Moving from Californiato Minnesota
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Los Angeles and Minneapolis it is about 1,774 miles and 4 days on the road (about 32 hours of driving); the 75 city pairs we price between the two states run from 1,719 to 1,880 miles.
Prices from our published model, not quotes. Distances marked ~ are estimated from city coordinates. We do not move anyone.
Los Angeles to Minneapolis, 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 Minnesota.
Cost of moving from California to Minnesota
At about 1,774 miles, full-service movers should land around $7,983 – $10,644 for a two-bedroom home and $9,180 – $12,241 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $5,748 – $7,664; a freight trailer is $3,832 – $5,109.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $5,987 – $7,983 | $4,311 – $5,748 | $2,874 – $3,832 |
| 1 bedroom | $7,185 – $9,580 | $5,173 – $6,897 | $3,449 – $4,598 |
| 2 bedrooms | $7,983 – $10,644 | $5,748 – $7,664 | $3,832 – $5,109 |
| 3 bedrooms | $9,180 – $12,241 | $6,610 – $8,813 | $4,407 – $5,875 |
| 4 bedrooms | $10,378 – $13,837 | $7,472 – $9,963 | $4,981 – $6,642 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $11,975 – $15,966 | $8,622 – $11,496 | $5,748 – $7,664 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,774 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 Minnesota
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 50 have a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Bernardino to Minneapolis | ~1,719 mi | 7–14 days | $7,736 – $10,314 | $8,896 – $11,861 |
| Moreno Valley to Minneapolis | ~1,725 mi | 7–14 days | $7,763 – $10,350 | $8,927 – $11,902 |
| San Bernardino to Saint Paul | ~1,728 mi | 7–14 days | $7,776 – $10,368 | $8,942 – $11,923 |
| Fontana to Minneapolis | ~1,730 mi | 7–14 days | $7,785 – $10,380 | $8,953 – $11,937 |
| Moreno Valley to Saint Paul | ~1,734 mi | 7–14 days | $7,803 – $10,404 | $8,973 – $11,965 |
| Riverside to Minneapolis | ~1,735 mi | 7–14 days | $7,808 – $10,410 | $8,979 – $11,971 |
| San Bernardino to Rochester | ~1,736 mi | 7–14 days | $7,812 – $10,416 | $8,984 – $11,978 |
| Fresno to Minneapolis | ~1,737 mi | 7–14 days | $7,817 – $10,422 | $8,989 – $11,985 |
| Fontana to Saint Paul | ~1,738 mi | 7–14 days | $7,821 – $10,428 | $8,994 – $11,992 |
| Lancaster to Minneapolis | ~1,740 mi | 7–14 days | $7,830 – $10,440 | $9,004 – $12,006 |
| Moreno Valley to Rochester | ~1,741 mi | 7–14 days | $7,835 – $10,446 | $9,010 – $12,013 |
| Ontario to Minneapolis | ~1,741 mi | 7–14 days | $7,835 – $10,446 | $9,010 – $12,013 |
| Riverside to Saint Paul | ~1,743 mi | 7–14 days | $7,844 – $10,458 | $9,020 – $12,027 |
| Fontana to Rochester | ~1,746 mi | 7–14 days | $7,857 – $10,476 | $9,036 – $12,047 |
| Fresno to Saint Paul | ~1,746 mi | 7–14 days | $7,857 – $10,476 | $9,036 – $12,047 |
| Roseville to Minneapolis | ~1,746 mi | 7–14 days | $7,857 – $10,476 | $9,036 – $12,047 |
| Lancaster to Saint Paul | ~1,748 mi | 7–14 days | $7,866 – $10,488 | $9,046 – $12,061 |
| Ontario to Saint Paul | ~1,749 mi | 7–14 days | $7,871 – $10,494 | $9,051 – $12,068 |
| Riverside to Rochester | ~1,750 mi | 7–14 days | $7,875 – $10,500 | $9,056 – $12,075 |
| Roseville to Saint Paul | ~1,755 mi | 7–14 days | $7,898 – $10,530 | $9,082 – $12,109 |
