Palm Springs, CA → El Cajon, CA · Short-haul move

Movers from Palm Springs to El Cajon

About 87 road miles heading south. Typical two-bedroom cost $1,780–$2,650, delivery in 1–2 days, 74 carriers on the Palm Springs side and 339 in El Cajon.

87 miroad distance
2 h 12 mindriving time
1–2 daysdelivery window
$1,780–$2,6502-bedroom estimate

Photo: Namiwoo · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Route summary

From: Palm Springs, California
To: El Cajon, California
Road distance: ≈ 87 miles (73 straight-line)
Drive time: 2 h 12 min
Delivery window: 1–2 days
Move type: In-state (California)
Movers at origin: 74 (33 interstate)
Movers at destination: 339 (105 interstate)

Reverse: El Cajon → Palm Springs

El Cajon sits about 87 miles south of Palm Springs, so this is an in-state move that most movers classify as a short-haul move.

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 12 min counted as billable travel time. A typical two-bedroom household lands between $1,780 and $2,650, before packing or storage.

On the Palm Springs side there are 74 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (33 of them authorized for interstate work), and 339 around El Cajon (105 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 El Cajon.

Palm Springs has a population of about 45,000 and El Cajon about 101,755. El Cajon is the denser city (7,325 people per square mile versus 471 in Palm Springs), which often means shuttle trucks, parking restrictions or building move-in windows on delivery day.

Cost of moving from Palm Springs to El Cajon

Full-service estimate for 87 miles, by home size
Home size	Crew	Hours	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2 movers	3–5 h	$1,020	$1,240	$1,510
1 Bedroom	2 movers	4–6 h	$1,150	$1,400	$1,710
2 Bedrooms	3 movers	5–8 h	$1,780	$2,180	$2,650
3 Bedrooms	4 movers	7–10 h	$2,670	$3,250	$3,970
4+ Bedrooms	5 movers	9–13 h	$3,870	$4,720	$5,760

Rental truck (DIY)

$240–$340

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

Portable container

$1,100–$1,610

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

Full-service mover

$1,780–$2,650

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Palm Springs, CA → El Cajon, 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 Palm Springs (origin)

Vested Solutions Trucking LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4428794
MC: 1742302
Based in: Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 10 trucks, 10 drivers
USDOT registered: 2025

Call (877) 460-7729 Route Verify on FMCSA

King Kahn Faimly Moving Company

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Old Town Movers LLC

USDOT: 3317953
MC: 1258062
Based in: Palm Desert, CA 92260 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 5 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (714) 768-0817 Route Verify on FMCSA

On Time Moving Services

Licensed interstate

Legal name: On Time Moving Services INC

USDOT: 1266880
MC: 497265
Based in: Cathedral City, CA 92234 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 4 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 2004

Call (760) 774-1675 Route Verify on FMCSA

Free Bolt

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Free Bolt LLC

USDOT: 3501180
MC: 1415448
Based in: N Palm Spgs, CA 92258 (8 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 4 trucks, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (817) 482-9489 Route Verify on FMCSA

Labranos Family Moving And Storage LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3052631
MC: 50657
Based in: Palm Desert, CA 92260 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 4 trucks, 8 drivers
USDOT registered: 2017

Call (760) 895-7510 Route Verify on FMCSA

B C A Trucking

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Bernardo Cervantes Ascencio

USDOT: 1049392
MC: 490618
Based in: Cathedral City, CA 92234 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 2 trucks, 2 drivers
USDOT registered: 2002

Call (760) 808-0693 Route Verify on FMCSA

Crenshaw Still Trucking LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3536179
MC: 1179003
Based in: Cathedral City, CA 92234 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 2 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (760) 960-3267 Route Verify on FMCSA

Black Hawk Trucking INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3354140
MC: 1073360
Based in: Palm Springs, CA 92262 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 2 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (909) 827-9854 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 74 movers in Palm Springs

Near El Cajon (destination)

Magic Mile LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3296634
MC: 1044843
Based in: Poway, CA 92064 (13 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 45 trucks, 70 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (619) 991-9424 Route Verify on FMCSA

Djw Logistics

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Walk With Me INC

USDOT: 3312065
MC: 1052279
Based in: Chula Vista, CA 91910 (13 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 30 trucks, 60 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (858) 294-3804 Route Verify on FMCSA

Republic Moving & Storage

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Lovejoy'S Family Moving INC

USDOT: 3369820
MC: 778208
Based in: Chula Vista, CA 91914 (9 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 21 trucks, 20 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (951) 541-6710 Route Verify on FMCSA

Ackley Moving Services

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Ackley Enterprises INC

USDOT: 1868365
MC: 675281
Based in: Poway, CA 92064 (13 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 21 trucks, 19 drivers
USDOT registered: 2009

Call (858) 735-9587 Route Verify on FMCSA

Allstate Logistics

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Allstate Van & Storage INC

USDOT: 692879
MC: 321079
Based in: Poway, CA 92064 (13 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 18 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered: 1997

Call (858) 746-1000 Route Verify on FMCSA

The Cms Companies

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Sullivan Moving & Storage INC

USDOT: 56181
MC: 127405
Based in: San Diego, CA 92111 (12 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 17 trucks, 42 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (253) 395-5432 Route Verify on FMCSA

B One LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2271280
MC: 780878
Based in: El Cajon, CA 92020 (1 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 16 trucks, 11 drivers
USDOT registered: 2012

Call (619) 215-5125 Route Verify on FMCSA

C & D Towing Specialists

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: C & D Towing Specialists INC

USDOT: 1057657
MC: 442792
Based in: El Cajon, CA 92020 (1 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 13 trucks, 19 drivers
USDOT registered: 2002

Call (619) 463-8697 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 339 movers in El Cajon

Tips for this move

A single-day move is realistic here; schedule loading in the morning so the crew arrives in El Cajon with daylight to spare.
Check California intrastate mover rules; many states require a state permit in addition to a USDOT number.
Group fragile items and tell the crew which boxes go in the cab or on top.
For a move under about 150 miles you can often choose between an hourly and a flat rate—ask for both.

Near Palm Springs

Near El Cajon

Related routes

Other destinations from Palm Springs

Other origins to El Cajon

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Palm Springs to El Cajon?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $1,020 to $1,510 for a studio, $1,150 to $1,710 for a one-bedroom, $1,780 to $2,650 for a two-bedroom, $2,670 to $3,970 for a three-bedroom and $3,870 to $5,760 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is El Cajon from Palm Springs?

About 87 road miles (73 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 2 h 12 min.

How long will the movers take to deliver?

For a move this short, loading and delivery normally happen on the same day. Most crews finish a two-bedroom home in 5 to 8 hours plus the drive.

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

No. Because both Palm Springs and El Cajon 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 Palm Springs to El Cajon?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $240 to $340 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,100 to $1,610. 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 Palm Springs–El Cajon corridor.