Palo Alto, CA → Jersey City, NJ · Cross-country move

Movers from Palo Alto to Jersey City

About 3,018 road miles heading east. Typical two-bedroom cost $9,910–$14,750, delivery in 7–14 days, 233 carriers on the Palo Alto side and 2,933 in Jersey City.

3,018 miroad distance
52 hours (6 driving days)driving time
7–14 daysdelivery window
$9,910–$14,7502-bedroom estimate

Photo: King of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Route summary

From: Palo Alto, California
To: Jersey City, New Jersey
Road distance: ≈ 3,018 miles (2,558 straight-line)
Drive time: 52 hours (6 driving days)
Delivery window: 7–14 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 233 (62 interstate)
Movers at destination: 2,933 (1,570 interstate)

Reverse: Jersey City → Palo Alto

The route from Palo Alto, CA to Jersey City, NJ covers roughly 3,018 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 $9,910 to $14,750 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 52 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 2,933 around Jersey City (1,570 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 Jersey City.

Palo Alto has a population of about 67,000 and Jersey City about 302,013. Jersey City is the denser city (19,894 people per square mile versus 2,851 in Palo Alto), which often means shuttle trucks, parking restrictions or building move-in windows on delivery day. Labor and living costs run lower in New Jersey 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 Jersey City

Full-service estimate for 3,018 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$3,960	$4,830	$5,900
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$5,950	$7,250	$8,850
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$9,910	$12,090	$14,750
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$15,860	$19,340	$23,590
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$21,800	$26,590	$32,440

Rental truck (DIY)

$4,150–$5,860

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

Portable container

$3,710–$5,460

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

Full-service mover

$9,910–$14,750

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Palo Alto, CA → Jersey City, NJ. 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 Jersey City (destination)

Piece Of Cake Moving

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Piece Of Cake Moving + Storage LLC

USDOT: 3066988
MC: 58659
Based in: New York, NY 10009 (5 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 340 trucks, 360 drivers
USDOT registered: 2017

Call (646) 461-3422 Route Verify on FMCSA

U T F Trucking INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1003565
MC: 825910
Based in: Bronx, NY 10454 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 348 trucks, 530 drivers
USDOT registered: 2002

Call (718) 928-1000 Route Verify on FMCSA

Luna Transportation INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3728952
MC: 1315556
Based in: Brooklyn, NY 11214 (9 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 207 trucks, 207 drivers
USDOT registered: 2021

Call (848) 444-3133 Route Verify on FMCSA

Roadway Moving

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Roadway Movers INC

USDOT: 1854436
MC: 671325
Based in: New York, NY 10472 (13 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 190 trucks, 200 drivers
USDOT registered: 2009

Call (212) 812-5240 Route Verify on FMCSA

Daybreak Express INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 288155
MC: 186214
Based in: Newark, NJ 07105 (4 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 174 trucks, 176 drivers
USDOT registered: 1987

Call (973) 589-5931 Route Verify on FMCSA

Luna Logistics

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Venus Global Consulting

USDOT: 4498428
MC: 1779258
Based in: Newark, NJ 07105 (4 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 114 trucks, 40 drivers
USDOT registered: 2025

Call (201) 452-3179 Route Verify on FMCSA

Vpv Transport LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2121392
MC: 739314
Based in: Kearny, NJ 07032 (4 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 112 trucks, 107 drivers
USDOT registered: 2011

Call (973) 900-9250 Route Verify on FMCSA

Ironbound Express INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 674147
MC: 434921
Based in: Newark, NJ 07105 (4 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 88 trucks, 79 drivers
USDOT registered: 1997

Call (973) 491-5151 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 2,933 movers in Jersey City

Tips for this move

Expect a delivery spread of one to two weeks; plan temporary housing in Jersey City accordingly.
Compare a full-service van line against a container service; for a small household the container often wins.
Ask about consolidated versus dedicated truck options—dedicated is faster but costs more.
Read the FMCSA 'Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move' booklet the carrier must provide.

Near Palo Alto

Near Jersey City

Related routes

Other destinations from Palo Alto

Other origins to Jersey City

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Palo Alto to Jersey City?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $3,960 to $5,900 for a studio, $5,950 to $8,850 for a one-bedroom, $9,910 to $14,750 for a two-bedroom, $15,860 to $23,590 for a three-bedroom and $21,800 to $32,440 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Jersey City from Palo Alto?

About 3,018 road miles (2,558 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 52 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 New Jersey 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 Jersey City?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $4,150 to $5,860 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $3,710 to $5,460. 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–Jersey City corridor.