Santa Cruz, CA → Wilmington, DE · Cross-country move

Movers from Santa Cruz to Wilmington

About 2,948 road miles heading east. Typical two-bedroom cost $9,290–$13,820, delivery in 7–14 days, 27 carriers on the Santa Cruz side and 315 in Wilmington.

2,948 miroad distance
51 hours (6 driving days)driving time
7–14 daysdelivery window
$9,290–$13,8202-bedroom estimate

Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0

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Route summary

From: Santa Cruz, California
To: Wilmington, Delaware
Road distance: ≈ 2,948 miles (2,499 straight-line)
Drive time: 51 hours (6 driving days)
Delivery window: 7–14 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 27 (6 interstate)
Movers at destination: 315 (214 interstate)

Reverse: Wilmington → Santa Cruz

The route from Santa Cruz, CA to Wilmington, DE covers roughly 2,948 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 $9,290 to $13,820 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 51 hours (6 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 315 around Wilmington (214 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 Wilmington.

Santa Cruz has a population of about 62,000 and Wilmington about 71,000. Wilmington is the denser city (6,507 people per square mile versus 4,942 in Santa Cruz), which often means shuttle trucks, parking restrictions or building move-in windows on delivery day. Labor and living costs run lower in Delaware 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 Wilmington

Full-service estimate for 2,948 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$3,720	$4,530	$5,530
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$5,570	$6,800	$8,290
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$9,290	$11,330	$13,820
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$14,860	$18,130	$22,110
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$20,440	$24,920	$30,410

Rental truck (DIY)

$4,080–$5,760

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

Portable container

$3,650–$5,370

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

Full-service mover

$9,290–$13,820

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Santa Cruz, CA → Wilmington, DE. 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 Wilmington (destination)

Bentley Truck Services INC

Interstate carrier

USDOT: 524125
Based in: Logan Twp, NJ 08085 (11 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 1,467 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered: 1993

Call (856) 467-4446 Route Verify on FMCSA

A Duie Pyle INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 113594
MC: 39140
Based in: West Chester, PA 19382 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 2,097 trucks, 2,200 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (610) 696-5800 Route Verify on FMCSA

Erdner Bros INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 85873
MC: 128698
Based in: Woolwich Twp, NJ 08085 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 37 trucks, 37 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (856) 467-0900 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mdd3 Logistics LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3309299
MC: 1050934
Based in: Newark, DE 19702 (13 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 30 trucks, 70 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (917) 806-3700 Route Verify on FMCSA

Wb Adams Trucking LLC

Interstate carrier

USDOT: 3395310
Based in: New Castle, DE 19720 (7 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 25 trucks, 80 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (347) 585-0089 Route Verify on FMCSA

Duplicate Of 777773

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: M Gerace Enterprises INC

USDOT: 959283
MC: 522860
Based in: Media, PA 19063 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 23 trucks, 20 drivers
USDOT registered: 2001

Call (610) 534-5650 Route Verify on FMCSA

Dreamchasers Community Services

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4526415
MC: 1794163
Based in: Woodstown, NJ 08098 (13 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 20 trucks, 21 drivers
USDOT registered: 2026

Call (201) 895-3250 Route Verify on FMCSA

College Hunks Hauling Junk

Licensed interstate

Legal name: 610 Hauling LLC

USDOT: 2251093
MC: 1484775
Based in: West Chester, PA 19382 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 19 trucks, 40 drivers
USDOT registered: 2011

Call (717) 903-6433 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 315 movers in Wilmington

Tips for this move

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 Wilmington accordingly.
Compare a full-service van line against a container service; for a small household the container often wins.

Near Santa Cruz

Near Wilmington

Related routes

Other destinations from Santa Cruz

Other origins to Wilmington

Frequently asked questions

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

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $3,720 to $5,530 for a studio, $5,570 to $8,290 for a one-bedroom, $9,290 to $13,820 for a two-bedroom, $14,860 to $22,110 for a three-bedroom and $20,440 to $30,410 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Wilmington from Santa Cruz?

About 2,948 road miles (2,499 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 51 hours (6 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 Delaware 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 Wilmington?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $4,080 to $5,760 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $3,650 to $5,370. 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–Wilmington corridor.