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

Movers from Palo Alto to Wilmington

About 2,911 road miles heading east. Typical two-bedroom cost $8,980–$13,360, delivery in 7–14 days, 233 carriers on the Palo Alto side and 93 in Wilmington.

2,911 miroad distance
50 hours (6 driving days)driving time
7–14 daysdelivery window
$8,980–$13,3602-bedroom estimate

Photo: NCDOTcommunications · CC BY 2.0

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Route summary

From: Palo Alto, California
To: Wilmington, North Carolina
Road distance: ≈ 2,911 miles (2,467 straight-line)
Drive time: 50 hours (6 driving days)
Delivery window: 7–14 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 233 (62 interstate)
Movers at destination: 93 (53 interstate)

Reverse: Wilmington → Palo Alto

The route from Palo Alto, CA to Wilmington, NC covers roughly 2,911 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 $8,980 to $13,360 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 50 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 93 around Wilmington (53 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 Wilmington.

Palo Alto has a population of about 67,000 and Wilmington about 126,809. The two cities have comparable density (2,851 and 2,246 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 Wilmington

Full-service estimate for 2,911 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$3,590	$4,380	$5,340
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$5,390	$6,570	$8,020
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$8,980	$10,950	$13,360
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$14,370	$17,520	$21,380
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$19,760	$24,090	$29,390

Rental truck (DIY)

$4,040–$5,710

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

Portable container

$3,620–$5,320

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

Full-service mover

$8,980–$13,360

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Palo Alto, CA → Wilmington, 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 Wilmington (destination)

Port City Transportation

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Anders Williams Trucking Company

USDOT: 223391
MC: 174301
Based in: Wilmington, NC 28401 (8 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 80 trucks, 80 drivers
USDOT registered: 1982

Call (910) 343-9831 Route Verify on FMCSA

Coastal Carrier Moving & Storage Company

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Coastal Carriers INC

USDOT: 1010926
MC: 425982
Based in: Wilmington, NC 28401 (8 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 31 trucks, 31 drivers
USDOT registered: 2002

Call (910) 392-4916 Route Verify on FMCSA

Miracle Movers INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2461529
MC: 852349
Based in: Wilmington, NC 28401 (8 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 24 trucks, 29 drivers
USDOT registered: 2013

Call (910) 726-4930 Route Verify on FMCSA

J & C Custom Deliveries INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 951979
MC: 407784
Based in: Wilmington, NC 28412 (5 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 19 trucks, 19 drivers
USDOT registered: 2001

Call (910) 799-3277 Route Verify on FMCSA

Two Men And A Truck

Licensed interstate

Legal name: T & K Moving INC

USDOT: 916912
MC: 397132
Based in: Wilmington, NC 28401 (8 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 19 trucks, 16 drivers
USDOT registered: 2000

Call (910) 763-7990 Route Verify on FMCSA

Two Men And A Truck Wilmington Nc

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Nhb Wilmington LLC

USDOT: 4579933
MC: 1822984
Based in: Wilmington, NC 28401 (8 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 12 trucks, 12 drivers
USDOT registered: 2026

Call (910) 763-7990 Route Verify on FMCSA

Just Move It

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Just Move It LLC

USDOT: 3250986
MC: 1148366
Based in: Wilmington, NC 28405 (4 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 10 trucks, 10 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (910) 512-7405 Route Verify on FMCSA

College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Seadawgs Enterprises INC

USDOT: 3120022
MC: 87417
Based in: Leland, NC 28451 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 8 trucks, 16 drivers
USDOT registered: 2018

Call (910) 769-3757 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 93 movers in Wilmington

Tips for this move

Expect a delivery spread of one to two weeks; plan temporary housing in Wilmington 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 Wilmington

Related routes

Other destinations from Palo Alto

Other origins to Wilmington

Frequently asked questions

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

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $3,590 to $5,340 for a studio, $5,390 to $8,020 for a one-bedroom, $8,980 to $13,360 for a two-bedroom, $14,370 to $21,380 for a three-bedroom and $19,760 to $29,390 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Wilmington from Palo Alto?

About 2,911 road miles (2,467 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 50 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 Wilmington?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $4,040 to $5,710 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $3,620 to $5,320. 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–Wilmington corridor.