Moving from California to Colorado
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Los Angeles and Denver it is about 968 miles and 2 days on the road (about 18 hours of driving); the 100 city pairs we price between the two states run from 891 to 1,253 miles.
Prices from our published model (last updated ), not quotes. Distances marked ~ are estimated from city coordinates. Carriers: FMCSA Motor Carrier Census, snapshot 2026-09-24. We do not move anyone.
- ~968 miLos Angeles → Denver
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $4,356+2-bedroom, movers
- 100City routes priced
In short
About 19,717 people moved from California to Colorado in 2024 (Census estimate, ±3,479), and about 15,781 went the other way. Between Los Angeles and Denver it is about 968 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $4,356 – $5,808 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 431 movers based in California hold interstate authority.
Who moves from California to Colorado
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 19,717 people a year (±3,479), against about 15,781 (±3,397) from Colorado to California, so Colorado gains about 3,936 people a year on this exchange. California is the 2nd-largest of the 47 states sending people to Colorado; Colorado took in about 181,683 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego County | Douglas County | 1,100 ±896 |
| Los Angeles County | Denver County | 891 ±244 |
| San Diego County | Denver County | 801 ±385 |
| San Diego County | El Paso County | 783 ±394 |
| Los Angeles County | El Paso County | 751 ±284 |
US Census Bureau: ACS 2024 state-to-state migration and ACS 2016–2020 county-to-county flows; people a year with a 90% margin of error. County names link to their cost guides.
Los Angeles to Denver, the representative route
Each state is represented by its largest city we cover. The map shows that corridor; the table further down prices every city pair between California and Colorado.
Cost of moving from California to Colorado
At about 968 miles, full-service movers should land around $4,356 – $5,808 for a two-bedroom home and $5,009 – $6,679 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $3,136 – $4,182; a freight trailer is $2,091 – $2,788.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,267 – $4,356 | $2,352 – $3,136 | $1,568 – $2,091 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,920 – $5,227 | $2,823 – $3,764 | $1,882 – $2,509 |
| 2 bedrooms | $4,356 – $5,808 | $3,136 – $4,182 | $2,091 – $2,788 |
| 3 bedrooms | $5,009 – $6,679 | $3,607 – $4,809 | $2,405 – $3,206 |
| 4 bedrooms | $5,663 – $7,550 | $4,077 – $5,436 | $2,718 – $3,624 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $6,534 – $8,712 | $4,704 – $6,273 | $3,136 – $4,182 |
Transport only, for an estimated 968 miles, from our published model: distance × home-size factor × service rate, shown as −10% to +20% around the base figure. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items sit on top. How we price it.
City-to-city routes from California to Colorado
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 25 have a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Bernardino to Colorado Springs | ~891 mi | 3–7 days | $4,010 – $5,346 | $4,611 – $6,148 |
| Moreno Valley to Colorado Springs | ~894 mi | 3–7 days | $4,023 – $5,364 | $4,626 – $6,169 |
| Fontana to Colorado Springs | ~902 mi | 3–7 days | $4,059 – $5,412 | $4,668 – $6,224 |
| Riverside to Colorado Springs | ~904 mi | 3–7 days | $4,068 – $5,424 | $4,678 – $6,238 |
| San Bernardino to Denver | ~911 mi | 3–7 days | $4,100 – $5,466 | $4,714 – $6,286 |
| Ontario to Colorado Springs | ~913 mi | 3–7 days | $4,109 – $5,478 | $4,725 – $6,300 |
