Santa Cruz, CA → Grand Island, NE · Cross-country move

Movers from Santa Cruz to Grand Island

About 1,530 road miles heading east. Typical two-bedroom cost $6,500–$9,670, delivery in 5–10 days, 27 carriers on the Santa Cruz side and 85 in Grand Island.

1,530 miroad distance
27 hours (4 driving days)driving time
5–10 daysdelivery window
$6,500–$9,6702-bedroom estimate

Photo: Brad Mellema · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Route summary

From: Santa Cruz, California
To: Grand Island, Nebraska
Road distance: ≈ 1,530 miles (1,297 straight-line)
Drive time: 27 hours (4 driving days)
Delivery window: 5–10 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 27 (6 interstate)
Movers at destination: 85 (35 interstate)

Reverse: Grand Island → Santa Cruz

The route from Santa Cruz, CA to Grand Island, NE covers roughly 1,530 miles by road, a east-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 $6,500 to $9,670 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 27 hours (4 driving days).

On the Santa Cruz side there are 27 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (6 of them authorized for interstate work), and 85 around Grand Island (35 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 Grand Island.

Santa Cruz has a population of about 62,000 and Grand Island about 53,000. Santa Cruz is considerably denser (4,942 people per square mile versus 1,764), 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 Cruz to Grand Island

Full-service estimate for 1,530 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$2,600	$3,170	$3,870
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$3,900	$4,760	$5,800
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$6,500	$7,930	$9,670
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$10,400	$12,690	$15,480
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$14,300	$17,440	$21,280

Rental truck (DIY)

$2,170–$3,070

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

Portable container

$2,390–$3,510

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

Full-service mover

$6,500–$9,670

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Santa Cruz, CA → Grand Island, 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 Cruz (origin)

Lambert And Son Moving

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Bill Lambert

USDOT: 3528657
MC: 1220611
Based in: Santa Cruz, CA 95065 (5 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 4 trucks, 7 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (831) 777-4265 Route Verify on FMCSA

Edward W Grace

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1559365
MC: 643222
Based in: Santa Cruz, CA 95062 (3 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 1 truck, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2006

Call (831) 465-6865 Route Verify on FMCSA

Denise Hoselton Living Tr

Interstate carrier

USDOT: 4197804
MC: 1618833
Based in: Brookdale, CA 95007 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 1 truck, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2024

Call (831) 704-6804 Route Verify on FMCSA

Delivertron

Interstate carrier

Legal name: Delivertron LLC

USDOT: 3592367
Based in: Boulder Creek, CA 95006 (15 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 1 truck, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2021

Call (831) 293-4823 Route Verify on FMCSA

Locatelli Moving And Storage INC

Intrastate carrier

USDOT: 1891836
Based in: Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 7 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered: 2009

Call (831) 425-7775 Route Verify on FMCSA

Coast Paper & Supply

Intrastate carrier

USDOT: 2666577
Based in: Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (4 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 4 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (831) 423-3350 Route Verify on FMCSA

Rational Moving INC

Intrastate carrier

USDOT: 3393511
MC: 1565780
Based in: Scotts Valley, CA 95066 (7 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (831) 425-1448 Route Verify on FMCSA

Full Load

Intrastate carrier

Legal name: Robert D Joseph

USDOT: 2773290
Based in: Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (4 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 2 trucks, 2 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (831) 419-5395 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 27 movers in Santa Cruz

Near Grand Island (destination)

Grand Island Express

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Grand Island Express INC

USDOT: 54988
MC: 135283
Based in: Grand Island, NE 68801 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 158 trucks, 164 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (308) 384-8555 Route Verify on FMCSA

Tom'S Delivery Service INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1174681
MC: 471083
Based in: Grand Island, NE 68803 (4 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 18 trucks, 29 drivers
USDOT registered: 2003

Call (308) 383-1665 Route Verify on FMCSA

Yeral R Menendez

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Y And M Trucking LLC

USDOT: 2548189
MC: 887320
Based in: Grand Island, NE 68801 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 12 trucks, 12 drivers
USDOT registered: 2014

Call (308) 675-1026 Route Verify on FMCSA

Sunset Express LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4227519
MC: 1635024
Based in: Grand Island, NE 68803 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 10 trucks, 11 drivers
USDOT registered: 2024

Call (308) 850-6592 Route Verify on FMCSA

Central Nebraska Transload Incorporated

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2370201
MC: 813134
Based in: Grand Island, NE 68801 (4 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 7 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered: 2013

Call (308) 384-4477 Route Verify on FMCSA

Amp Works LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2540706
MC: 1671268
Based in: Grand Island, NE 68803 (4 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 4 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 2014

Call (308) 690-6259 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mack Trucking

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Mark Mack LLC

USDOT: 2781913
MC: 926617
Based in: Grand Island, NE 68803 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 4 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (308) 380-3026 Route Verify on FMCSA

Nas Trucking

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Nas Trucking LLC

USDOT: 1370171
MC: 523881
Based in: Grand Island, NE 68803 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 3 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 2005

Call (308) 379-0963 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 85 movers in Grand Island

Tips for this move

Expect a delivery spread of one to two weeks; plan temporary housing in Grand Island 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 Cruz

Near Grand Island

Related routes

Other destinations from Santa Cruz

Other origins to Grand Island

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Santa Cruz to Grand Island?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,600 to $3,870 for a studio, $3,900 to $5,800 for a one-bedroom, $6,500 to $9,670 for a two-bedroom, $10,400 to $15,480 for a three-bedroom and $14,300 to $21,280 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Grand Island from Santa Cruz?

About 1,530 road miles (1,297 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 27 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 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 Cruz to Grand Island?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $2,170 to $3,070 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,390 to $3,510. 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 Cruz–Grand Island corridor.