Palo Alto, CA → Mankato, MN · Cross-country move

Movers from Palo Alto to Mankato

About 1,814 road miles heading northeast. Typical two-bedroom cost $7,250–$10,780, delivery in 5–10 days, 233 carriers on the Palo Alto side and 116 in Mankato.

1,814 miroad distance
31 hours (4 driving days)driving time
5–10 daysdelivery window
$7,250–$10,7802-bedroom estimate

Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0

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Route summary

From: Palo Alto, California
To: Mankato, Minnesota
Road distance: ≈ 1,814 miles (1,537 straight-line)
Drive time: 31 hours (4 driving days)
Delivery window: 5–10 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 233 (62 interstate)
Movers at destination: 116 (69 interstate)

Reverse: Mankato → Palo Alto

Moving from Palo Alto to Mankato is a cross-country move of roughly 1,814 road miles, heading northeast from California to Minnesota.

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 $7,250 to $10,780 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 5 to 10 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 31 hours (4 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 116 around Mankato (69 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 Mankato.

Palo Alto has a population of about 67,000 and Mankato about 45,000. The two cities have comparable density (2,851 and 2,236 people per square mile), so loading and unloading conditions are usually similar at both ends. Labor and living costs run lower in Minnesota 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 Mankato

Full-service estimate for 1,814 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$2,900	$3,540	$4,310
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$4,350	$5,300	$6,470
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$7,250	$8,840	$10,780
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$11,600	$14,140	$17,260
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$15,950	$19,450	$23,730

Rental truck (DIY)

$2,610–$3,690

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

Portable container

$2,640–$3,880

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

Full-service mover

$7,250–$10,780

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Palo Alto, CA → Mankato, MN. 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 Mankato (destination)

Waletich Transportation

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Waletich Corporation

USDOT: 917240
MC: 396840
Based in: Kasota, MN 56050 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 270 trucks, 138 drivers
USDOT registered: 2000

Call (507) 931-2000 Route Verify on FMCSA

Western Specialized INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1215999
MC: 482672
Based in: Mankato, MN 56001 (3 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 62 trucks, 31 drivers
USDOT registered: 2004

Call (507) 345-3300 Route Verify on FMCSA

Volk Transfer INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 646587
MC: 301279
Based in: Mankato, MN 56001 (3 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 38 trucks, 40 drivers
USDOT registered: 1996

Call (507) 388-1683 Route Verify on FMCSA

Kato Moving And Storage

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Mankato Moving And Storage LLC

USDOT: 3145946
MC: 1547238
Based in: Mankato, MN 56001 (3 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 7 trucks, 8 drivers
USDOT registered: 2018

Call (507) 388-9329 Route Verify on FMCSA

Two Men And A Truck

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Tmt Mankato LLC

USDOT: 3371544
MC: 1080976
Based in: Mankato, MN 56001 (3 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 5 trucks, 24 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (507) 702-3087 Route Verify on FMCSA

Anytime Towing & Recovery LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3749604
MC: 1330552
Based in: Mankato, MN 56001 (3 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 4 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered: 2021

Call (507) 317-8562 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mankato Movers INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3125369
MC: 90232
Based in: Kasota, MN 56050 (6 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 4 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2018

Call (507) 382-9491 Route Verify on FMCSA

Asu Trucking LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4539404
MC: 1801154
Based in: Mankato, MN 56001 (3 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 3 trucks, 2 drivers
USDOT registered: 2026

Call (612) 850-9533 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 116 movers in Mankato

Tips for this move

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 Mankato 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.

Near Palo Alto

Near Mankato

Related routes

Other destinations from Palo Alto

Other origins to Mankato

Frequently asked questions

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

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,900 to $4,310 for a studio, $4,350 to $6,470 for a one-bedroom, $7,250 to $10,780 for a two-bedroom, $11,600 to $17,260 for a three-bedroom and $15,950 to $23,730 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Mankato from Palo Alto?

About 1,814 road miles (1,537 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 31 hours (4 driving days).

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 5 to 10 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 Minnesota 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 Mankato?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $2,610 to $3,690 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,640 to $3,880. 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–Mankato corridor.