San Diego, CA → Thornton, CO · Long-distance move

Movers from San Diego to Thornton

About 987 road miles heading northeast. Typical two-bedroom cost $5,350–$7,960, delivery in 2–5 days, 626 carriers on the San Diego side and 718 in Thornton.

987 miroad distance
17 h 43 mindriving time
2–5 daysdelivery window
$5,350–$7,9602-bedroom estimate

Photo: Billy Hathorn · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Route summary

From: San Diego, California
To: Thornton, Colorado
Road distance: ≈ 987 miles (836 straight-line)
Drive time: 17 h 43 min
Delivery window: 2–5 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 626 (217 interstate)
Movers at destination: 718 (266 interstate)

Reverse: Thornton → San Diego

The route from San Diego, CA to Thornton, CO covers roughly 987 miles by road, a northeast-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 $5,350 to $7,960 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 17 h 43 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 718 around Thornton (266 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 Thornton.

San Diego has a population of about 1.4 million and Thornton about 147,766. The two cities have comparable density (4,256 and 3,952 people per square mile), so loading and unloading conditions are usually similar at both ends. Labor and living costs run lower in Colorado 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 San Diego to Thornton

Full-service estimate for 987 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$2,140	$2,610	$3,180
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$3,210	$3,910	$4,770
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$5,350	$6,520	$7,960
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$8,560	$10,430	$12,730
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$11,770	$14,350	$17,500

Rental truck (DIY)

$1,460–$2,070

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

Portable container

$1,900–$2,800

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

Full-service mover

$5,350–$7,960

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for San Diego, CA → Thornton, CO. 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 Thornton (destination)

Navajo Express INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 202381
MC: 157626
Based in: Denver, CO 80221 (8 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 296 trucks, 303 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (303) 287-3800 Route Verify on FMCSA

Western Distributing Transportation Corp

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Western Distributing Company

USDOT: 145556
MC: 142969
Based in: Denver, CO 80229 (5 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 155 trucks, 162 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (303) 294-3135 Route Verify on FMCSA

Pfc

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Private First Class Worldwide Chauffeured Service LLC

USDOT: 4302538
MC: 1675847
Based in: Denver, CO 80238 (10 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 76 trucks, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2024

Call (720) 427-3226 Route Verify on FMCSA

Denver Intermodal Express INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 466144
MC: 273706
Based in: Denver, CO 80239 (11 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 68 trucks, 65 drivers
USDOT registered: 1991

Call (303) 371-1500 Route Verify on FMCSA

Final Mile Fast LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3190181
MC: 135191
Based in: Denver, CO 80221 (8 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 60 trucks, 50 drivers
USDOT registered: 2018

Call (970) 673-5442 Route Verify on FMCSA

Dracarys Fleet LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3300844
MC: 1047129
Based in: Denver, CO 80221 (8 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 55 trucks, 65 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (254) 366-5720 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bear Logistics Services LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3483705
MC: 1144340
Based in: Denver, CO 80238 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 52 trucks, 96 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (941) 704-3189 Route Verify on FMCSA

Apex Transportation INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 652182
MC: 305711
Based in: Henderson, CO 80640 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 51 trucks, 45 drivers
USDOT registered: 1996

Call (303) 288-2233 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 718 movers in Thornton

Related routes

Other destinations from San Diego

Other origins to Thornton

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from San Diego to Thornton?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,140 to $3,180 for a studio, $3,210 to $4,770 for a one-bedroom, $5,350 to $7,960 for a two-bedroom, $8,560 to $12,730 for a three-bedroom and $11,770 to $17,500 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Thornton from San Diego?

About 987 road miles (836 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 17 h 43 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.

Does my mover need interstate authority for this move?

Yes. Crossing from California into Colorado 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 San Diego to Thornton?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $1,460 to $2,070 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,900 to $2,800. 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–Thornton corridor.