| Bakersfield to Minneapolis | ~1,756 mi | 7–14 days | $7,902 – $10,536 | $9,087 – $12,116 |
| Ontario to Rochester | ~1,757 mi | 7–14 days | $7,907 – $10,542 | $9,092 – $12,123 |
| Anaheim to Minneapolis | ~1,758 mi | 7–14 days | $7,911 – $10,548 | $9,098 – $12,130 |
| Lancaster to Rochester | ~1,759 mi | 7–14 days | $7,916 – $10,554 | $9,103 – $12,137 |
| Sacramento to Minneapolis | ~1,762 mi | 7–14 days | $7,929 – $10,572 | $9,118 – $12,158 |
| Bakersfield to Saint Paul | ~1,764 mi | 7–14 days | $7,938 – $10,584 | $9,129 – $12,172 |
| Anaheim to Saint Paul | ~1,766 mi | 7–14 days | $7,947 – $10,596 | $9,139 – $12,185 |
| Fresno to Rochester | ~1,767 mi | 7–14 days | $7,952 – $10,602 | $9,144 – $12,192 |
| Irvine to Minneapolis | ~1,767 mi | 7–14 days | $7,952 – $10,602 | $9,144 – $12,192 |
| Modesto to Minneapolis | ~1,769 mi | 7–14 days | $7,961 – $10,614 | $9,155 – $12,206 |
| Santa Ana to Minneapolis | ~1,770 mi | 7–14 days | $7,965 – $10,620 | $9,160 – $12,213 |
| Santa Clarita to Minneapolis | ~1,770 mi | 7–14 days | $7,965 – $10,620 | $9,160 – $12,213 |
| Sacramento to Saint Paul | ~1,772 mi | 7–14 days | $7,974 – $10,632 | $9,170 – $12,227 |
| Anaheim to Rochester | ~1,774 mi | 7–14 days | $7,983 – $10,644 | $9,180 – $12,241 |
| Los Angeles to Minneapolis | ~1,774 mi | 7–14 days | $7,983 – $10,644 | $9,180 – $12,241 |
| Stockton to Minneapolis | ~1,774 mi | 7–14 days | $7,983 – $10,644 | $9,180 – $12,241 |
| Irvine to Saint Paul | ~1,776 mi | 7–14 days | $7,992 – $10,656 | $9,191 – $12,254 |
| Bakersfield to Rochester | ~1,779 mi | 7–14 days | $8,006 – $10,674 | $9,206 – $12,275 |
| Modesto to Saint Paul | ~1,779 mi | 7–14 days | $8,006 – $10,674 | $9,206 – $12,275 |
| Santa Ana to Saint Paul | ~1,779 mi | 7–14 days | $8,006 – $10,674 | $9,206 – $12,275 |
| Santa Clarita to Saint Paul | ~1,779 mi | 7–14 days | $8,006 – $10,674 | $9,206 – $12,275 |
| Chula Vista to Minneapolis | ~1,782 mi | 7–14 days | $8,019 – $10,692 | $9,222 – $12,296 |
| Los Angeles to Saint Paul | ~1,782 mi | 7–14 days | $8,019 – $10,692 | $9,222 – $12,296 |
| Irvine to Rochester | ~1,783 mi | 7–14 days | $8,024 – $10,698 | $9,227 – $12,303 |
| Stockton to Saint Paul | ~1,783 mi | 7–14 days | $8,024 – $10,698 | $9,227 – $12,303 |
| Long Beach to Minneapolis | ~1,785 mi | 7–14 days | $8,033 – $10,710 | $9,237 – $12,317 |
| Roseville to Rochester | ~1,785 mi | 7–14 days | $8,033 – $10,710 | $9,237 – $12,317 |
| San Diego to Minneapolis | ~1,785 mi | 7–14 days | $8,033 – $10,710 | $9,237 – $12,317 |
| Santa Ana to Rochester | ~1,787 mi | 7–14 days | $8,042 – $10,722 | $9,248 – $12,330 |
| Chula Vista to Saint Paul | ~1,790 mi | 7–14 days | $8,055 – $10,740 | $9,263 – $12,351 |
| Santa Clarita to Rochester | ~1,790 mi | 7–14 days | $8,055 – $10,740 | $9,263 – $12,351 |
| Los Angeles to Rochester | ~1,792 mi | 7–14 days | $8,064 – $10,752 | $9,274 – $12,365 |
| Chula Vista to Rochester | ~1,793 mi | 7–14 days | $8,069 – $10,758 | $9,279 – $12,372 |
| Long Beach to Saint Paul | ~1,793 mi | 7–14 days | $8,069 – $10,758 | $9,279 – $12,372 |
| San Diego to Saint Paul | ~1,793 mi | 7–14 days | $8,069 – $10,758 | $9,279 – $12,372 |
| San Diego to Rochester | ~1,796 mi | 7–14 days | $8,082 – $10,776 | $9,294 – $12,392 |
| Sacramento to Rochester | ~1,801 mi | 7–14 days | $8,105 – $10,806 | $9,320 – $12,427 |
