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

Movers from Palo Alto to Raleigh

About 2,824 road miles heading east. Typical two-bedroom cost $8,830–$13,130, delivery in 7–14 days, 233 carriers on the Palo Alto side and 739 in Raleigh.

2,824 miroad distance
49 hours (6 driving days)driving time
7–14 daysdelivery window
$8,830–$13,1302-bedroom estimate

Photo: Abhiram Juvvadi · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Route summary

From: Palo Alto, California
To: Raleigh, North Carolina
Road distance: ≈ 2,824 miles (2,394 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: 739 (399 interstate)

Reverse: Raleigh → Palo Alto

Moving from Palo Alto to Raleigh is a cross-country move of roughly 2,824 road miles, heading east from California to North Carolina.

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 $8,830 to $13,130 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 739 around Raleigh (399 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 Raleigh.

Palo Alto has a population of about 67,000 and Raleigh about 506,306. The two cities have comparable density (2,851 and 3,179 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 Raleigh

Full-service estimate for 2,824 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$3,530	$4,310	$5,250
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$5,300	$6,460	$7,880
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$8,830	$10,770	$13,130
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$14,120	$17,220	$21,010
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$19,420	$23,680	$28,890

Rental truck (DIY)

$3,950–$5,580

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

Portable container

$3,540–$5,210

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

Full-service mover

$8,830–$13,130

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

Moving cost calculator

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

1800packrat

Licensed interstate

Legal name: 1-800-Pack-Rat LLC

USDOT: 1534531
MC: 648624
Based in: Wake Forest, NC 27587 (12 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 345 trucks, 420 drivers
USDOT registered: 2006

Call (919) 488-3636 Route Verify on FMCSA

2u2day Logistics LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3434201
MC: 1114105
Based in: Raleigh, NC 27610 (8 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 70 trucks, 100 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (919) 609-1544 Route Verify on FMCSA

All American Relocation

Licensed interstate

Legal name: All American Relocation INC

USDOT: 917428
MC: 397148
Based in: Raleigh, NC 27610 (8 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 41 trucks, 26 drivers
USDOT registered: 2000

Call (919) 256-7193 Route Verify on FMCSA

Zippy Shell

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Forward Moving LLC

USDOT: 2574332
MC: 935064
Based in: Wake Forest, NC 27587 (12 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 35 trucks, 18 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (702) 418-3321 Route Verify on FMCSA

A Boy And His Truck Logistics LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3996385
MC: 1500731
Based in: Raleigh, NC 27616 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 30 trucks, 80 drivers
USDOT registered: 2022

Call (252) 649-5070 Route Verify on FMCSA

Jbruce Truck Lines INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2939017
MC: 98627
Based in: Morrisville, NC 27560 (11 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 25 trucks, 17 drivers
USDOT registered: 2016

Call (919) 607-6875 Route Verify on FMCSA

Green'S Trucking

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4196166
MC: 1617931
Based in: Durham, NC 27703 (13 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 25 trucks, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2024

Call (919) 618-7622 Route Verify on FMCSA

Shipsecure Cargo LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4232130
MC: 1637508
Based in: Cary, NC 27518 (10 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 22 trucks, 19 drivers
USDOT registered: 2024

Call (919) 450-6374 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 739 movers in Raleigh

Related routes

Other destinations from Palo Alto

Other origins to Raleigh

Frequently asked questions

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

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $3,530 to $5,250 for a studio, $5,300 to $7,880 for a one-bedroom, $8,830 to $13,130 for a two-bedroom, $14,120 to $21,010 for a three-bedroom and $19,420 to $28,890 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Raleigh from Palo Alto?

About 2,824 road miles (2,394 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 Raleigh?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $3,950 to $5,580 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $3,540 to $5,210. 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–Raleigh corridor.