Tacoma, WA → San Luis Obispo, CA · Long-distance move

Movers from Tacoma to San Luis Obispo

About 983 road miles heading south. Typical two-bedroom cost $5,500–$8,180, delivery in 2–5 days, 823 carriers on the Tacoma side and 11 in San Luis Obispo.

983 miroad distance
17 h 39 mindriving time
2–5 daysdelivery window
$5,500–$8,1802-bedroom estimate

Photo: Rennett Stowe · CC BY 2.0

Open navigation Google Maps Apple Maps Waze

Route summary

From: Tacoma, Washington
To: San Luis Obispo, California
Road distance: ≈ 983 miles (833 straight-line)
Drive time: 17 h 39 min
Delivery window: 2–5 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 823 (399 interstate)
Movers at destination: 11 (4 interstate)

Reverse: San Luis Obispo → Tacoma

Moving from Tacoma to San Luis Obispo is a long-distance move of roughly 983 road miles, heading south from Washington to California.

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 $5,500 to $8,180 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 17 h 39 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 11 around San Luis Obispo (4 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 San Luis Obispo.

Tacoma has a population of about 229,816 and San Luis Obispo about 47,000. The two cities have comparable density (4,413 and 3,494 people per square mile), so loading and unloading conditions are usually similar at both ends. 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 San Luis Obispo

Full-service estimate for 983 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$2,200	$2,680	$3,270
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$3,300	$4,020	$4,910
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$5,500	$6,700	$8,180
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$8,790	$10,730	$13,080
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$12,090	$14,750	$17,990

Rental truck (DIY)

$1,460–$2,060

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

Portable container

$1,900–$2,790

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

Full-service mover

$5,500–$8,180

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Tacoma, WA → San Luis Obispo, CA. Adjust the other options to see your range.

—to—

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 San Luis Obispo (destination)

Meathead Movers INC

Interstate carrier

USDOT: 921143
Based in: San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 53 trucks, 76 drivers
USDOT registered: 2000

Call (805) 544-6328 Route Verify on FMCSA

Asap Movers INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1278931
MC: 497853
Based in: San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (4 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 17 trucks, 23 drivers
USDOT registered: 2004

Call (805) 544-9222 Route Verify on FMCSA

The Moving Experience

Licensed interstate

Legal name: The Moving Experience LLC

USDOT: 3028544
MC: 38168
Based in: San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 3 trucks, 2 drivers
USDOT registered: 2017

Call (805) 544-6683 Route Verify on FMCSA

Greenfield Transport

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Robert R Newby

USDOT: 858640
MC: 439893
Based in: San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 (4 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 3 trucks, 2 drivers
USDOT registered: 2000

Call (805) 545-8477 Route Verify on FMCSA

Central Coast Transfer INC

Intrastate carrier

USDOT: 1442037
Based in: Grover Beach, CA 93433 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 12 trucks, 25 drivers
USDOT registered: 2005

Call (805) 489-8845 Route Verify on FMCSA

Gold Coast Enterprises

Intrastate carrier

USDOT: 3499079
MC: 1154268
Based in: Grover Beach, CA 93433 (10 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 2 trucks, 2 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (805) 202-8228 Route Verify on FMCSA

Daylight Home & Patio

Intrastate carrier

USDOT: 3129342
Based in: Sn Luis Obisp, CA 93401 (4 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 1 truck, 2 drivers
USDOT registered: 2018

Call (805) 712-8885 Route Verify on FMCSA

Cal Deals

Intrastate carrier

Legal name: Cal Deals Furniture INC

USDOT: 4507381
Based in: San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (4 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 1 truck, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2025

Call (805) 458-8007 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 11 movers in San Luis Obispo

Related routes

Other destinations from Tacoma

Other origins to San Luis Obispo

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Tacoma to San Luis Obispo?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,200 to $3,270 for a studio, $3,300 to $4,910 for a one-bedroom, $5,500 to $8,180 for a two-bedroom, $8,790 to $13,080 for a three-bedroom and $12,090 to $17,990 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is San Luis Obispo from Tacoma?

About 983 road miles (833 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 17 h 39 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 San Luis Obispo?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $1,460 to $2,060 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,900 to $2,790. 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–San Luis Obispo corridor.