Moving from California to Montana
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Los Angeles and Billings it is about 1,119 miles and 3 days on the road (about 20 hours of driving); the 50 city pairs we price between the two states run from 782 to 1,184 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.
- ~1,119 miLos Angeles → Billings
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $5,036+2-bedroom, movers
- 50City routes priced
In short
About 4,872 people moved from California to Montana in 2024 (Census estimate, ±1,563), and about 2,531 went the other way. Between Los Angeles and Billings it is about 1,119 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $5,036 – $6,714 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 431 movers based in California hold interstate authority.
Who moves from California to Montana
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 4,872 people a year (±1,563), against about 2,531 (±925) from Montana to California, so Montana gains about 2,341 people a year on this exchange. California sends more people to Montana than any other state; Montana took in about 35,735 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles County | Flathead County | 443 ±239 |
| Los Angeles County | Gallatin County | 209 ±159 |
| Riverside County | Ravalli County | 194 ±245* |
| Santa Clara County | Missoula County | 193 ±290* |
| San Bernardino County | Lewis and Clark County | 168 ±187* |
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. * Margin as large as the estimate.
Los Angeles to Billings, 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 Montana.
Cost of moving from California to Montana
At about 1,119 miles, full-service movers should land around $5,036 – $6,714 for a two-bedroom home and $5,791 – $7,721 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $3,626 – $4,834; a freight trailer is $2,417 – $3,223.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,777 – $5,036 | $2,719 – $3,626 | $1,813 – $2,417 |
| 1 bedroom | $4,532 – $6,043 | $3,263 – $4,351 | $2,175 – $2,900 |
| 2 bedrooms | $5,036 – $6,714 | $3,626 – $4,834 | $2,417 – $3,223 |
| 3 bedrooms | $5,791 – $7,721 | $4,169 – $5,559 | $2,780 – $3,706 |
| 4 bedrooms | $6,546 – $8,728 | $4,713 – $6,284 | $3,142 – $4,190 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $7,553 – $10,071 | $5,438 – $7,251 | $3,626 – $4,834 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,119 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 Montana
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 1 has a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roseville to Missoula | ~782 mi | 3–7 days | $3,519 – $4,692 | $4,047 – $5,396 |
| Sacramento to Missoula | ~801 mi | 3–7 days | $3,605 – $4,806 | $4,145 – $5,527 |
| Stockton to Missoula | ~837 mi | 3–7 days | $3,767 – $5,022 | $4,331 – $5,775 |
| Modesto to Missoula | ~852 mi | 3–7 days | $3,834 – $5,112 | $4,409 – $5,879 |
| Oakland to Missoula | ~880 mi | 3–7 days | $3,960 – $5,280 | $4,554 – $6,072 |
| San Francisco to Missoula | ~886 mi | 3–7 days | $3,987 – $5,316 | $4,585 – $6,113 |
| Fresno to Missoula | ~887 mi | 3–7 days | $3,992 – $5,322 | $4,590 – $6,120 |
| Fremont to Missoula | ~891 mi | 3–7 days | $4,010 – $5,346 | $4,611 – $6,148 |
| San Jose to Missoula | ~900 mi | 3–7 days | $4,050 – $5,400 | $4,658 – $6,210 |
| Roseville to Billings | ~949 mi | 3–7 days | $4,271 – $5,694 | $4,911 – $6,548 |
| Sacramento to Billings | ~967 mi | 3–7 days | $4,352 – $5,802 | $5,004 – $6,672 |
| Bakersfield to Missoula | ~976 mi | 3–7 days | $4,392 – $5,856 | $5,051 – $6,734 |
| Stockton to Billings | ~991 mi | 3–7 days | $4,460 – $5,946 | $5,128 – $6,838 |
| Modesto to Billings | ~996 mi | 3–7 days | $4,482 – $5,976 | $5,154 – $6,872 |
| Fresno to Billings | ~997 mi | 3–7 days | $4,487 – $5,982 | $5,159 – $6,879 |
| Lancaster to Missoula | ~1,013 mi | 3–7 days | $4,559 – $6,078 | $5,242 – $6,990 |
| Santa Clarita to Missoula | ~1,040 mi | 3–7 days | $4,680 – $6,240 | $5,382 – $7,176 |
| Oakland to Billings | ~1,045 mi | 3–7 days | $4,703 – $6,270 | $5,408 – $7,211 |
| San Bernardino to Missoula | ~1,045 mi | 3–7 days | $4,703 – $6,270 | $5,408 – $7,211 |
