 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 Palo Alto.

Lancaster has a population of about 58,000 and Palo Alto about 67,000. Lancaster is considerably denser (8,031 people per square mile versus 2,851), so expect tighter loading conditions, parking permits or elevator reservations at the origin and easier truck access at the destination. California is a higher-cost state than Pennsylvania, so budget a little more for destination-side help, deposits and first-month expenses.

Cost of moving from Lancaster to Palo Alto

Full-service estimate for 2,892 miles, by home size
Home sizeEst. weightLowTypicalHigh
Studio 2,000 lb $3,630 $4,420 $5,400
1 Bedroom 3,000 lb $5,440 $6,630 $8,090
2 Bedrooms 5,000 lb $9,070 $11,060 $13,490
3 Bedrooms 8,000 lb $14,510 $17,690 $21,590
4+ Bedrooms 11,000 lb $19,950 $24,330 $29,680

Rental truck (DIY)

$4,020–$5,680

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

Portable container

$3,600–$5,300

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

Full-service mover

$9,070–$13,490

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Lancaster, PA → Palo Alto, 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 Lancaster (origin)

Miller Dedicated Services LLC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
2562869
MC
894481
Based in
Lancaster, PA 17601 (2 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
200 trucks, 200 drivers
USDOT registered
2014
Call (609) 265-2511 Route Verify on FMCSA

Sunrise Transport INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
276388
MC
290856
Based in
Ephrata, PA 17522 (11 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
128 trucks, 152 drivers
USDOT registered
1986
Call (717) 721-2803 Route Verify on FMCSA

Falcon Transport INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
168358
MC
145282
Based in
Lancaster, PA 17601 (2 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
120 trucks, 110 drivers
USDOT registered
1974
Call (717) 735-0560 Route Verify on FMCSA

Pioneer Transport INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
514795
MC
197249
Based in
Lancaster, PA 17601 (2 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
115 trucks, 100 drivers
USDOT registered
1993
Call (717) 735-0560 Route Verify on FMCSA

Quaker Transport INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
619559
MC
287214
Based in
Lancaster, PA 17601 (2 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
66 trucks, 60 drivers
USDOT registered
1995
Call (717) 735-0560 Route Verify on FMCSA

Snavely'S Mill INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
377174
MC
302885
Based in
Lititz, PA 17543 (10 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
39 trucks, 40 drivers
USDOT registered
1990
Call (717) 626-6256 Route Verify on FMCSA

Clark Transport LLC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
2040512
MC
720073
Based in
Quarryville, PA 17566 (15 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
30 trucks, 30 drivers
USDOT registered
2010
Call (717) 471-8623 Route Verify on FMCSA

Shawnee Trucking Pa INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
1342517
MC
515012
Based in
Lancaster, PA 17601 (2 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
25 trucks, 63 drivers
USDOT registered
2005
Call (717) 684-6100 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 260 movers in Lancaster

Near Palo Alto (destination)

Piranha Ops LLC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3389468
MC
1089109
Based in
San Jose, CA 95126 (13 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
49 trucks, 100 drivers
USDOT registered
2020
Call (510) 798-4604 Route Verify on FMCSA

Kilam INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3251388
MC
1023623
Based in
Fremont, CA 94538 (13 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
30 trucks, 68 drivers
USDOT registered
2019
Call (415) 740-2340 Route Verify on FMCSA

Crown Worldwide Moving And Storage LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
2970
MC
138953
Based in
Union City, CA 94587 (14 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
25 trucks, 18 drivers
USDOT registered
1974
Call (510) 614-4105 Route Verify on FMCSA

Lucid USA INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3488549
MC
1147342
Based in
Newark, CA 94560 (10 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
22 trucks, 38 drivers
USDOT registered
2020
Call (341) 236-1056 Route Verify on FMCSA

Managed Facility Solutions

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Managed Facilities Solutions LLC

USDOT
2974713
MC
10809
Based in
San Jose, CA 95131 (14 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
22 trucks, 43 drivers
USDOT registered
2017
Call (408) 920-0110 Route Verify on FMCSA

Careful Movers

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Careful Movers INC

USDOT
1464935
MC
553377
Based in
Union City, CA 94587 (14 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
14 trucks, 14 drivers
USDOT registered
2006
Call (650) 595-8400 Route Verify on FMCSA

Arjak&agnes Sons Trucking

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3247717
MC
1021407
Based in
Santa Clara, CA 95050 (11 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
7 trucks, 6 drivers
USDOT registered
2019
Call (510) 359-9498 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mav Moving LLC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
4340425
MC
77787146
Based in
Newark, CA 94560 (10 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
6 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered
2024
Call (510) 456-5745 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 233 movers in Palo Alto

Related routes

Other destinations from Lancaster

Other origins to Palo Alto

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Lancaster to Palo Alto?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $3,630 to $5,400 for a studio, $5,440 to $8,090 for a one-bedroom, $9,070 to $13,490 for a two-bedroom, $14,510 to $21,590 for a three-bedroom and $19,950 to $29,680 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Palo Alto from Lancaster?

About 2,892 road miles (2,451 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 50 hours (6 driving days).

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 7 to 14 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.

Does my mover need interstate authority for this move?

Yes. Crossing from Pennsylvania into California makes this an interstate move, so the carrier must hold active FMCSA operating authority (an MC number) in addition to its USDOT number. The company cards on this page flag which carriers are authorized for interstate work.

Is it cheaper to rent a truck or use a container for Lancaster to Palo Alto?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $4,020 to $5,680 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $3,600 to $5,300. 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 Lancaster–Palo Alto corridor.