Santa Barbara, CA → Thornton, CO · Long-distance move

Movers from Santa Barbara to Thornton

About 1,058 road miles heading northeast. Typical two-bedroom cost $5,550–$8,260, delivery in 3–7 days, 27 carriers on the Santa Barbara side and 718 in Thornton.

1,058 miroad distance
18 h 57 mindriving time
3–7 daysdelivery window
$5,550–$8,2602-bedroom estimate

Photo: Billy Hathorn · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Route summary

From: Santa Barbara, California
To: Thornton, Colorado
Road distance: ≈ 1,058 miles (897 straight-line)
Drive time: 18 h 57 min
Delivery window: 3–7 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 27 (9 interstate)
Movers at destination: 718 (266 interstate)

Reverse: Thornton → Santa Barbara

Moving from Santa Barbara to Thornton is a long-distance move of roughly 1,058 road miles, heading northeast from California to Colorado.

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 $5,550 to $8,260 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 18 h 57 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 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.

Santa Barbara has a population of about 88,000 and Thornton about 147,766. The two cities have comparable density (4,549 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 Santa Barbara to Thornton

Full-service estimate for 1,058 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$2,220	$2,710	$3,300
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$3,330	$4,060	$4,960
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$5,550	$6,770	$8,260
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$8,880	$10,840	$13,220
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$12,220	$14,900	$18,180

Rental truck (DIY)

$1,540–$2,170

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

Portable container

$1,960–$2,890

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

Full-service mover

$5,550–$8,260

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Santa Barbara, CA → Thornton, CO. 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 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

Tips for this move

Verify the carrier's USDOT and MC numbers on the FMCSA site before paying a deposit.
Ask how the delivery window is calculated and what the delay compensation is.
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 Thornton if a 53-foot trailer cannot reach your street.

Near Santa Barbara

Near Thornton

Related routes

Other destinations from Santa Barbara

Other origins to Thornton

Frequently asked questions

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

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,220 to $3,300 for a studio, $3,330 to $4,960 for a one-bedroom, $5,550 to $8,260 for a two-bedroom, $8,880 to $13,220 for a three-bedroom and $12,220 to $18,180 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Thornton from Santa Barbara?

About 1,058 road miles (897 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 18 h 57 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 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 Santa Barbara to Thornton?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $1,540 to $2,170 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,960 to $2,890. 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–Thornton corridor.