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

Movers from Santa Monica to Rochester

About 1,828 road miles heading northeast. Typical two-bedroom cost $7,270–$10,820, delivery in 5–10 days, 603 carriers on the Santa Monica side and 116 in Rochester.

1,828 miroad distance
32 hours (4 driving days)driving time
5–10 daysdelivery window
$7,270–$10,8202-bedroom estimate

Photo: cjohnson7 · CC BY 2.0

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Route summary

From: Santa Monica, California
To: Rochester, Minnesota
Road distance: ≈ 1,828 miles (1,549 straight-line)
Drive time: 32 hours (4 driving days)
Delivery window: 5–10 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 603 (222 interstate)
Movers at destination: 116 (72 interstate)

Reverse: Rochester → Santa Monica

Rochester sits about 1,828 miles northeast of Santa Monica, which makes this an interstate relocation from California to Minnesota that most movers classify as a cross-country move.

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 $7,270 to $10,820 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 32 hours (4 driving days).

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 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 Monica has a population of about 92,000 and Rochester about 124,292. Santa Monica is considerably denser (11,069 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 Monica to Rochester

Full-service estimate for 1,828 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$2,910	$3,550	$4,330
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$4,360	$5,320	$6,490
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$7,270	$8,870	$10,820
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$11,640	$14,190	$17,320
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$16,000	$19,520	$23,810

Rental truck (DIY)

$2,630–$3,710

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

Portable container

$2,650–$3,900

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

Full-service mover

$7,270–$10,820

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Santa Monica, 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 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 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

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.
Compare a full-service van line against a container service; for a small household the container often wins.
Ask about consolidated versus dedicated truck options—dedicated is faster but costs more.

Near Santa Monica

Near Rochester

Related routes

Other destinations from Santa Monica

Other origins to Rochester

Frequently asked questions

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

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,910 to $4,330 for a studio, $4,360 to $6,490 for a one-bedroom, $7,270 to $10,820 for a two-bedroom, $11,640 to $17,320 for a three-bedroom and $16,000 to $23,810 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Rochester from Santa Monica?

About 1,828 road miles (1,549 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 32 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 Monica to Rochester?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $2,630 to $3,710 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,650 to $3,900. 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–Rochester corridor.