Tacoma, WA → Palo Alto, CA · Long-distance move

Movers from Tacoma to Palo Alto

About 804 road miles heading south. Typical two-bedroom cost $4,960–$7,390, delivery in 2–5 days, 823 carriers on the Tacoma side and 233 in Palo Alto.

804 miroad distance
14 h 34 mindriving time
2–5 daysdelivery window
$4,960–$7,3902-bedroom estimate

Photo: Sanfranman59 · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Route summary

From: Tacoma, Washington
To: Palo Alto, California
Road distance: ≈ 804 miles (681 straight-line)
Drive time: 14 h 34 min
Delivery window: 2–5 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 823 (399 interstate)
Movers at destination: 233 (62 interstate)

Reverse: Palo Alto → Tacoma

The route from Tacoma, WA to Palo Alto, CA covers roughly 804 miles by road, a south-bound trip that falls into the long-distance 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 $4,960 to $7,390 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 2 to 5 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 14 h 34 min.

On the Tacoma side there are 823 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (399 of them authorized for interstate work), and 233 around Palo Alto (62 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 Palo Alto.

Tacoma has a population of about 229,816 and Palo Alto about 67,000. Tacoma is considerably denser (4,413 people per square mile versus 2,851), so expect tighter loading conditions, parking permits or elevator reservations at the origin and easier truck access at the destination. California is a higher-cost state than Washington, so budget a little more for destination-side help, deposits and first-month expenses. Note that California does collect a state income tax, unlike Washington, so factor that into the cost-of-living comparison.

Cost of moving from Tacoma to Palo Alto

Full-service estimate for 804 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$1,990	$2,420	$2,950
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$2,980	$3,630	$4,430
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$4,960	$6,050	$7,390
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$7,940	$9,690	$11,820
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$10,920	$13,320	$16,250

Rental truck (DIY)

$1,130–$1,590

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

Portable container

$1,740–$2,560

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

Full-service mover

$4,960–$7,390

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Tacoma, WA → Palo Alto, 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 Tacoma (origin)

Cheema Freightlines LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1486505
MC: 559877
Based in: Pacific, WA 98047 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 458 trucks, 450 drivers
USDOT registered: 2006

Call (253) 733-5718 Route Verify on FMCSA

Stryder Motorfreight USA INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2044027
MC: 716626
Based in: Tacoma, WA 98421 (3 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 138 trucks, 97 drivers
USDOT registered: 2010

Call (253) 518-8940 Route Verify on FMCSA

Sysco Seattle INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 340091
MC: 1099756
Based in: Kent, WA 98032 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 134 trucks, 122 drivers
USDOT registered: 1989

Call (206) 721-5796 Route Verify on FMCSA

Allstate Transport

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Seattle Port Consolidators INC

USDOT: 193828
MC: 148396
Based in: Tacoma, WA 98421 (3 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 111 trucks, 28 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (206) 682-8946 Route Verify on FMCSA

American Relocation Services Aff Aes Transportation

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: American Fast Freight INC

USDOT: 340754
MC: 207555
Based in: Fife, WA 98424 (5 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 86 trucks, 69 drivers
USDOT registered: 1989

Call (253) 888-6392 Route Verify on FMCSA

Blt Transport

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Blt Transport INC

USDOT: 2034807
MC: 714315
Based in: Kent, WA 98032 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 86 trucks, 87 drivers
USDOT registered: 2010

Call (253) 236-4667 Route Verify on FMCSA

Nichols Trucking Company

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Nichols Transportation Company INC

USDOT: 3462097
MC: 1130435
Based in: Tacoma, WA 98421 (3 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 72 trucks, 127 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (253) 272-8495 Route Verify on FMCSA

Pacific Cascade Trucking LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 1740705
MC: 637497
Based in: Sumner, WA 98390 (11 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 62 trucks, 65 drivers
USDOT registered: 2008

Call (440) 333-1330 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 823 movers in Tacoma

Near Palo Alto (destination)

Piranha Ops LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3389468
MC: 1089109
Based in: San Jose, CA 95126 (13 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 49 trucks, 100 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (510) 798-4604 Route Verify on FMCSA

Kilam INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3251388
MC: 1023623
Based in: Fremont, CA 94538 (13 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 30 trucks, 68 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (415) 740-2340 Route Verify on FMCSA

Crown Worldwide Moving And Storage LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 2970
MC: 138953
Based in: Union City, CA 94587 (14 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 25 trucks, 18 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (510) 614-4105 Route Verify on FMCSA

Lucid USA INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3488549
MC: 1147342
Based in: Newark, CA 94560 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 22 trucks, 38 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (341) 236-1056 Route Verify on FMCSA

Managed Facility Solutions

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Managed Facilities Solutions LLC

USDOT: 2974713
MC: 10809
Based in: San Jose, CA 95131 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 22 trucks, 43 drivers
USDOT registered: 2017

Call (408) 920-0110 Route Verify on FMCSA

Careful Movers

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Careful Movers INC

USDOT: 1464935
MC: 553377
Based in: Union City, CA 94587 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 14 trucks, 14 drivers
USDOT registered: 2006

Call (650) 595-8400 Route Verify on FMCSA

Arjak&agnes Sons Trucking

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3247717
MC: 1021407
Based in: Santa Clara, CA 95050 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 7 trucks, 6 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (510) 359-9498 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mav Moving LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4340425
MC: 77787146
Based in: Newark, CA 94560 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 6 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2024

Call (510) 456-5745 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 233 movers in Palo Alto

Related routes

Other destinations from Tacoma

Other origins to Palo Alto

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Tacoma to Palo Alto?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $1,990 to $2,950 for a studio, $2,980 to $4,430 for a one-bedroom, $4,960 to $7,390 for a two-bedroom, $7,940 to $11,820 for a three-bedroom and $10,920 to $16,250 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Palo Alto from Tacoma?

About 804 road miles (681 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 14 h 34 min.

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 2 to 5 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 Washington into California 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 Tacoma to Palo Alto?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $1,130 to $1,590 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,740 to $2,560. 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 Tacoma–Palo Alto corridor.