| Moreno Valley to Denver | ~916 mi | 3–7 days | $4,122 – $5,496 | $4,740 – $6,320 |
| San Bernardino to Aurora | ~917 mi | 3–7 days | $4,127 – $5,502 | $4,745 – $6,327 |
| Fontana to Denver | ~922 mi | 3–7 days | $4,149 – $5,532 | $4,771 – $6,362 |
| Moreno Valley to Aurora | ~922 mi | 3–7 days | $4,149 – $5,532 | $4,771 – $6,362 |
| Lancaster to Colorado Springs | ~923 mi | 3–7 days | $4,154 – $5,538 | $4,777 – $6,369 |
| Riverside to Denver | ~925 mi | 3–7 days | $4,163 – $5,550 | $4,787 – $6,383 |
| Fontana to Aurora | ~928 mi | 3–7 days | $4,176 – $5,568 | $4,802 – $6,403 |
| Anaheim to Colorado Springs | ~929 mi | 3–7 days | $4,181 – $5,574 | $4,808 – $6,410 |
| Riverside to Aurora | ~932 mi | 3–7 days | $4,194 – $5,592 | $4,823 – $6,431 |
| Ontario to Denver | ~933 mi | 3–7 days | $4,199 – $5,598 | $4,828 – $6,438 |
| Irvine to Colorado Springs | ~937 mi | 3–7 days | $4,217 – $5,622 | $4,849 – $6,465 |
| San Bernardino to Fort Collins | ~937 mi | 3–7 days | $4,217 – $5,622 | $4,849 – $6,465 |
| Lancaster to Denver | ~938 mi | 3–7 days | $4,221 – $5,628 | $4,854 – $6,472 |
| Ontario to Aurora | ~939 mi | 3–7 days | $4,226 – $5,634 | $4,859 – $6,479 |
| Chula Vista to Colorado Springs | ~940 mi | 3–7 days | $4,230 – $5,640 | $4,865 – $6,486 |
| Santa Ana to Colorado Springs | ~941 mi | 3–7 days | $4,235 – $5,646 | $4,870 – $6,493 |
| Moreno Valley to Fort Collins | ~943 mi | 3–7 days | $4,244 – $5,658 | $4,880 – $6,507 |
| Lancaster to Aurora | ~944 mi | 3–7 days | $4,248 – $5,664 | $4,885 – $6,514 |
| San Diego to Colorado Springs | ~944 mi | 3–7 days | $4,248 – $5,664 | $4,885 – $6,514 |
| Fontana to Fort Collins | ~947 mi | 3–7 days | $4,262 – $5,682 | $4,901 – $6,534 |
| Anaheim to Denver | ~949 mi | 3–7 days | $4,271 – $5,694 | $4,911 – $6,548 |
| Los Angeles to Colorado Springs | ~950 mi | 3–7 days | $4,275 – $5,700 | $4,916 – $6,555 |
| Riverside to Fort Collins | ~952 mi | 3–7 days | $4,284 – $5,712 | $4,927 – $6,569 |
| Santa Clarita to Colorado Springs | ~952 mi | 3–7 days | $4,284 – $5,712 | $4,927 – $6,569 |
| Bakersfield to Colorado Springs | ~954 mi | 3–7 days | $4,293 – $5,724 | $4,937 – $6,583 |
| Anaheim to Aurora | ~956 mi | 3–7 days | $4,302 – $5,736 | $4,947 – $6,596 |
| Irvine to Denver | ~958 mi | 3–7 days | $4,311 – $5,748 | $4,958 – $6,610 |
| Long Beach to Colorado Springs | ~958 mi | 3–7 days | $4,311 – $5,748 | $4,958 – $6,610 |
| Ontario to Fort Collins | ~958 mi | 3–7 days | $4,311 – $5,748 | $4,958 – $6,610 |
| Lancaster to Fort Collins | ~959 mi | 3–7 days | $4,316 – $5,754 | $4,963 – $6,617 |
| Santa Ana to Denver | ~962 mi | 3–7 days | $4,329 – $5,772 | $4,978 – $6,638 |
| Bakersfield to Denver | ~963 mi | 3–7 days | $4,334 – $5,778 | $4,984 – $6,645 |
| Irvine to Aurora | ~964 mi | 3–7 days | $4,338 – $5,784 | $4,989 – $6,652 |
| Fresno to Colorado Springs | ~966 mi | 3–7 days | $4,347 – $5,796 | $4,999 – $6,665 |
| Fresno to Denver | ~966 mi | 3–7 days | $4,347 – $5,796 | $4,999 – $6,665 |
| Santa Clarita to Denver | ~967 mi | 3–7 days | $4,352 – $5,802 | $5,004 – $6,672 |
| Chula Vista to Denver | ~968 mi | 3–7 days | $4,356 – $5,808 | $5,009 – $6,679 |
| Los Angeles to Denver | ~968 mi | 3–7 days | $4,356 – $5,808 | $5,009 – $6,679 |
| Santa Ana to Aurora | ~968 mi | 3–7 days | $4,356 – $5,808 | $5,009 – $6,679 |
| Bakersfield to Aurora | ~970 mi | 3–7 days | $4,365 – $5,820 | $5,020 – $6,693 |
| San Diego to Denver | ~971 mi | 3–7 days | $4,370 – $5,826 | $5,025 – $6,700 |
| Fresno to Aurora | ~973 mi | 3–7 days | $4,379 – $5,838 | $5,035 – $6,714 |
| Chula Vista to Aurora | ~974 mi | 3–7 days | $4,383 – $5,844 | $5,040 – $6,721 |
| Fresno to Fort Collins | ~974 mi | 3–7 days | $4,383 – $5,844 | $5,040 – $6,721 |
| Los Angeles to Aurora | ~974 mi | 3–7 days | $4,383 – $5,844 | $5,040 – $6,721 |
