San Diego, CA → Palo Alto, CA · Long-distance move

Movers from San Diego to Palo Alto

About 501 road miles heading northwest. Typical two-bedroom cost $4,230–$6,300, delivery in 2–5 days, 626 carriers on the San Diego side and 233 in Palo Alto.

501 miroad distance
9 h 20 mindriving time
2–5 daysdelivery window
$4,230–$6,3002-bedroom estimate

Photo: Sanfranman59 · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Route summary

From: San Diego, California
To: Palo Alto, California
Road distance: ≈ 501 miles (425 straight-line)
Drive time: 9 h 20 min
Delivery window: 2–5 days
Move type: In-state (California)
Movers at origin: 626 (217 interstate)
Movers at destination: 233 (62 interstate)

Reverse: Palo Alto → San Diego

The route from San Diego, CA to Palo Alto, CA covers roughly 501 miles by road, a northwest-bound trip that falls into the long-distance 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 $4,230 to $6,300 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 2 to 5 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 9 h 20 min.

On the San Diego side there are 626 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (217 of them authorized for interstate work), and 233 around Palo Alto (62 interstate). For an in-state 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 Palo Alto.

San Diego has a population of about 1.4 million and Palo Alto about 67,000. San Diego is considerably denser (4,256 people per square mile versus 2,851), so expect tighter loading conditions, parking permits or elevator reservations at the origin and easier truck access at the destination.

Cost of moving from San Diego to Palo Alto

Full-service estimate for 501 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$1,690	$2,060	$2,520
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$2,540	$3,100	$3,780
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$4,230	$5,160	$6,300
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$6,770	$8,260	$10,070
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$9,310	$11,350	$13,850

Rental truck (DIY)

$810–$1,150

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

Portable container

$1,470–$2,160

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

Full-service mover

$4,230–$6,300

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for San Diego, CA → Palo Alto, CA. 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 San Diego (origin)

Mat Express

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Mat Parcel Express INC

USDOT: 927424
MC: 400335
Based in: San Diego, CA 92110 (5 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 50 trucks, 64 drivers
USDOT registered: 2001

Call (619) 849-9600 Route Verify on FMCSA

Magic Mile LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3296634
MC: 1044843
Based in: Poway, CA 92064 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 45 trucks, 70 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (619) 991-9424 Route Verify on FMCSA

Djw Logistics

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Walk With Me INC

USDOT: 3312065
MC: 1052279
Based in: Chula Vista, CA 91910 (13 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 30 trucks, 60 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (858) 294-3804 Route Verify on FMCSA

Zipity LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3476079
MC: 1145709
Based in: Coronado, CA 92118 (9 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 26 trucks, 45 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (949) 929-4199 Route Verify on FMCSA

Ackley Moving Services

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Ackley Enterprises INC

USDOT: 1868365
MC: 675281
Based in: Poway, CA 92064 (14 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 21 trucks, 19 drivers
USDOT registered: 2009

Call (858) 735-9587 Route Verify on FMCSA

Republic Moving & Storage

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Lovejoy'S Family Moving INC

USDOT: 3369820
MC: 778208
Based in: Chula Vista, CA 91914 (15 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 21 trucks, 20 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (951) 541-6710 Route Verify on FMCSA

Allstate Logistics

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Allstate Van & Storage INC

USDOT: 692879
MC: 321079
Based in: Poway, CA 92064 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 18 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered: 1997

Call (858) 746-1000 Route Verify on FMCSA

The Cms Companies

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Sullivan Moving & Storage INC

USDOT: 56181
MC: 127405
Based in: San Diego, CA 92111 (2 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 17 trucks, 42 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (253) 395-5432 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 626 movers in San Diego

Near Palo Alto (destination)

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

Related routes

Other destinations from San Diego

Other origins to Palo Alto

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from San Diego to Palo Alto?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $1,690 to $2,520 for a studio, $2,540 to $3,780 for a one-bedroom, $4,230 to $6,300 for a two-bedroom, $6,770 to $10,070 for a three-bedroom and $9,310 to $13,850 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Palo Alto from San Diego?

About 501 road miles (425 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 9 h 20 min.

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 2 to 5 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.

Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for an in-state move?

No. Because both San Diego and Palo Alto are in California, this is an intrastate move regulated by the state rather than the FMCSA. Still, choosing a carrier with an active USDOT number is the easiest way to confirm the company is a registered motor carrier with insurance on file.

Is it cheaper to rent a truck or use a container for San Diego to Palo Alto?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $810 to $1,150 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,470 to $2,160. 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 San Diego–Palo Alto corridor.