Palo Alto, CA → Durham, NC · Cross-country move

Movers from Palo Alto to Durham

About 2,805 road miles heading east. Typical two-bedroom cost $8,790–$13,080, delivery in 7–14 days, 233 carriers on the Palo Alto side and 338 in Durham.

2,805 miroad distance
49 hours (6 driving days)driving time
7–14 daysdelivery window
$8,790–$13,0802-bedroom estimate

Photo: Maria Miracoli · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Route summary

From: Palo Alto, California
To: Durham, North Carolina
Road distance: ≈ 2,805 miles (2,377 straight-line)
Drive time: 49 hours (6 driving days)
Delivery window: 7–14 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 233 (62 interstate)
Movers at destination: 338 (194 interstate)

Reverse: Durham → Palo Alto

The route from Palo Alto, CA to Durham, NC covers roughly 2,805 miles by road, a east-bound trip that falls into the cross-country 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 $8,790 to $13,080 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 49 hours (6 driving days).

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 338 around Durham (194 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 Durham.

Palo Alto has a population of about 67,000 and Durham about 305,561. The two cities have comparable density (2,851 and 2,513 people per square mile), so loading and unloading conditions are usually similar at both ends. Labor and living costs run lower in North Carolina 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 Durham

Full-service estimate for 2,805 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$3,520	$4,290	$5,230
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$5,280	$6,430	$7,850
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$8,790	$10,720	$13,080
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$14,070	$17,160	$20,940
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$19,350	$23,590	$28,790

Rental truck (DIY)

$3,930–$5,550

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

Portable container

$3,520–$5,180

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

Full-service mover

$8,790–$13,080

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Palo Alto, CA → Durham, NC. 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 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 Durham (destination)

Pax Logistix

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Pax Logistix LLC

USDOT: 3319990
MC: 1056199
Based in: Chapel Hill, NC 27514 (9 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 40 trucks, 40 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (919) 961-7665 Route Verify on FMCSA

Trosa Moving

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Triangle Residential Options For Substance Abusers INC

USDOT: 675014
MC: 315111
Based in: Durham, NC 27701 (2 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 32 trucks, 13 drivers
USDOT registered: 1997

Call (919) 419-1059 Route Verify on FMCSA

Green'S Trucking

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4196166
MC: 1617931
Based in: Durham, NC 27703 (5 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 25 trucks, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2024

Call (919) 618-7622 Route Verify on FMCSA

Jbruce Truck Lines INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2939017
MC: 98627
Based in: Morrisville, NC 27560 (9 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 25 trucks, 17 drivers
USDOT registered: 2016

Call (919) 607-6875 Route Verify on FMCSA

Miracle Movers Raleigh

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Miracle Movers Of Raleigh LLC

USDOT: 3139734
MC: 98319
Based in: Durham, NC 27703 (5 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 20 trucks, 21 drivers
USDOT registered: 2018

Call (919) 656-4043 Route Verify on FMCSA

All My Sons Moving & Storage Of Raleigh

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Sg Of Raleigh LLC

USDOT: 906054
MC: 392699
Based in: Raleigh, NC 27617 (9 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 16 trucks, 19 drivers
USDOT registered: 2000

Call (919) 875-1700 Route Verify on FMCSA

DBA Armstrong Relocation Co INC Raleigh Nc

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Armstrong Relocation Company INC Raleigh North Carolina

USDOT: 1071807
MC: 550171
Based in: Durham, NC 27703 (5 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 15 trucks, 15 drivers
USDOT registered: 2002

Call (919) 425-9853 Route Verify on FMCSA

Storr Logistics Services

Interstate carrier

USDOT: 9206129
Based in: Raleigh, NC 27617 (9 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 15 trucks, 80 drivers
USDOT registered: 2026

Call (919) 313-3700 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 338 movers in Durham

Tips for this move

Ship the car separately if you plan to fly; auto transport is priced by the mile like household goods.
Confirm which items the mover will not carry (plants, perishables, propane, some batteries).
Expect a delivery spread of one to two weeks; plan temporary housing in Durham accordingly.
Compare a full-service van line against a container service; for a small household the container often wins.

Near Palo Alto

Near Durham

Related routes

Other destinations from Palo Alto

Other origins to Durham

Frequently asked questions

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

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $3,520 to $5,230 for a studio, $5,280 to $7,850 for a one-bedroom, $8,790 to $13,080 for a two-bedroom, $14,070 to $20,940 for a three-bedroom and $19,350 to $28,790 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Durham from Palo Alto?

About 2,805 road miles (2,377 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 49 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 California into North Carolina 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 Durham?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $3,930 to $5,550 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $3,520 to $5,180. 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–Durham corridor.