| Long Beach to Rochester | ~1,802 mi | 7–14 days | $8,109 – $10,812 | $9,325 – $12,434 |
| Modesto to Rochester | ~1,804 mi | 7–14 days | $8,118 – $10,824 | $9,336 – $12,448 |
| Stockton to Rochester | ~1,810 mi | 7–14 days | $8,145 – $10,860 | $9,367 – $12,489 |
| Oxnard to Minneapolis | ~1,818 mi | 7–14 days | $8,181 – $10,908 | $9,408 – $12,544 |
| Fremont to Minneapolis | ~1,827 mi | 7–14 days | $8,222 – $10,962 | $9,455 – $12,606 |
| Oxnard to Saint Paul | ~1,827 mi | 7–14 days | $8,222 – $10,962 | $9,455 – $12,606 |
| San Jose to Minneapolis | ~1,831 mi | 7–14 days | $8,240 – $10,986 | $9,475 – $12,634 |
| Oakland to Minneapolis | ~1,834 mi | 7–14 days | $8,253 – $11,004 | $9,491 – $12,655 |
| Fremont to Saint Paul | ~1,837 mi | 7–14 days | $8,267 – $11,022 | $9,506 – $12,675 |
| Oxnard to Rochester | ~1,839 mi | 7–14 days | $8,276 – $11,034 | $9,517 – $12,689 |
| San Jose to Saint Paul | ~1,840 mi | 7–14 days | $8,280 – $11,040 | $9,522 – $12,696 |
| San Francisco to Minneapolis | ~1,843 mi | 7–14 days | $8,294 – $11,058 | $9,538 – $12,717 |
| Oakland to Saint Paul | ~1,844 mi | 7–14 days | $8,298 – $11,064 | $9,543 – $12,724 |
| San Francisco to Saint Paul | ~1,852 mi | 7–14 days | $8,334 – $11,112 | $9,584 – $12,779 |
| Fremont to Rochester | ~1,863 mi | 7–14 days | $8,384 – $11,178 | $9,641 – $12,855 |
| San Jose to Rochester | ~1,866 mi | 7–14 days | $8,397 – $11,196 | $9,657 – $12,875 |
| Oakland to Rochester | ~1,871 mi | 7–14 days | $8,420 – $11,226 | $9,682 – $12,910 |
| San Francisco to Rochester | ~1,880 mi | 7–14 days | $8,460 – $11,280 | $9,729 – $12,972 |
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 1,774 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 Minnesota end
277 household-goods carriers are based in Minnesota — useful if you need a local crew after delivery. A local move inside Minneapolis runs about $475 – $775 for a two-bedroom home.
Timing the move
| Home size | October – April, mid-week | Summer weekend (+25%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 bedrooms | $7,983 – $10,644 | $9,979 – $13,305 |
| 3 bedrooms | $9,180 – $12,241 | $11,475 – $15,301 |
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 Minnesota moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from California to Minnesota?
Between the two states' main cities, Los Angeles and Minneapolis, the distance is about 1,774 miles. From our model that is $7,983 – $10,644 for a two-bedroom home and $9,180 – $12,241 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $5,748 – $7,664 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $3,832 – $5,109. Across the 75 city pairs we price between California and Minnesota, distances run from 1,719 to 1,880 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from California to Minnesota take?
Los Angeles to Minneapolis is 4 days on the road (about 32 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 Minnesota?
Yes. Any move that crosses from California into Minnesota 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 Minnesota?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $3,832 – $5,109 for a two-bedroom home over 1,774 miles against $7,983 – $10,644 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 $11,475 – $15,301 rather than $9,180 – $12,241.