Moving from Californiato Maine
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Los Angeles and Portland it is about 3,063 miles and 7 days on the road (about 56 hours of driving); the 50 city pairs we price between the two states run from 3,004 to 3,235 miles.
Prices from our published model, not quotes. Distances marked ~ are estimated from city coordinates. We do not move anyone.
Los Angeles to Portland, 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 Maine.
Cost of moving from California to Maine
At about 3,063 miles, full-service movers should land around $13,784 – $18,378 for a two-bedroom home and $15,851 – $21,135 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $9,924 – $13,232; a freight trailer is $6,616 – $8,821.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $10,338 – $13,784 | $7,443 – $9,924 | $4,962 – $6,616 |
| 1 bedroom | $12,405 – $16,540 | $8,932 – $11,909 | $5,954 – $7,939 |
| 2 bedrooms | $13,784 – $18,378 | $9,924 – $13,232 | $6,616 – $8,821 |
| 3 bedrooms | $15,851 – $21,135 | $11,413 – $15,217 | $7,608 – $10,145 |
| 4 bedrooms | $17,919 – $23,891 | $12,901 – $17,202 | $8,601 – $11,468 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $20,675 – $27,567 | $14,886 – $19,848 | $9,924 – $13,232 |
Transport only, for an estimated 3,063 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 Maine
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 Portland | ~3,004 mi | 7–14 days | $13,518 – $18,024 | $15,546 – $20,728 |
| Moreno Valley to Portland | ~3,008 mi | 7–14 days | $13,536 – $18,048 | $15,566 – $20,755 |
| Fontana to Portland | ~3,016 mi | 7–14 days | $13,572 – $18,096 | $15,608 – $20,810 |
| Riverside to Portland | ~3,018 mi | 7–14 days | $13,581 – $18,108 | $15,618 – $20,824 |
| Ontario to Portland | ~3,027 mi | 7–14 days | $13,622 – $18,162 | $15,665 – $20,886 |
| Lancaster to Portland | ~3,034 mi | 7–14 days | $13,653 – $18,204 | $15,701 – $20,935 |
| Anaheim to Portland | ~3,043 mi | 7–14 days | $13,694 – $18,258 | $15,748 – $20,997 |
| Chula Vista to Portland | ~3,049 mi | 7–14 days | $13,721 – $18,294 | $15,779 – $21,038 |
| Irvine to Portland | ~3,051 mi | 7–14 days | $13,730 – $18,306 | $15,789 – $21,052 |
| Fresno to Portland | ~3,052 mi | 7–14 days | $13,734 – $18,312 | $15,794 – $21,059 |
| San Diego to Portland | ~3,054 mi | 7–14 days | $13,743 – $18,324 | $15,804 – $21,073 |
| Santa Ana to Portland | ~3,055 mi | 7–14 days | $13,748 – $18,330 | $15,810 – $21,079 |
| Bakersfield to Portland | ~3,059 mi | 7–14 days | $13,766 – $18,354 | $15,830 – $21,107 |
| Los Angeles to Portland | ~3,063 mi | 7–14 days | $13,784 – $18,378 | $15,851 – $21,135 |
| Santa Clarita to Portland | ~3,064 mi | 7–14 days | $13,788 – $18,384 | $15,856 – $21,142 |
| Roseville to Portland | ~3,070 mi | 7–14 days | $13,815 – $18,420 | $15,887 – $21,183 |
| Long Beach to Portland | ~3,071 mi | 7–14 days | $13,820 – $18,426 | $15,892 – $21,190 |
| Sacramento to Portland | ~3,087 mi | 7–14 days | $13,892 – $18,522 | $15,975 – $21,300 |
| San Bernardino to Bangor | ~3,088 mi | 7–14 days | $13,896 – $18,528 | $15,980 – $21,307 |
| Modesto to Portland | ~3,091 mi | 7–14 days | $13,910 – $18,546 | $15,996 – $21,328 |
| Moreno Valley to Bangor | ~3,092 mi | 7–14 days | $13,914 – $18,552 | $16,001 – $21,335 |
| Stockton to Portland | ~3,097 mi | 7–14 days | $13,937 – $18,582 | $16,027 – $21,369 |
| Fontana to Bangor | ~3,099 mi | 7–14 days | $13,946 – $18,594 | $16,037 – $21,383 |
| Riverside to Bangor | ~3,102 mi | 7–14 days | $13,959 – $18,612 | $16,053 – $21,404 |
| Ontario to Bangor | ~3,110 mi | 7–14 days | $13,995 – $18,660 | $16,094 – $21,459 |
| Oxnard to Portland | ~3,114 mi | 7–14 days | $14,013 – $18,684 | $16,115 – $21,487 |
| Lancaster to Bangor | ~3,116 mi | 7–14 days | $14,022 – $18,696 | $16,125 – $21,500 |
| Anaheim to Bangor | ~3,127 mi | 7–14 days | $14,072 – $18,762 | $16,182 – $21,576 |
| Fresno to Bangor | ~3,127 mi | 7–14 days | $14,072 – $18,762 | $16,182 – $21,576 |
| Irvine to Bangor | ~3,135 mi | 7–14 days | $14,108 – $18,810 | $16,224 – $21,631 |
| Chula Vista to Bangor | ~3,136 mi | 7–14 days | $14,112 – $18,816 | $16,229 – $21,638 |
| Bakersfield to Bangor | ~3,138 mi | 7–14 days | $14,121 – $18,828 | $16,239 – $21,652 |
| Roseville to Bangor | ~3,138 mi | 7–14 days | $14,121 – $18,828 | $16,239 – $21,652 |
| Santa Ana to Bangor | ~3,139 mi | 7–14 days | $14,126 – $18,834 | $16,244 – $21,659 |
| San Diego to Bangor | ~3,141 mi | 7–14 days | $14,135 – $18,846 | $16,255 – $21,673 |
| Los Angeles to Bangor | ~3,146 mi | 7–14 days | $14,157 – $18,876 | $16,281 – $21,707 |
| Santa Clarita to Bangor | ~3,146 mi | 7–14 days | $14,157 – $18,876 | $16,281 – $21,707 |
| Fremont to Portland | ~3,150 mi | 7–14 days | $14,175 – $18,900 | $16,301 – $21,735 |
| San Jose to Portland | ~3,152 mi | 7–14 days | $14,184 – $18,912 | $16,312 – $21,749 |
| Long Beach to Bangor | ~3,155 mi | 7–14 days | $14,198 – $18,930 | $16,327 – $21,769 |
