Santa Maria, CA → Chattanooga, TN · Cross-country move

Movers from Santa Maria to Chattanooga

About 2,338 road miles heading east. Typical two-bedroom cost $7,900–$11,760, delivery in 7–14 days, 42 carriers on the Santa Maria side and 241 in Chattanooga.

2,338 miroad distance
41 hours (5 driving days)driving time
7–14 daysdelivery window
$7,900–$11,7602-bedroom estimate

Photo: WeaponizingArchitecture · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Route summary

From: Santa Maria, California
To: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Road distance: ≈ 2,338 miles (1,981 straight-line)
Drive time: 41 hours (5 driving days)
Delivery window: 7–14 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 42 (23 interstate)
Movers at destination: 241 (155 interstate)

Reverse: Chattanooga → Santa Maria

Moving from Santa Maria to Chattanooga is a cross-country move of roughly 2,338 road miles, heading east from California to Tennessee.

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 $7,900 to $11,760 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 41 hours (5 driving days).

On the Santa Maria side there are 42 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (23 of them authorized for interstate work), and 241 around Chattanooga (155 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 Chattanooga.

Santa Maria has a population of about 111,390 and Chattanooga about 194,144. Santa Maria is considerably denser (4,812 people per square mile versus 1,272), 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 Tennessee than in California, which tends to make destination-side services such as unpacking or storage cheaper than the same services back home. Tennessee levies no state income tax on wages, a frequent reason people make this exact move.

Cost of moving from Santa Maria to Chattanooga

Full-service estimate for 2,338 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$3,160	$3,860	$4,700
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$4,740	$5,780	$7,060
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$7,900	$9,640	$11,760
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$12,650	$15,420	$18,820
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$17,390	$21,210	$25,870

Rental truck (DIY)

$3,300–$4,660

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

Portable container

$3,110–$4,570

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

Full-service mover

$7,900–$11,760

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Santa Maria, CA → Chattanooga, TN. 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 Maria (origin)

Johnboy'S Towing INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2383920
MC: 818987
Based in: Oceano, CA 93445 (13 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 17 trucks, 8 drivers
USDOT registered: 2013

Call (805) 474-4357 Route Verify on FMCSA

International Van Lines INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 153048
MC: 11663
Based in: Santa Maria, CA 93454 (11 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 9 trucks, 8 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (805) 925-2912 Route Verify on FMCSA

Sarabia Transports LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2844846
MC: 953585
Based in: Santa Maria, CA 93455 (6 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 4 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 2016

Route Verify on FMCSA

Rivera Logistics LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2807289
MC: 1030656
Based in: Santa Maria, CA 93454 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 4 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (805) 260-9847 Route Verify on FMCSA

Cal Coast Ag Services LLC

Interstate carrier

USDOT: 4380715
Based in: Santa Maria, CA 93455 (6 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 3 trucks, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2025

Call (805) 922-8406 Route Verify on FMCSA

Triple A Express INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2356410
MC: 807169
Based in: Santa Maria, CA 93454 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 3 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 2012

Call (805) 868-5364 Route Verify on FMCSA

Louie'S Central Coast Movers & Laborers INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2069509
MC: 723441
Based in: Santa Maria, CA 93454 (11 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 2 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 2010

Call (805) 925-7923 Route Verify on FMCSA

Zarate Trucking

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Francisco Javier Zarate

USDOT: 1968090
MC: 698504
Based in: Santa Maria, CA 93458 (3 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 1 truck, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2009

Call (805) 260-9063 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 42 movers in Santa Maria

Near Chattanooga (destination)

US Xpress

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: US Xpress INC

USDOT: 303024
MC: 188121
Based in: Chattanooga, TN 37421 (6 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 4,953 trucks, 5,412 drivers
USDOT registered: 1987

Call (423) 510-3000 Route Verify on FMCSA

Covenant Logistics

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Covenant Transport LLC

USDOT: 273818
MC: 188102
Based in: Chattanooga, TN 37419 (10 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 816 trucks, 1,741 drivers
USDOT registered: 1986

Call (423) 463-3473 Route Verify on FMCSA

Tranco Logistics LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 646416
MC: 301265
Based in: Chattanooga, TN 37421 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 98 trucks, 113 drivers
USDOT registered: 1996

Call (423) 822-1000 Route Verify on FMCSA

Ash Transport LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 2014429
MC: 709527
Based in: Chattanooga, TN 37410 (6 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 43 trucks, 45 drivers
USDOT registered: 2010

Route Verify on FMCSA

Eagle Transportation LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 1400069
MC: 587359
Based in: Chattanooga, TN 37416 (6 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 35 trucks, 35 drivers
USDOT registered: 2005

Call (423) 485-8619 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bullins Trucking Company LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 545382
MC: 299062
Based in: Chattanooga, TN 37416 (6 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 30 trucks, 27 drivers
USDOT registered: 1993

Call (423) 421-0399 Route Verify on FMCSA

Two Men And A Truck

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Chattanooga 081 LLC

USDOT: 2255276
MC: 769528
Based in: Chattanooga, TN 37406 (1 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 16 trucks, 20 drivers
USDOT registered: 2011

Call (423) 893-3450 Route Verify on FMCSA

1up Trucking LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2801891
MC: 936054
Based in: Chattanooga, TN 37406 (1 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 15 trucks, 8 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (423) 661-3791 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 241 movers in Chattanooga

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

Near Santa Maria

Near Chattanooga

Related routes

Other destinations from Santa Maria

Other origins to Chattanooga

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Santa Maria to Chattanooga?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $3,160 to $4,700 for a studio, $4,740 to $7,060 for a one-bedroom, $7,900 to $11,760 for a two-bedroom, $12,650 to $18,820 for a three-bedroom and $17,390 to $25,870 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Chattanooga from Santa Maria?

About 2,338 road miles (1,981 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 41 hours (5 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 Tennessee 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 Maria to Chattanooga?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $3,300 to $4,660 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $3,110 to $4,570. 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 Maria–Chattanooga corridor.