| Santa Clarita to Aurora | ~974 mi | 3–7 days | $4,383 – $5,844 | $5,040 – $6,721 |
| Anaheim to Fort Collins | ~975 mi | 3–7 days | $4,388 – $5,850 | $5,046 – $6,728 |
| Long Beach to Denver | ~977 mi | 3–7 days | $4,397 – $5,862 | $5,056 – $6,741 |
| San Diego to Aurora | ~977 mi | 3–7 days | $4,397 – $5,862 | $5,056 – $6,741 |
| Bakersfield to Fort Collins | ~980 mi | 3–7 days | $4,410 – $5,880 | $5,072 – $6,762 |
| Long Beach to Aurora | ~984 mi | 3–7 days | $4,428 – $5,904 | $5,092 – $6,790 |
| Irvine to Fort Collins | ~985 mi | 3–7 days | $4,433 – $5,910 | $5,097 – $6,797 |
| Santa Ana to Fort Collins | ~988 mi | 3–7 days | $4,446 – $5,928 | $5,113 – $6,817 |
| Santa Clarita to Fort Collins | ~989 mi | 3–7 days | $4,451 – $5,934 | $5,118 – $6,824 |
| Los Angeles to Fort Collins | ~992 mi | 3–7 days | $4,464 – $5,952 | $5,134 – $6,845 |
| Chula Vista to Fort Collins | ~1,001 mi | 3–7 days | $4,505 – $6,006 | $5,180 – $6,907 |
| Oxnard to Colorado Springs | ~1,002 mi | 3–7 days | $4,509 – $6,012 | $5,185 – $6,914 |
| Long Beach to Fort Collins | ~1,003 mi | 3–7 days | $4,514 – $6,018 | $5,191 – $6,921 |
| San Diego to Fort Collins | ~1,003 mi | 3–7 days | $4,514 – $6,018 | $5,191 – $6,921 |
| Oxnard to Denver | ~1,017 mi | 3–7 days | $4,577 – $6,102 | $5,263 – $7,017 |
| Roseville to Fort Collins | ~1,017 mi | 3–7 days | $4,577 – $6,102 | $5,263 – $7,017 |
| Modesto to Denver | ~1,020 mi | 3–7 days | $4,590 – $6,120 | $5,279 – $7,038 |
| Roseville to Denver | ~1,021 mi | 3–7 days | $4,595 – $6,126 | $5,284 – $7,045 |
| Modesto to Fort Collins | ~1,022 mi | 3–7 days | $4,599 – $6,132 | $5,289 – $7,052 |
| Oxnard to Aurora | ~1,023 mi | 3–7 days | $4,604 – $6,138 | $5,294 – $7,059 |
| Modesto to Aurora | ~1,027 mi | 3–7 days | $4,622 – $6,162 | $5,315 – $7,086 |
| Modesto to Colorado Springs | ~1,027 mi | 3–7 days | $4,622 – $6,162 | $5,315 – $7,086 |
| Roseville to Aurora | ~1,027 mi | 3–7 days | $4,622 – $6,162 | $5,315 – $7,086 |
| Sacramento to Fort Collins | ~1,031 mi | 3–7 days | $4,640 – $6,186 | $5,335 – $7,114 |
| Stockton to Denver | ~1,032 mi | 3–7 days | $4,644 – $6,192 | $5,341 – $7,121 |
| Stockton to Fort Collins | ~1,033 mi | 3–7 days | $4,649 – $6,198 | $5,346 – $7,128 |
| Roseville to Colorado Springs | ~1,034 mi | 3–7 days | $4,653 – $6,204 | $5,351 – $7,135 |
| Sacramento to Denver | ~1,034 mi | 3–7 days | $4,653 – $6,204 | $5,351 – $7,135 |
| Oxnard to Fort Collins | ~1,038 mi | 3–7 days | $4,671 – $6,228 | $5,372 – $7,162 |
| Stockton to Aurora | ~1,039 mi | 3–7 days | $4,676 – $6,234 | $5,377 – $7,169 |
| Sacramento to Aurora | ~1,041 mi | 3–7 days | $4,685 – $6,246 | $5,387 – $7,183 |
| Stockton to Colorado Springs | ~1,042 mi | 3–7 days | $4,689 – $6,252 | $5,392 – $7,190 |
| Sacramento to Colorado Springs | ~1,047 mi | 3–7 days | $4,712 – $6,282 | $5,418 – $7,224 |
| Fremont to Denver | ~1,081 mi | 3–7 days | $4,865 – $6,486 | $5,594 – $7,459 |
| San Jose to Denver | ~1,081 mi | 3–7 days | $4,865 – $6,486 | $5,594 – $7,459 |
| Fremont to Fort Collins | ~1,083 mi | 3–7 days | $4,874 – $6,498 | $5,605 – $7,473 |
| San Jose to Fort Collins | ~1,084 mi | 3–7 days | $4,878 – $6,504 | $5,610 – $7,480 |
| San Jose to Colorado Springs | ~1,087 mi | 3–7 days | $4,892 – $6,522 | $5,625 – $7,500 |
| Fremont to Aurora | ~1,088 mi | 3–7 days | $4,896 – $6,528 | $5,630 – $7,507 |
| Fremont to Colorado Springs | ~1,088 mi | 3–7 days | $4,896 – $6,528 | $5,630 – $7,507 |
| San Jose to Aurora | ~1,088 mi | 3–7 days | $4,896 – $6,528 | $5,630 – $7,507 |
| Oakland to Denver | ~1,095 mi | 3–7 days | $4,928 – $6,570 | $5,667 – $7,556 |
| Oakland to Fort Collins | ~1,095 mi | 3–7 days | $4,928 – $6,570 | $5,667 – $7,556 |
| Oakland to Aurora | ~1,102 mi | 3–7 days | $4,959 – $6,612 | $5,703 – $7,604 |
