Santa Cruz, CA → Portsmouth, NH · Cross-country move

Movers from Santa Cruz to Portsmouth

About 3,188 road miles heading northeast. Typical two-bedroom cost $9,930–$14,780, delivery in 7–14 days, 27 carriers on the Santa Cruz side and 51 in Portsmouth.

3,188 miroad distance
55 hours (7 driving days)driving time
7–14 daysdelivery window
$9,930–$14,7802-bedroom estimate

Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0

Open navigation Google Maps Apple Maps Waze

Route summary

From: Santa Cruz, California
To: Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Road distance: ≈ 3,188 miles (2,702 straight-line)
Drive time: 55 hours (7 driving days)
Delivery window: 7–14 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 27 (6 interstate)
Movers at destination: 51 (38 interstate)

Reverse: Portsmouth → Santa Cruz

The route from Santa Cruz, CA to Portsmouth, NH covers roughly 3,188 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 $9,930 to $14,780 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 7 to 14 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 55 hours (7 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 51 around Portsmouth (38 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 Portsmouth.

Santa Cruz has a population of about 62,000 and Portsmouth about 23,000. Santa Cruz is considerably denser (4,942 people per square mile versus 1,402), 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 New Hampshire than in California, which tends to make destination-side services such as unpacking or storage cheaper than the same services back home. New Hampshire levies no state income tax on wages, a frequent reason people make this exact move.

Cost of moving from Santa Cruz to Portsmouth

Full-service estimate for 3,188 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$3,970	$4,850	$5,910
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$5,960	$7,270	$8,870
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$9,930	$12,120	$14,780
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$15,900	$19,380	$23,650
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$21,860	$26,650	$32,520

Rental truck (DIY)

$4,480–$6,320

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

Portable container

$3,870–$5,680

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

Full-service mover

$9,930–$14,780

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Santa Cruz, CA → Portsmouth, NH. 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 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 Portsmouth (destination)

Bridges Bros Movers

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Crowded Street Holdings LLC

USDOT: 3152985
MC: 105934
Based in: North Hampton, NH 03862 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 10 trucks, 10 drivers
USDOT registered: 2018

Call (603) 772-8200 Route Verify on FMCSA

William C Huff Trucking INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 361089
MC: 249041
Based in: Dover, NH 03820 (10 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 10 trucks, 13 drivers
USDOT registered: 1989

Call (603) 335-2967 Route Verify on FMCSA

Wood Bros Moving Storage LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1761858
MC: 644032
Based in: Portsmouth, NH 03801 (2 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 8 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 2008

Call (603) 436-2725 Route Verify on FMCSA

Wings-Trucking LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2519075
MC: 874927
Based in: Hampton, NH 03842 (9 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 8 trucks, 8 drivers
USDOT registered: 2014

Call (603) 918-3664 Route Verify on FMCSA

Preferred Movers

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Preferred Movers LLC

USDOT: 1381627
MC: 532837
Based in: North Hampton, NH 03862 (6 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 6 trucks, 8 drivers
USDOT registered: 2005

Call (603) 379-2272 Route Verify on FMCSA

McLaughlin Moving Company INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 363252
MC: 74451
Based in: Portsmouth, NH 03801 (2 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 3 trucks, 2 drivers
USDOT registered: 1989

Call (603) 427-0050 Route Verify on FMCSA

Central Fence & Deck LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2874509
MC: 1767324
Based in: Somersworth, NH 03878 (14 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 3 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 2016

Call (603) 749-1100 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bluebird Self Storage

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Bluebird Storage LLC

USDOT: 4233288
MC: 1638118
Based in: Greenland, NH 03840 (4 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 2 trucks, 6 drivers
USDOT registered: 2024

Call (603) 380-9443 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 51 movers in Portsmouth

Tips for this move

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.
Ship the car separately if you plan to fly; auto transport is priced by the mile like household goods.
Confirm which items the mover will not carry (plants, perishables, propane, some batteries).

Near Santa Cruz

Near Portsmouth

Related routes

Other destinations from Santa Cruz

Other origins to Portsmouth

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Santa Cruz to Portsmouth?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $3,970 to $5,910 for a studio, $5,960 to $8,870 for a one-bedroom, $9,930 to $14,780 for a two-bedroom, $15,900 to $23,650 for a three-bedroom and $21,860 to $32,520 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Portsmouth from Santa Cruz?

About 3,188 road miles (2,702 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 55 hours (7 driving days).

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 7 to 14 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 New Hampshire 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 Portsmouth?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $4,480 to $6,320 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $3,870 to $5,680. 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–Portsmouth corridor.