| Fremont to Billings | ~1,047 mi | 3–7 days | $4,712 – $6,282 | $5,418 – $7,224 |
| Fontana to Missoula | ~1,049 mi | 3–7 days | $4,721 – $6,294 | $5,429 – $7,238 |
| San Francisco to Billings | ~1,053 mi | 3–7 days | $4,739 – $6,318 | $5,449 – $7,266 |
| San Jose to Billings | ~1,054 mi | 3–7 days | $4,743 – $6,324 | $5,454 – $7,273 |
| Ontario to Missoula | ~1,057 mi | 3–7 days | $4,757 – $6,342 | $5,470 – $7,293 |
| Bakersfield to Billings | ~1,058 mi | 3–7 days | $4,761 – $6,348 | $5,475 – $7,300 |
| Moreno Valley to Missoula | ~1,061 mi | 3–7 days | $4,775 – $6,366 | $5,491 – $7,321 |
| Riverside to Missoula | ~1,062 mi | 3–7 days | $4,779 – $6,372 | $5,496 – $7,328 |
| Los Angeles to Missoula | ~1,064 mi | 3–7 days | $4,788 – $6,384 | $5,506 – $7,342 |
| Oxnard to Missoula | ~1,069 mi | 3–7 days | $4,811 – $6,414 | $5,532 – $7,376 |
| Lancaster to Billings | ~1,072 mi | 3–7 days | $4,824 – $6,432 | $5,548 – $7,397 |
| Anaheim to Missoula | ~1,073 mi | 3–7 days | $4,829 – $6,438 | $5,553 – $7,404 |
| San Bernardino to Billings | ~1,083 mi | 3–7 days | $4,874 – $6,498 | $5,605 – $7,473 |
| Santa Ana to Missoula | ~1,084 mi | 3–7 days | $4,878 – $6,504 | $5,610 – $7,480 |
| Long Beach to Missoula | ~1,086 mi | 3–7 days | $4,887 – $6,516 | $5,620 – $7,493 |
| Irvine to Missoula | ~1,087 mi | 3–7 days | $4,892 – $6,522 | $5,625 – $7,500 |
| Fontana to Billings | ~1,090 mi | 3–7 days | $4,905 – $6,540 | $5,641 – $7,521 |
| Moreno Valley to Billings | ~1,096 mi | 3–7 days | $4,932 – $6,576 | $5,672 – $7,562 |
| Ontario to Billings | ~1,100 mi | 3–7 days | $4,950 – $6,600 | $5,693 – $7,590 |
| Riverside to Billings | ~1,100 mi | 3–7 days | $4,950 – $6,600 | $5,693 – $7,590 |
| Santa Clarita to Billings | ~1,102 mi | 3–7 days | $4,959 – $6,612 | $5,703 – $7,604 |
| Anaheim to Billings | ~1,117 mi | 3–7 days | $5,027 – $6,702 | $5,780 – $7,707 |
| Los Angeles to Billings | ~1,119 mi | 3–7 days | $5,036 – $6,714 | $5,791 – $7,721 |
| Irvine to Billings | ~1,130 mi | 3–7 days | $5,085 – $6,780 | $5,848 – $7,797 |
| Santa Ana to Billings | ~1,130 mi | 3–7 days | $5,085 – $6,780 | $5,848 – $7,797 |
| Long Beach to Billings | ~1,137 mi | 3–7 days | $5,117 – $6,822 | $5,884 – $7,845 |
| Oxnard to Billings | ~1,142 mi | 3–7 days | $5,139 – $6,852 | $5,910 – $7,880 |
| San Diego to Missoula | ~1,157 mi | 3–7 days | $5,207 – $6,942 | $5,987 – $7,983 |
| Chula Vista to Missoula | ~1,162 mi | 3–7 days | $5,229 – $6,972 | $6,013 – $8,018 |
| San Diego to Billings | ~1,182 mi | 3–7 days | $5,319 – $7,092 | $6,117 – $8,156 |
| Chula Vista to Billings | ~1,184 mi | 3–7 days | $5,328 – $7,104 | $6,127 – $8,170 |
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 Montana end, 30 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Montana, moving costs in Montana, or the reverse trip, Montana 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 Montana moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from California to Montana?
Between the two states' main cities, Los Angeles and Billings, the distance is about 1,119 miles. From our model that is $5,036 – $6,714 for a two-bedroom home and $5,791 – $7,721 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $3,626 – $4,834 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $2,417 – $3,223. Across the 50 city pairs we price between California and Montana, distances run from 782 to 1,184 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from California to Montana take?
Los Angeles to Billings is 3 days on the road (about 20 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 Montana?
Yes. A move from California into Montana 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 Montana?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $2,417 – $3,223 for a two-bedroom home over 1,119 miles against $5,036 – $6,714 with full-service movers. A container, about $3,626 – $4,834, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from California to Montana each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 4,872 people (±1,563) moved from California to Montana that year, against about 2,531 (±925) from Montana to California. No other state sends more people to Montana.