Santa Cruz, CA → Rochester, MN · Cross-country move

Movers from Santa Cruz to Rochester

About 1,909 road miles heading northeast. Typical two-bedroom cost $7,420–$11,040, delivery in 5–10 days, 27 carriers on the Santa Cruz side and 116 in Rochester.

1,909 miroad distance
33 hours (4 driving days)driving time
5–10 daysdelivery window
$7,420–$11,0402-bedroom estimate

Photo: cjohnson7 · CC BY 2.0

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Route summary

From: Santa Cruz, California
To: Rochester, Minnesota
Road distance: ≈ 1,909 miles (1,617 straight-line)
Drive time: 33 hours (4 driving days)
Delivery window: 5–10 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 27 (6 interstate)
Movers at destination: 116 (72 interstate)

Reverse: Rochester → Santa Cruz

Moving from Santa Cruz to Rochester is a cross-country move of roughly 1,909 road miles, heading northeast from California to Minnesota.

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 $7,420 to $11,040 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 33 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 116 around Rochester (72 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 Rochester.

Santa Cruz has a population of about 62,000 and Rochester about 124,292. Santa Cruz is considerably denser (4,942 people per square mile versus 2,187), 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 Minnesota 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 Rochester

Full-service estimate for 1,909 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$2,970	$3,620	$4,420
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$4,450	$5,430	$6,620
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$7,420	$9,050	$11,040
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$11,870	$14,480	$17,660
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$16,320	$19,910	$24,290

Rental truck (DIY)

$2,710–$3,830

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

Portable container

$2,720–$4,010

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

Full-service mover

$7,420–$11,040

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Santa Cruz, CA → Rochester, MN. 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 Rochester (destination)

Steve Yaggy Specialized Truck Service INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 291671
MC: 272806
Based in: Rochester, MN 55902 (3 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 43 trucks, 105 drivers
USDOT registered: 1987

Call (507) 282-1715 Route Verify on FMCSA

Eagle Transport Services INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 587147
MC: 283784
Based in: Rochester, MN 55904 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 30 trucks, 38 drivers
USDOT registered: 1995

Call (507) 281-9787 Route Verify on FMCSA

Lc Trucking LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 1561552
MC: 579169
Based in: Kasson, MN 55944 (12 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 30 trucks, 30 drivers
USDOT registered: 2006

Call (507) 634-2047 Route Verify on FMCSA

Piepho Moving & Storage INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 286311
MC: 133951
Based in: Rochester, MN 55901 (5 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 18 trucks, 21 drivers
USDOT registered: 1987

Call (507) 289-4515 Route Verify on FMCSA

Two Men And A Truck Rochester Mn

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Bennett Moving LLC

USDOT: 2468021
MC: 861017
Based in: Rochester, MN 55901 (5 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 11 trucks, 20 drivers
USDOT registered: 2014

Call (507) 258-5558 Route Verify on FMCSA

Kautz Trucking INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 717630
MC: 330197
Based in: Pine Island, MN 55963 (15 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 11 trucks, 12 drivers
USDOT registered: 1997

Call (507) 356-2425 Route Verify on FMCSA

Servicemaster Of Rochester

Interstate carrier

Legal name: Mesenburg Enterprises INC

USDOT: 1221281
Based in: Rochester, MN 55901 (5 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 6 trucks, 16 drivers
USDOT registered: 2004

Call (507) 282-5747 Route Verify on FMCSA

Channel One Regional Food Bank

Interstate carrier

Legal name: Channel One INC

USDOT: 682434
Based in: Rochester, MN 55904 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 6 trucks, 6 drivers
USDOT registered: 1997

Call (507) 287-2350 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 116 movers in Rochester

Tips for this move

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).
Expect a delivery spread of one to two weeks; plan temporary housing in Rochester accordingly.

Near Santa Cruz

Near Rochester

Related routes

Other destinations from Santa Cruz

Other origins to Rochester

Frequently asked questions

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

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,970 to $4,420 for a studio, $4,450 to $6,620 for a one-bedroom, $7,420 to $11,040 for a two-bedroom, $11,870 to $17,660 for a three-bedroom and $16,320 to $24,290 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Rochester from Santa Cruz?

About 1,909 road miles (1,617 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 33 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 Minnesota 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 Rochester?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $2,710 to $3,830 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,720 to $4,010. 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–Rochester corridor.