Tempe, AZ → Santa Barbara, CA · Long-distance move

Movers from Tempe to Santa Barbara

About 533 road miles heading west. Typical two-bedroom cost $3,930–$5,850, delivery in 2–5 days, 886 carriers on the Tempe side and 27 in Santa Barbara.

533 miroad distance
9 h 53 mindriving time
2–5 daysdelivery window
$3,930–$5,8502-bedroom estimate

Photo: Pierre André · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Route summary

From: Tempe, Arizona
To: Santa Barbara, California
Road distance: ≈ 533 miles (452 straight-line)
Drive time: 9 h 53 min
Delivery window: 2–5 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 886 (350 interstate)
Movers at destination: 27 (9 interstate)

Reverse: Santa Barbara → Tempe

Santa Barbara sits about 533 miles west of Tempe, which makes this an interstate relocation from Arizona to California that most movers classify as a long-distance 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 $3,930 to $5,850 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 9 h 53 min.

On the Tempe side there are 886 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (350 of them authorized for interstate work), and 27 around Santa Barbara (9 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 Santa Barbara.

Tempe has a population of about 190,571 and Santa Barbara about 88,000. The two cities have comparable density (4,526 and 4,549 people per square mile), so loading and unloading conditions are usually similar at both ends. California is a higher-cost state than Arizona, so budget a little more for destination-side help, deposits and first-month expenses.

Cost of moving from Tempe to Santa Barbara

Full-service estimate for 533 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$1,570	$1,920	$2,340
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$2,360	$2,880	$3,510
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$3,930	$4,800	$5,850
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$6,290	$7,670	$9,360
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$8,650	$10,550	$12,870

Rental truck (DIY)

$850–$1,200

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

Portable container

$1,500–$2,200

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

Full-service mover

$3,930–$5,850

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Tempe, AZ → Santa Barbara, 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 Tempe (origin)

Southwest Industrial Rigging

Licensed interstate

Legal name: H K B INC

USDOT: 902604
MC: 162691
Based in: Phoenix, AZ 85041 (10 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 151 trucks, 66 drivers
USDOT registered: 2000

Call (602) 256-7161 Route Verify on FMCSA

Shippers Preferred Express INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 1119424
MC: 473382
Based in: Phoenix, AZ 85009 (12 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 112 trucks, 114 drivers
USDOT registered: 2003

Call (602) 278-6004 Route Verify on FMCSA

Burst Logistics LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3384102
MC: 1087004
Based in: Phoenix, AZ 85034 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 46 trucks, 81 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (480) 306-6447 Route Verify on FMCSA

Air Support INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 294366
MC: 242304
Based in: Phoenix, AZ 85040 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 37 trucks, 47 drivers
USDOT registered: 1987

Call (602) 267-1946 Route Verify on FMCSA

Allegiant Transportation LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3162620
MC: 112279
Based in: Gilbert, AZ 85296 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 37 trucks, 30 drivers
USDOT registered: 2018

Call (602) 805-9061 Route Verify on FMCSA

Go 2 Transportation LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1329421
MC: 513718
Based in: Chandler, AZ 85225 (8 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 32 trucks, 32 drivers
USDOT registered: 2005

Call (480) 704-4457 Route Verify on FMCSA

Saam Delivers LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3338899
MC: 1067588
Based in: Gilbert, AZ 85295 (13 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 30 trucks, 33 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (602) 413-5080 Route Verify on FMCSA

C H Trucking

Licensed interstate

Legal name: C H Trucking LLC

USDOT: 3915387
MC: 1446610
Based in: Mesa, AZ 85202 (3 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 20 trucks, 19 drivers
USDOT registered: 2022

Call (929) 977-8854 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 886 movers in Tempe

Near Santa Barbara (destination)

Aussie Moving

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Aussie Moving INC

USDOT: 2424966
MC: 876037
Based in: Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 2 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2013

Call (805) 456-6498 Route Verify on FMCSA

Twentyfour7 Msi

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Twenty Four 7 Moving Specialists INC

USDOT: 1821147
MC: 661157
Based in: Carpinteria, CA 93013 (12 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 2 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered: 2008

Call (805) 696-9247 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mammoth Van Lines

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Mammoth Moving Holding Corporation

USDOT: 374567
MC: 225136
Based in: Santa Barbara, CA 93111 (6 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 1 truck, 2 drivers
USDOT registered: 1989

Call (805) 968-8643 Route Verify on FMCSA

All Things Home Services LLC

Interstate carrier

USDOT: 8395520
Based in: Santa Barbara, CA 93111 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 1 truck, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 2026

Call (805) 245-3822 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bushnell Moving

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Kenneth Lee Bushnell

USDOT: 1355626
MC: 608117
Based in: Santa Barbara, CA 93105 (9 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 1 truck, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2005

Call (805) 682-5454 Route Verify on FMCSA

Santa Barbara Home Improvement Center

Intrastate carrier

Legal name: Santa Barbara Home Improvement Center INC

USDOT: 2735884
Based in: Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (805) 963-7825 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mike'S Deliveries

Intrastate carrier

Legal name: Miguel A Barrios

USDOT: 3008579
Based in: Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2017

Call (805) 331-0318 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bright Delivery And Install INC

Intrastate carrier

USDOT: 3544323
Based in: Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2021

Call (805) 679-1020 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 27 movers in Santa Barbara

Tips for this move

Declutter first: long-haul pricing is by weight, so every hundred pounds you sell or donate saves money.
Check whether a shuttle truck is needed in Santa Barbara if a 53-foot trailer cannot reach your street.
Keep vehicle titles, passports and prescriptions with you; movers cannot carry some items at all.
Insist on a binding or binding-not-to-exceed estimate after an in-home or video survey.

Near Tempe

Near Santa Barbara

Related routes

Other destinations from Tempe

Other origins to Santa Barbara

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Tempe to Santa Barbara?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $1,570 to $2,340 for a studio, $2,360 to $3,510 for a one-bedroom, $3,930 to $5,850 for a two-bedroom, $6,290 to $9,360 for a three-bedroom and $8,650 to $12,870 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Santa Barbara from Tempe?

About 533 road miles (452 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 9 h 53 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 Arizona 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 Tempe to Santa Barbara?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $850 to $1,200 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,500 to $2,200. 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 Tempe–Santa Barbara corridor.