Santa Maria, CA → Evanston, IL · Cross-country move

Movers from Santa Maria to Evanston

About 2,154 road miles heading northeast. Typical two-bedroom cost $7,930–$11,800, delivery in 5–10 days, 42 carriers on the Santa Maria side and 739 in Evanston.

2,154 miroad distance
37 hours (5 driving days)driving time
5–10 daysdelivery window
$7,930–$11,8002-bedroom estimate

Photo: Madcoverboy (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Route summary

From: Santa Maria, California
To: Evanston, Illinois
Road distance: ≈ 2,154 miles (1,826 straight-line)
Drive time: 37 hours (5 driving days)
Delivery window: 5–10 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 42 (23 interstate)
Movers at destination: 739 (527 interstate)

Reverse: Evanston → Santa Maria

The route from Santa Maria, CA to Evanston, IL covers roughly 2,154 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 $7,930 to $11,800 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 37 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 739 around Evanston (527 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 Evanston.

Santa Maria has a population of about 111,390 and Evanston about 78,000. Evanston is the denser city (10,041 people per square mile versus 4,812 in Santa Maria), which often means shuttle trucks, parking restrictions or building move-in windows on delivery day. Labor and living costs run lower in Illinois 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 Maria to Evanston

Full-service estimate for 2,154 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$3,170	$3,870	$4,720
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$4,760	$5,800	$7,080
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$7,930	$9,670	$11,800
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$12,690	$15,470	$18,880
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$17,450	$21,270	$25,960

Rental truck (DIY)

$2,960–$4,180

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

Portable container

$2,940–$4,330

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

Full-service mover

$7,930–$11,800

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Santa Maria, CA → Evanston, IL. 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 Evanston (destination)

Cdn Logistics INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 781203
MC: 332177
Based in: Northlake, IL 60164 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 310 trucks, 260 drivers
USDOT registered: 1998

Call (708) 344-5555 Route Verify on FMCSA

Fx

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Freight Exchange Of North America LLC

USDOT: 1194542
MC: 471387
Based in: Franklin Park, IL 60131 (12 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 218 trucks, 219 drivers
USDOT registered: 2003

Call (312) 612-2200 Route Verify on FMCSA

New World Van Lines INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 258748
MC: 162485
Based in: Chicago, IL 60646 (5 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 204 trucks, 189 drivers
USDOT registered: 1985

Call (773) 509-5937 Route Verify on FMCSA

Pure Freight Lines LTD

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2564216
MC: 334497
Based in: Franklin Park, IL 60131 (12 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 150 trucks, 174 drivers
USDOT registered: 2014

Call (312) 724-8787 Route Verify on FMCSA

Delta Freight Systems LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 1257876
MC: 491945
Based in: Des Plaines, IL 60018 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 148 trucks, 135 drivers
USDOT registered: 2004

Call (847) 378-8912 Route Verify on FMCSA

Lucky Wheels LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3218419
MC: 1006688
Based in: Mt Prospect, IL 60056 (12 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 145 trucks, 120 drivers
USDOT registered: 2018

Route Verify on FMCSA

Whimsy INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 653783
MC: 307712
Based in: Mount Prospect, IL 60056 (12 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 142 trucks, 142 drivers
USDOT registered: 1996

Call (847) 690-1246 Route Verify on FMCSA

Iq Trans INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3634558
MC: 1246501
Based in: Des Plaines, IL 60016 (10 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 100 trucks, 50 drivers
USDOT registered: 2021

Call (773) 766-9152 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 739 movers in Evanston

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 Maria

Near Evanston

Related routes

Other destinations from Santa Maria

Other origins to Evanston

Frequently asked questions

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

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $3,170 to $4,720 for a studio, $4,760 to $7,080 for a one-bedroom, $7,930 to $11,800 for a two-bedroom, $12,690 to $18,880 for a three-bedroom and $17,450 to $25,960 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Evanston from Santa Maria?

About 2,154 road miles (1,826 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 37 hours (5 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 Illinois 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 Evanston?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $2,960 to $4,180 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,940 to $4,330. 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–Evanston corridor.