Santa Barbara, CA → Kearney, NE · Long-distance move

Movers from Santa Barbara to Kearney

About 1,425 road miles heading northeast. Typical two-bedroom cost $6,240–$9,290, delivery in 3–7 days, 27 carriers on the Santa Barbara side and 33 in Kearney.

1,425 miroad distance
25 hours (3 driving days)driving time
3–7 daysdelivery window
$6,240–$9,2902-bedroom estimate

Photo: MMarshall at English Wikipedia · Public domain

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Route summary

From: Santa Barbara, California
To: Kearney, Nebraska
Road distance: ≈ 1,425 miles (1,207 straight-line)
Drive time: 25 hours (3 driving days)
Delivery window: 3–7 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 27 (9 interstate)
Movers at destination: 33 (9 interstate)

Reverse: Kearney → Santa Barbara

The route from Santa Barbara, CA to Kearney, NE covers roughly 1,425 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 $6,240 to $9,290 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 25 hours (3 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 33 around Kearney (9 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 Kearney.

Santa Barbara has a population of about 88,000 and Kearney about 34,000. Santa Barbara is considerably denser (4,549 people per square mile versus 2,257), 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 Nebraska 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 Kearney

Full-service estimate for 1,425 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$2,500	$3,050	$3,720
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$3,750	$4,570	$5,570
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$6,240	$7,620	$9,290
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$9,990	$12,180	$14,870
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$13,740	$16,750	$20,440

Rental truck (DIY)

$2,060–$2,910

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

Portable container

$2,290–$3,370

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

Full-service mover

$6,240–$9,290

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Santa Barbara, CA → Kearney, NE. 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 Kearney (destination)

H & S Enterprises INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 569072
MC: 277884
Based in: Kearney, NE 68845 (5 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 262 trucks, 197 drivers
USDOT registered: 1994

Call (308) 237-3151 Route Verify on FMCSA

Rolar INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 329917
MC: 213127
Based in: Gibbon, NE 68840 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 18 trucks, 15 drivers
USDOT registered: 1988

Call (308) 468-6852 Route Verify on FMCSA

Cash-Wa Distributing Co Of Kearney INC

Intrastate carrier

USDOT: 274172
Based in: Kearney, NE 68845 (5 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 24 trucks, 15 drivers
USDOT registered: 1986

Call (308) 237-3151 Route Verify on FMCSA

Russell'S Appliance & Electronics INC

Intrastate carrier

USDOT: 1640509
Based in: Kearney, NE 68847 (4 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 8 trucks, 8 drivers
USDOT registered: 2007

Call (308) 234-6526 Route Verify on FMCSA

Kearney Moving Service

Intrastate carrier

Legal name: Goforth LLC

USDOT: 4041599
Based in: Kearney, NE 68847 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 5 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 2023

Call (308) 237-2445 Route Verify on FMCSA

Spracklen Russell Construction

Intrastate carrier

USDOT: 1427564
Based in: Kearney, NE 68847 (4 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 3 trucks, 6 drivers
USDOT registered: 2005

Call (308) 236-6036 Route Verify on FMCSA

O Bar Cattle Co INC

Intrastate carrier

USDOT: 761952
Based in: Gibbon, NE 68840 (11 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 3 trucks, 2 drivers
USDOT registered: 1998

Call (308) 468-5825 Route Verify on FMCSA

Kerry Carpenter

Intrastate carrier

USDOT: 2556304
Based in: Kearney, NE 68847 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 2 trucks, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2014

Call (308) 390-6611 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 33 movers in Kearney

Tips for this move

Declutter first: long-haul pricing is by weight, so every hundred pounds you sell or donate saves money.
Check whether a shuttle truck is needed in Kearney if a 53-foot trailer cannot reach your street.
Keep vehicle titles, passports and prescriptions with you; movers cannot carry some items at all.
Insist on a binding or binding-not-to-exceed estimate after an in-home or video survey.

Near Santa Barbara

Near Kearney

Related routes

Other destinations from Santa Barbara

Other origins to Kearney

Frequently asked questions

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

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,500 to $3,720 for a studio, $3,750 to $5,570 for a one-bedroom, $6,240 to $9,290 for a two-bedroom, $9,990 to $14,870 for a three-bedroom and $13,740 to $20,440 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Kearney from Santa Barbara?

About 1,425 road miles (1,207 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 25 hours (3 driving days).

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 Nebraska 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 Kearney?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $2,060 to $2,910 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,290 to $3,370. 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–Kearney corridor.