Palo Alto, CA → Billings, MT · Long-distance move

Movers from Palo Alto to Billings

About 1,072 road miles heading northeast. Typical two-bedroom cost $5,400–$8,040, delivery in 3–7 days, 233 carriers on the Palo Alto side and 33 in Billings.

1,072 miroad distance
19 h 11 mindriving time
3–7 daysdelivery window
$5,400–$8,0402-bedroom estimate

Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0

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Route summary

From: Palo Alto, California
To: Billings, Montana
Road distance: ≈ 1,072 miles (909 straight-line)
Drive time: 19 h 11 min
Delivery window: 3–7 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 233 (62 interstate)
Movers at destination: 33 (28 interstate)

Reverse: Billings → Palo Alto

The route from Palo Alto, CA to Billings, MT covers roughly 1,072 miles by road, a northeast-bound trip that falls into the long-distance move category for pricing purposes.

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 $5,400 to $8,040 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 3 to 7 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 19 h 11 min.

On the Palo Alto side there are 233 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (62 of them authorized for interstate work), and 33 around Billings (28 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 Billings.

Palo Alto has a population of about 67,000 and Billings about 121,239. The two cities have comparable density (2,851 and 2,614 people per square mile), so loading and unloading conditions are usually similar at both ends. Labor and living costs run lower in Montana than in California, which tends to make destination-side services such as unpacking or storage cheaper than the same services back home.

Cost of moving from Palo Alto to Billings

Full-service estimate for 1,072 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$2,160	$2,630	$3,210
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$3,240	$3,950	$4,820
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$5,400	$6,590	$8,040
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$8,640	$10,540	$12,860
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$11,880	$14,490	$17,680

Rental truck (DIY)

$1,550–$2,190

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

Portable container

$1,980–$2,910

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

Full-service mover

$5,400–$8,040

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Palo Alto, CA → Billings, MT. Adjust the other options to see your range.

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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 Palo Alto (origin)

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

Near Billings (destination)

Mt Delivery LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 3362300
MC: 1076928
Based in: Billings, MT 59105 (8 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 4 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (406) 490-0693 Route Verify on FMCSA

Calvin Avery Consultants LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4161481
MC: 1599225
Based in: Laurel, MT 59044 (13 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 4 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2023

Call (702) 937-6456 Route Verify on FMCSA

High Mark Trucking

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Ben Thomas

USDOT: 1597576
MC: 591004
Based in: Billings, MT 59105 (8 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 3 trucks, 2 drivers
USDOT registered: 2007

Call (406) 860-1387 Route Verify on FMCSA

By All Means

Licensed interstate

Legal name: By All Means Brewing LLC

USDOT: 4448901
MC: 1752852
Based in: Billings, MT 59102 (2 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 2 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 2025

Call (406) 534-3075 Route Verify on FMCSA

William Hill Trucking

Licensed interstate

Legal name: William Hill

USDOT: 727340
MC: 334035
Based in: Billings, MT 59105 (8 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 2 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 1998

Call (406) 431-7822 Route Verify on FMCSA

Dkr Trucking LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2529433
MC: 322451
Based in: Billings, MT 59106 (8 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 1 truck, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2014

Call (406) 855-4911 Route Verify on FMCSA

Redtail Trucking LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3285881
MC: 1039709
Based in: Billings, MT 59106 (8 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 1 truck, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (406) 208-0298 Route Verify on FMCSA

Dolar Excavation LLC

Intrastate carrier

USDOT: 2570749
MC: 898382
Based in: Billings, MT 59102 (2 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 1 truck, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (406) 200-0062 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 33 movers in Billings

Tips for this move

Declutter first: long-haul pricing is by weight, so every hundred pounds you sell or donate saves money.
Check whether a shuttle truck is needed in Billings if a 53-foot trailer cannot reach your street.
Keep vehicle titles, passports and prescriptions with you; movers cannot carry some items at all.
Insist on a binding or binding-not-to-exceed estimate after an in-home or video survey.

Near Palo Alto

Near Billings

Related routes

Other destinations from Palo Alto

Other origins to Billings

Frequently asked questions

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

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,160 to $3,210 for a studio, $3,240 to $4,820 for a one-bedroom, $5,400 to $8,040 for a two-bedroom, $8,640 to $12,860 for a three-bedroom and $11,880 to $17,680 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Billings from Palo Alto?

About 1,072 road miles (909 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 19 h 11 min.

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 3 to 7 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 California into Montana 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 Palo Alto to Billings?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $1,550 to $2,190 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,980 to $2,910. 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 Palo Alto–Billings corridor.