Great Falls, MT

Santa Barbara, CA → Great Falls, MT · Long-distance move

Movers from Santa Barbara to Great Falls

About 1,185 road miles heading northeast. Typical two-bedroom cost $5,720–$8,510, delivery in 3–7 days, 27 carriers on the Santa Barbara side and 28 in Great Falls.

  • 1,185 miroad distance
  • 21 h 8 mindriving time
  • 3–7 daysdelivery window
  • $5,720–$8,5102-bedroom estimate
Photo: Montanabw · CC BY-SA 3.0

Route summary

Road distance
≈ 1,185 miles (1,004 straight-line)
Drive time
21 h 8 min
Delivery window
3–7 days
Move type
Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin
27 (9 interstate)
Movers at destination
28 (21 interstate)

Reverse: Great Falls → Santa Barbara

Great Falls sits about 1,185 miles northeast of Santa Barbara, which makes this an interstate relocation from California to Montana that most movers classify as a long-distance move.

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 $5,720 to $8,510 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 3 to 7 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 21 h 8 min.

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 28 around Great Falls (21 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 Great Falls.

Santa Barbara has a population of about 88,000 and Great Falls about 60,000. Santa Barbara is considerably denser (4,549 people per square mile versus 2,613), so expect tighter loading conditions, parking permits or elevator reservations at the origin and easier truck access at the destination. Labor and living costs run lower in Montana 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 Great Falls

Full-service estimate for 1,185 miles, by home size
Home sizeEst. weightLowTypicalHigh
Studio 2,000 lb $2,290 $2,790 $3,400
1 Bedroom 3,000 lb $3,430 $4,180 $5,100
2 Bedrooms 5,000 lb $5,720 $6,970 $8,510
3 Bedrooms 8,000 lb $9,150 $11,150 $13,610
4+ Bedrooms 11,000 lb $12,580 $15,340 $18,710

Rental truck (DIY)

$1,670–$2,350

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

Portable container

$2,080–$3,060

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

Full-service mover

$5,720–$8,510

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Santa Barbara, CA → Great Falls, MT. 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 Santa Barbara (origin)

Aussie Moving

Licensed interstate
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

Twentyfour7 Msi

Licensed interstate
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

Mammoth Van Lines

Licensed interstate
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

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

Bushnell Moving

Licensed interstate
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

Santa Barbara Home Improvement Center

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

Mike'S Deliveries

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

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

All 27 movers in Santa Barbara

Near Great Falls (destination)

Hi-Line Moving Services INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
877828
MC
297732
Based in
Great Falls, MT 59405 (15 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
45 trucks, 38 drivers
USDOT registered
2000

Easterseals-Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
3267561
MC
1031004
Based in
Great Falls, MT 59401 (1 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
30 trucks, 19 drivers
USDOT registered
2019

Suhr Transport

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
30168
MC
46313
Based in
Great Falls, MT 59404 (9 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
9 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered
1974

Hi-Line Transfer & Storage INC

Interstate carrier
USDOT
1081377
Based in
Great Falls, MT 59405 (15 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
7 trucks, 1 drivers
USDOT registered
2002

Discover Moving & Storage INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
1232316
MC
486062
Based in
Great Falls, MT 59405 (15 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
4 trucks, 1 drivers
USDOT registered
2004

North Star Moving Services

Licensed interstate
USDOT
561051
MC
274909
Based in
Great Falls, MT 59405 (15 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
2 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered
1994

Art And Paul Moving And Storage

Licensed interstate
USDOT
602751
MC
290282
Based in
Great Falls, MT 59405 (15 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
2 trucks, 1 drivers
USDOT registered
1995

Fsw INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3742363
MC
1325255
Based in
Great Falls, MT 59401 (1 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
1 truck, 1 drivers
USDOT registered
2021

All 28 movers in Great Falls

Related routes

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Santa Barbara to Great Falls?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,290 to $3,400 for a studio, $3,430 to $5,100 for a one-bedroom, $5,720 to $8,510 for a two-bedroom, $9,150 to $13,610 for a three-bedroom and $12,580 to $18,710 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Great Falls from Santa Barbara?

About 1,185 road miles (1,004 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 21 h 8 min.

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 3 to 7 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 Montana 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 Great Falls?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $1,670 to $2,350 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,080 to $3,060. 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–Great Falls corridor.