Santa Barbara, CA → Evanston, IL · Cross-country move

Movers from Santa Barbara to Evanston

About 2,129 road miles heading northeast. Typical two-bedroom cost $7,880–$11,730, delivery in 5–10 days, 27 carriers on the Santa Barbara side and 739 in Evanston.

2,129 miroad distance
37 hours (5 driving days)driving time
5–10 daysdelivery window
$7,880–$11,7302-bedroom estimate

Photo: Madcoverboy (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Route summary

From: Santa Barbara, California
To: Evanston, Illinois
Road distance: ≈ 2,129 miles (1,804 straight-line)
Drive time: 37 hours (5 driving days)
Delivery window: 5–10 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 27 (9 interstate)
Movers at destination: 739 (527 interstate)

Reverse: Evanston → Santa Barbara

The route from Santa Barbara, CA to Evanston, IL covers roughly 2,129 miles by road, a northeast-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 $7,880 to $11,730 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 37 hours (5 driving days).

On the Santa Barbara side there are 27 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (9 of them authorized for interstate work), and 739 around Evanston (527 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 Evanston.

Santa Barbara has a population of about 88,000 and Evanston about 78,000. Evanston is the denser city (10,041 people per square mile versus 4,549 in Santa Barbara), which often means shuttle trucks, parking restrictions or building move-in windows on delivery day. Labor and living costs run lower in Illinois 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 Santa Barbara to Evanston

Full-service estimate for 2,129 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$3,150	$3,850	$4,690
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$4,730	$5,770	$7,040
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$7,880	$9,610	$11,730
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$12,610	$15,380	$18,770
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$17,350	$21,150	$25,810

Rental truck (DIY)

$2,940–$4,150

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

Portable container

$2,920–$4,290

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

Full-service mover

$7,880–$11,730

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Santa Barbara, CA → Evanston, IL. 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 Santa Barbara (origin)

Aussie Moving

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Aussie Moving INC

USDOT: 2424966
MC: 876037
Based in: Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 2 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2013

Call (805) 456-6498 Route Verify on FMCSA

Twentyfour7 Msi

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Twenty Four 7 Moving Specialists INC

USDOT: 1821147
MC: 661157
Based in: Carpinteria, CA 93013 (12 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 2 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered: 2008

Call (805) 696-9247 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mammoth Van Lines

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Mammoth Moving Holding Corporation

USDOT: 374567
MC: 225136
Based in: Santa Barbara, CA 93111 (6 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 1 truck, 2 drivers
USDOT registered: 1989

Call (805) 968-8643 Route Verify on FMCSA

All Things Home Services LLC

Interstate carrier

USDOT: 8395520
Based in: Santa Barbara, CA 93111 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 1 truck, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 2026

Call (805) 245-3822 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bushnell Moving

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Kenneth Lee Bushnell

USDOT: 1355626
MC: 608117
Based in: Santa Barbara, CA 93105 (9 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 1 truck, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2005

Call (805) 682-5454 Route Verify on FMCSA

Santa Barbara Home Improvement Center

Intrastate carrier

Legal name: Santa Barbara Home Improvement Center INC

USDOT: 2735884
Based in: Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (805) 963-7825 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mike'S Deliveries

Intrastate carrier

Legal name: Miguel A Barrios

USDOT: 3008579
Based in: Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2017

Call (805) 331-0318 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bright Delivery And Install INC

Intrastate carrier

USDOT: 3544323
Based in: Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2021

Call (805) 679-1020 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 27 movers in Santa Barbara

Near Evanston (destination)

Cdn Logistics INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 781203
MC: 332177
Based in: Northlake, IL 60164 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 310 trucks, 260 drivers
USDOT registered: 1998

Call (708) 344-5555 Route Verify on FMCSA

Fx

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Freight Exchange Of North America LLC

USDOT: 1194542
MC: 471387
Based in: Franklin Park, IL 60131 (12 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 218 trucks, 219 drivers
USDOT registered: 2003

Call (312) 612-2200 Route Verify on FMCSA

New World Van Lines INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 258748
MC: 162485
Based in: Chicago, IL 60646 (5 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 204 trucks, 189 drivers
USDOT registered: 1985

Call (773) 509-5937 Route Verify on FMCSA

Pure Freight Lines LTD

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2564216
MC: 334497
Based in: Franklin Park, IL 60131 (12 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 150 trucks, 174 drivers
USDOT registered: 2014

Call (312) 724-8787 Route Verify on FMCSA

Delta Freight Systems LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 1257876
MC: 491945
Based in: Des Plaines, IL 60018 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 148 trucks, 135 drivers
USDOT registered: 2004

Call (847) 378-8912 Route Verify on FMCSA

Lucky Wheels LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3218419
MC: 1006688
Based in: Mt Prospect, IL 60056 (12 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 145 trucks, 120 drivers
USDOT registered: 2018

Route Verify on FMCSA

Whimsy INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 653783
MC: 307712
Based in: Mount Prospect, IL 60056 (12 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 142 trucks, 142 drivers
USDOT registered: 1996

Call (847) 690-1246 Route Verify on FMCSA

Iq Trans INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3634558
MC: 1246501
Based in: Des Plaines, IL 60016 (10 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 100 trucks, 50 drivers
USDOT registered: 2021

Call (773) 766-9152 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 739 movers in Evanston

Tips for this move

Read the FMCSA 'Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move' booklet the carrier must provide.
Ship the car separately if you plan to fly; auto transport is priced by the mile like household goods.
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 Evanston accordingly.

Near Santa Barbara

Near Evanston

Related routes

Other destinations from Santa Barbara

Other origins to Evanston

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Santa Barbara to Evanston?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $3,150 to $4,690 for a studio, $4,730 to $7,040 for a one-bedroom, $7,880 to $11,730 for a two-bedroom, $12,610 to $18,770 for a three-bedroom and $17,350 to $25,810 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Evanston from Santa Barbara?

About 2,129 road miles (1,804 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 37 hours (5 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 Illinois 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 Santa Barbara to Evanston?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $2,940 to $4,150 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,920 to $4,290. 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 Santa Barbara–Evanston corridor.