| Sacramento to Bangor | ~3,155 mi | 7–14 days | $14,198 – $18,930 | $16,327 – $21,769 |
| Oakland to Portland | ~3,158 mi | 7–14 days | $14,211 – $18,948 | $16,343 – $21,790 |
| Modesto to Bangor | ~3,162 mi | 7–14 days | $14,229 – $18,972 | $16,363 – $21,818 |
| San Francisco to Portland | ~3,166 mi | 7–14 days | $14,247 – $18,996 | $16,384 – $21,845 |
| Stockton to Bangor | ~3,166 mi | 7–14 days | $14,247 – $18,996 | $16,384 – $21,845 |
| Oxnard to Bangor | ~3,195 mi | 7–14 days | $14,378 – $19,170 | $16,534 – $22,045 |
| Fremont to Bangor | ~3,220 mi | 7–14 days | $14,490 – $19,320 | $16,663 – $22,218 |
| San Jose to Bangor | ~3,223 mi | 7–14 days | $14,504 – $19,338 | $16,679 – $22,239 |
| Oakland to Bangor | ~3,227 mi | 7–14 days | $14,522 – $19,362 | $16,700 – $22,266 |
| San Francisco to Bangor | ~3,235 mi | 7–14 days | $14,558 – $19,410 | $16,741 – $22,321 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
What the interstate rules give you
A licensed carrier. Active interstate operating authority (an MC number) and a USDOT number, both checkable on the FMCSA register. A company that offers neither is a broker at best.
A written estimate before loading. Binding fixes the price for the listed inventory; non-binding follows the weighed shipment. The carrier cannot demand more than 110% of a non-binding estimate at delivery, with the balance billed within 30 days. Ask for binding not-to-exceed by name, after a survey.
Valuation. Released-value protection is included at 60 cents per pound per item; full-value protection is the upgrade worth buying for 3,063 miles of handling.
A delivery window, in writing. If it is on the bill of lading, missing it entitles you to delay costs. If it is not, it entitles you to an apology.
Interstate movers based in California
1,617 household-goods carriers in California are active on the FMCSA register. The largest with interstate authority, by registered fleet:
- Air Container Transfer, Brisbane · USDOT 1701515 · 60 trucks
- Meathead Movers Inc, San Luis Obispo · USDOT 921143 · 53 trucks
- Waters Moving & Storage Inc, Martinez · USDOT 1125579 · 35 trucks
- Move Happy Acme, Los Angeles · USDOT 3136064 · 31 trucks
- Crown Worldwide Moving And Storage Llc, Union City · USDOT 2970 · 25 trucks
At the Maine end
40 household-goods carriers are based in Maine — useful if you need a local crew after delivery. A local move inside Portland runs about $475 – $775 for a two-bedroom home.
Timing the move
| Home size | October – April, mid-week | Summer weekend (+25%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 bedrooms | $13,784 – $18,378 | $17,230 – $22,973 |
| 3 bedrooms | $15,851 – $21,135 | $19,814 – $26,419 |
Transit is 7 to 14 days. Book ahead: 6 to 8 weeks, 8 to 12 in summer. Trailers on this corridor fill faster in summer, but crews and trucks are stretched, so windows get wider, not shorter.
Other moves from California
California to Maine moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from California to Maine?
Between the two states' main cities, Los Angeles and Portland, the distance is about 3,063 miles. From our model that is $13,784 – $18,378 for a two-bedroom home and $15,851 – $21,135 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $9,924 – $13,232 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $6,616 – $8,821. Across the 50 city pairs we price between California and Maine, distances run from 3,004 to 3,235 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from California to Maine take?
Los Angeles to Portland is 7 days on the road (about 56 hours of driving). The move itself typically takes 7 to 14 days, because at this distance it usually travels on a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households. Get the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 6 to 8 weeks, 8 to 12 in summer.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for California to Maine?
Yes. Any move that crosses from California into Maine is regulated by the FMCSA, and the carrier must hold active interstate operating authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. Check both on the FMCSA register before you sign. Interstate carriers must give you a written estimate, the federal "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move" booklet, and access to an arbitration programme, and cannot demand more than 110% of a non-binding estimate before releasing your goods.
What is the cheapest way to move from California to Maine?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $6,616 – $8,821 for a two-bedroom home over 3,063 miles against $13,784 – $18,378 with full-service movers. A container splits the difference and gives you days to load. On any of them, moving between October and April, mid-month and mid-week, is worth another 20 to 30 percent — a peak-season date puts the three-bedroom figure at $19,814 – $26,419 rather than $15,851 – $21,135.