| Oakland to Colorado Springs | ~1,104 mi | 3–7 days | $4,968 – $6,624 | $5,713 – $7,618 |
| San Francisco to Fort Collins | ~1,104 mi | 3–7 days | $4,968 – $6,624 | $5,713 – $7,618 |
| San Francisco to Aurora | ~1,111 mi | 3–7 days | $5,000 – $6,666 | $5,749 – $7,666 |
| San Francisco to Colorado Springs | ~1,113 mi | 3–7 days | $5,009 – $6,678 | $5,760 – $7,680 |
| San Francisco to Denver | 1,253 mi | 7–14 days | $5,639 – $7,518 | $6,484 – $8,646 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in California
288 of the 431 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 2,633 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 233 of 1,930 vehicle inspections (12.1%), below the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 330 of 2,512 driver inspections (13.1%, against 13.0%). None has an acute or critical violation from an FMCSA investigation in the past 12 months.
| Carrier | Inspections | Vehicle out of service | Driver out of service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meathead Movers IncSan Luis Obispo, CA · USDOT 921143 | 125 | 3 of 87 | 8 of 125 |
| Best California MoversNorth Hollywood, CA · USDOT 3489907 | 91 | 1 of 70 | 8 of 87 |
| Air Container TransferBrisbane, CA · USDOT 1701515 | 63 | 8 of 56 | 1 of 63 |
| Altar Boys MovingPacoima, CA · USDOT 2824890 | 63 | 3 of 33 | 5 of 56 |
| Move Happy AcmeLos Angeles, CA · USDOT 3136064 | 61 | 8 of 39 | 8 of 58 |
| American Hills Moving & Storage IncWest Hills, CA · USDOT 4128186 | 49 | 3 of 29 | 30 of 49 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
1,592 listed household-goods carriers are based in California, 431 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the California directory ranks them. At the Colorado end, 498 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Colorado, moving costs in Colorado, or the reverse trip, Colorado to California. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from California
California to Colorado moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from California to Colorado?
Between the two states' main cities, Los Angeles and Denver, the distance is about 968 miles. From our model that is $4,356 – $5,808 for a two-bedroom home and $5,009 – $6,679 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $3,136 – $4,182 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $2,091 – $2,788. Across the 100 city pairs we price between California and Colorado, distances run from 891 to 1,253 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from California to Colorado take?
Los Angeles to Denver is 2 days on the road (about 18 hours of driving). The move itself typically takes 3 to 7 days, because at this distance it usually travels on either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load, depending on the carrier and the season. Get the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for California to Colorado?
Yes. A move from California into Colorado is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 1,592 listed movers based in California, 431 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within California.
What is the cheapest way to move from California to Colorado?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $2,091 – $2,788 for a two-bedroom home over 968 miles against $4,356 – $5,808 with full-service movers. A container, about $3,136 – $4,182, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from California to Colorado each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 19,717 people (±3,479) moved from California to Colorado that year, against about 15,781 (±3,397) from Colorado to California. That makes California the 2nd-largest source of new residents for Colorado among the states.