Santa Monica, CA → Palmdale, CA · Short-haul move

Movers from Santa Monica to Palmdale

About 54 road miles heading northeast. Typical two-bedroom cost $1,590–$2,360, delivery in 1–2 days, 603 carriers on the Santa Monica side and 129 in Palmdale.

54 miroad distance
1 h 38 mindriving time
1–2 daysdelivery window
$1,590–$2,3602-bedroom estimate

Photo: G-BDXH · CC0

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Route summary

From: Santa Monica, California
To: Palmdale, California
Road distance: ≈ 54 miles (46 straight-line)
Drive time: 1 h 38 min
Delivery window: 1–2 days
Move type: In-state (California)
Movers at origin: 603 (222 interstate)
Movers at destination: 129 (66 interstate)

Reverse: Palmdale → Santa Monica

The route from Santa Monica, CA to Palmdale, CA covers roughly 54 miles by road, a northeast-bound trip that falls into the short-haul move category for pricing purposes.

Because the two cities are close together, most companies quote this move by the hour: a crew of two to four movers plus a truck, with the drive of about 1 h 38 min counted as billable travel time. A typical two-bedroom household lands between $1,590 and $2,360, before packing or storage.

On the Santa Monica side there are 603 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (222 of them authorized for interstate work), and 129 around Palmdale (66 interstate). For an in-state 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 Palmdale.

Santa Monica has a population of about 92,000 and Palmdale about 161,845. Santa Monica is considerably denser (11,069 people per square mile versus 1,597), so expect tighter loading conditions, parking permits or elevator reservations at the origin and easier truck access at the destination.

Cost of moving from Santa Monica to Palmdale

Full-service estimate for 54 miles, by home size
Home size	Crew	Hours	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2 movers	3–5 h	$870	$1,060	$1,290
1 Bedroom	2 movers	4–6 h	$1,000	$1,220	$1,490
2 Bedrooms	3 movers	5–8 h	$1,590	$1,930	$2,360
3 Bedrooms	4 movers	7–10 h	$2,420	$2,950	$3,600
4+ Bedrooms	5 movers	9–13 h	$3,570	$4,360	$5,320

Rental truck (DIY)

$210–$290

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

Portable container

$1,070–$1,570

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

Full-service mover

$1,590–$2,360

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Santa Monica, CA → Palmdale, CA. 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 Monica (origin)

Clutter INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2719785
MC: 934868
Based in: Culver City, CA 90230 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 191 trucks, 382 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (877) 626-1887 Route Verify on FMCSA

Arru Group INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4420956
MC: 1738102
Based in: Los Angeles, CA 90029 (13 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 52 trucks, 180 drivers
USDOT registered: 2025

Call (424) 335-1991 Route Verify on FMCSA

Ing Logistics

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1778992
MC: 648911
Based in: Los Angeles, CA 90037 (12 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 50 trucks, 21 drivers
USDOT registered: 2008

Call (213) 944-0878 Route Verify on FMCSA

Dsd Trucking INC

Interstate carrier Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 465743
MC: 309255
Based in: Redondo Beach, CA 90278 (12 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 39 trucks, 31 drivers
USDOT registered: 1991

Call (310) 725-1999 Route Verify on FMCSA

Grt Logistics LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3410979
MC: 1099772
Based in: Los Angeles, CA 90008 (9 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 35 trucks, 80 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (310) 508-6676 Route Verify on FMCSA

Harmony Home Remodels

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4468385
MC: 1763223
Based in: Van Nuys, CA 91411 (12 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 33 trucks, 45 drivers
USDOT registered: 2025

Call (818) 747-3439 Route Verify on FMCSA

Dlvr

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3471374
MC: 1136305
Based in: Culver City, CA 90230 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 25 trucks, 55 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Route Verify on FMCSA

Melogistix INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3479671
MC: 1141564
Based in: LA, CA 90019 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 25 trucks, 48 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (323) 377-8628 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 603 movers in Santa Monica

Near Palmdale (destination)

Alpha Omega Consulting Enterprise LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4384395
MC: 1719247
Based in: Palmdale, CA 93552 (5 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 36 trucks, 96 drivers
USDOT registered: 2025

Call (661) 389-2068 Route Verify on FMCSA

Freight Here LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3956591
MC: 1474260
Based in: Palmdale, CA 93550 (13 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 11 trucks, 10 drivers
USDOT registered: 2022

Call (661) 350-0674 Route Verify on FMCSA

The Best Trucks INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 746806
MC: 268822
Based in: Lancaster, CA 93535 (14 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 10 trucks, 10 drivers
USDOT registered: 1998

Call (626) 303-6200 Route Verify on FMCSA

Blue Track Express LLC

Interstate carrier

USDOT: 4548721
Based in: Lancaster, CA 93535 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 7 trucks, 8 drivers
USDOT registered: 2026

Call (818) 399-2012 Route Verify on FMCSA

Antelope Valley Van & Storage Company

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Antelope Valley Refrigerating Company

USDOT: 34380
MC: 133696
Based in: Palmdale, CA 93550 (13 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 6 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (661) 947-4121 Route Verify on FMCSA

Av Trans

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Antelope Investment Enterprises INC

USDOT: 3148907
MC: 103731
Based in: Palmdale, CA 93552 (5 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 4 trucks, 2 drivers
USDOT registered: 2018

Call (323) 855-2664 Route Verify on FMCSA

Av Supplies Express 2 Deliver Ship It 2go

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Av Supplies Distributors INC

USDOT: 4216491
MC: 1639401
Based in: Lancaster, CA 93534 (9 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 4 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 2024

Call (661) 952-7887 Route Verify on FMCSA

Jabes Transportation

Licensed interstate

Legal name: The King Modular Systems Installation INC

USDOT: 2951860
MC: 1555690
Based in: Palmdale, CA 93552 (5 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 3 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 2016

Call (323) 318-0716 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 129 movers in Palmdale

Tips for this move

Confirm whether travel time between Santa Monica and Palmdale is billed one way or round trip.
A single-day move is realistic here; schedule loading in the morning so the crew arrives in Palmdale with daylight to spare.
Check California intrastate mover rules; many states require a state permit in addition to a USDOT number.
Group fragile items and tell the crew which boxes go in the cab or on top.

Near Santa Monica

Near Palmdale

Related routes

Other destinations from Santa Monica

Other origins to Palmdale

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Santa Monica to Palmdale?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $870 to $1,290 for a studio, $1,000 to $1,490 for a one-bedroom, $1,590 to $2,360 for a two-bedroom, $2,420 to $3,600 for a three-bedroom and $3,570 to $5,320 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Palmdale from Santa Monica?

About 54 road miles (46 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 1 h 38 min.

How long will the movers take to deliver?

For a move this short, loading and delivery normally happen on the same day. Most crews finish a two-bedroom home in 5 to 8 hours plus the drive.

Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for an in-state move?

No. Because both Santa Monica and Palmdale are in California, this is an intrastate move regulated by the state rather than the FMCSA. Still, choosing a carrier with an active USDOT number is the easiest way to confirm the company is a registered motor carrier with insurance on file.

Is it cheaper to rent a truck or use a container for Santa Monica to Palmdale?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $210 to $290 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,070 to $1,570. 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 Monica–Palmdale corridor.