Santa Clarita, CA → Ames, IA · Cross-country move

Movers from Santa Clarita to Ames

About 1,702 road miles heading northeast. Typical two-bedroom cost $6,740–$10,030, delivery in 5–10 days, 605 carriers on the Santa Clarita side and 55 in Ames.

1,702 miroad distance
30 hours (4 driving days)driving time
5–10 daysdelivery window
$6,740–$10,0302-bedroom estimate

Photo: Dirk DBQ · CC BY 2.0

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Route summary

From: Santa Clarita, California
To: Ames, Iowa
Road distance: ≈ 1,702 miles (1,443 straight-line)
Drive time: 30 hours (4 driving days)
Delivery window: 5–10 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 605 (262 interstate)
Movers at destination: 55 (25 interstate)

Reverse: Ames → Santa Clarita

The route from Santa Clarita, CA to Ames, IA covers roughly 1,702 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 $6,740 to $10,030 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 30 hours (4 driving days).

On the Santa Clarita side there are 605 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (262 of them authorized for interstate work), and 55 around Ames (25 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 Ames.

Santa Clarita has a population of about 228,430 and Ames about 66,000. Santa Clarita is considerably denser (3,230 people per square mile versus 2,355), 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 Iowa 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 Clarita to Ames

Full-service estimate for 1,702 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$2,700	$3,290	$4,010
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$4,040	$4,930	$6,020
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$6,740	$8,220	$10,030
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$10,780	$13,150	$16,040
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$14,820	$18,080	$22,060

Rental truck (DIY)

$2,350–$3,320

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

Portable container

$2,540–$3,730

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

Full-service mover

$6,740–$10,030

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Santa Clarita, CA → Ames, IA. 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 Clarita (origin)

Hasa INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 171496
MC: 764166
Based in: Santa Clarita, CA 91350 (1 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 164 trucks, 138 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (661) 259-5848 Route Verify on FMCSA

Zurich Transport

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Zurich Transport LLC

USDOT: 1848932
MC: 771392
Based in: Sylmar, CA 91342 (9 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 63 trucks, 55 drivers
USDOT registered: 2009

Call (310) 513-1348 Route Verify on FMCSA

John Adams Trucking INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1183612
MC: 473323
Based in: Sun Valley, CA 91352 (15 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 26 trucks, 26 drivers
USDOT registered: 2003

Call (747) 800-5503 Route Verify on FMCSA

Morbro Logistics

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3305894
MC: 1049260
Based in: Chatsworth, CA 91311 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 25 trucks, 50 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (818) 568-7787 Route Verify on FMCSA

Wetzel & Sons Moving & Storage INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2275944
MC: 1790211
Based in: Pacoima, CA 91331 (12 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 17 trucks, 13 drivers
USDOT registered: 2012

Call (310) 859-1028 Route Verify on FMCSA

Altar Boys Moving

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Rigos Delivery Moving And Storage INC

USDOT: 2824890
MC: 942690
Based in: Pacoima, CA 91331 (12 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 15 trucks, 17 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (800) 478-1664 Route Verify on FMCSA

Ben Hur Moving & Storage INC

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Precision Moving & Storage Corporation

USDOT: 2569585
MC: 897757
Based in: Chatworth, CA 91311 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 12 trucks, 10 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (818) 332-9701 Route Verify on FMCSA

Prodigy Moving & Storage LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3983945
MC: 1492541
Based in: Chatsworth, CA 91311 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 12 trucks, 21 drivers
USDOT registered: 2022

Call (818) 993-8813 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 605 movers in Santa Clarita

Near Ames (destination)

Central Iowa Towing And Recovery

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Central Iowa Towing And Recovery INC

USDOT: 2359315
MC: 1349765
Based in: Ames, IA 50010 (2 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 88 trucks, 79 drivers
USDOT registered: 2012

Call (515) 290-4188 Route Verify on FMCSA

Hemmen Moving INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 608245
MC: 292343
Based in: Ames, IA 50014 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 8 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered: 1995

Call (515) 268-9090 Route Verify on FMCSA

J T L Transport LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2528339
MC: 887466
Based in: Randall, IA 50231 (15 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 4 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 2014

Call (515) 669-1891 Route Verify on FMCSA

V&c Express Corp

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3635053
MC: 1246860
Based in: Ames, IA 50010 (2 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 2 trucks, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2021

Call (904) 418-8009 Route Verify on FMCSA

Combined Relocation Services LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1666941
MC: 709641
Based in: Huxley, IA 50124 (10 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 2 trucks, 2 drivers
USDOT registered: 2007

Call (515) 276-6674 Route Verify on FMCSA

Alex Moving LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4346742
MC: 1699031
Based in: Ames, IA 50010 (2 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 1 truck, 2 drivers
USDOT registered: 2025

Call (515) 817-4521 Route Verify on FMCSA

Property Service Agency LLC

Intrastate carrier

USDOT: 1433739
Based in: Ames, IA 50010 (2 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 6 trucks, 6 drivers
USDOT registered: 2005

Call (515) 233-1922 Route Verify on FMCSA

M&a Moving And Hauling

Intrastate carrier

Legal name: Myers & Associates LLC

USDOT: 2340775
Based in: Madrid, IA 50156 (13 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 2 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2012

Call (515) 795-3676 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 55 movers in Ames

Tips for this move

Expect a delivery spread of one to two weeks; plan temporary housing in Ames accordingly.
Compare a full-service van line against a container service; for a small household the container often wins.
Ask about consolidated versus dedicated truck options—dedicated is faster but costs more.
Read the FMCSA 'Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move' booklet the carrier must provide.

Near Santa Clarita

Near Ames

Related routes

Other destinations from Santa Clarita

Other origins to Ames

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Santa Clarita to Ames?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,700 to $4,010 for a studio, $4,040 to $6,020 for a one-bedroom, $6,740 to $10,030 for a two-bedroom, $10,780 to $16,040 for a three-bedroom and $14,820 to $22,060 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Ames from Santa Clarita?

About 1,702 road miles (1,443 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 30 hours (4 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 Iowa 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 Clarita to Ames?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $2,350 to $3,320 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,540 to $3,730. 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 Clarita–Ames corridor.