Moving from Maineto California
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Portland and Los Angeles 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.
Portland to Los Angeles, 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 Maine and California.
Cost of moving from Maine to California
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 Maine to California
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 26 have a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland to San Bernardino | ~3,004 mi | 7–14 days | $13,518 – $18,024 | $15,546 – $20,728 |
| Portland to Moreno Valley | ~3,008 mi | 7–14 days | $13,536 – $18,048 | $15,566 – $20,755 |
| Portland to Fontana | ~3,016 mi | 7–14 days | $13,572 – $18,096 | $15,608 – $20,810 |
| Portland to Riverside | ~3,018 mi | 7–14 days | $13,581 – $18,108 | $15,618 – $20,824 |
| Portland to Ontario | ~3,027 mi | 7–14 days | $13,622 – $18,162 | $15,665 – $20,886 |
| Portland to Lancaster | ~3,034 mi | 7–14 days | $13,653 – $18,204 | $15,701 – $20,935 |
| Portland to Anaheim | ~3,043 mi | 7–14 days | $13,694 – $18,258 | $15,748 – $20,997 |
| Portland to Chula Vista | ~3,049 mi | 7–14 days | $13,721 – $18,294 | $15,779 – $21,038 |
| Portland to Irvine | ~3,051 mi | 7–14 days | $13,730 – $18,306 | $15,789 – $21,052 |
| Portland to Fresno | ~3,052 mi | 7–14 days | $13,734 – $18,312 | $15,794 – $21,059 |
| Portland to San Diego | ~3,054 mi | 7–14 days | $13,743 – $18,324 | $15,804 – $21,073 |
| Portland to Santa Ana | ~3,055 mi | 7–14 days | $13,748 – $18,330 | $15,810 – $21,079 |
| Portland to Bakersfield | ~3,059 mi | 7–14 days | $13,766 – $18,354 | $15,830 – $21,107 |
| Portland to Los Angeles | ~3,063 mi | 7–14 days | $13,784 – $18,378 | $15,851 – $21,135 |
| Portland to Santa Clarita | ~3,064 mi | 7–14 days | $13,788 – $18,384 | $15,856 – $21,142 |
| Portland to Roseville | ~3,070 mi | 7–14 days | $13,815 – $18,420 | $15,887 – $21,183 |
| Portland to Long Beach | ~3,071 mi | 7–14 days | $13,820 – $18,426 | $15,892 – $21,190 |
| Portland to Sacramento | ~3,087 mi | 7–14 days | $13,892 – $18,522 | $15,975 – $21,300 |
| Bangor to San Bernardino | ~3,088 mi | 7–14 days | $13,896 – $18,528 | $15,980 – $21,307 |
| Portland to Modesto | ~3,091 mi | 7–14 days | $13,910 – $18,546 | $15,996 – $21,328 |
| Bangor to Moreno Valley | ~3,092 mi | 7–14 days | $13,914 – $18,552 | $16,001 – $21,335 |
| Portland to Stockton | ~3,097 mi | 7–14 days | $13,937 – $18,582 | $16,027 – $21,369 |
| Bangor to Fontana | ~3,099 mi | 7–14 days | $13,946 – $18,594 | $16,037 – $21,383 |
| Bangor to Riverside | ~3,102 mi | 7–14 days | $13,959 – $18,612 | $16,053 – $21,404 |
| Bangor to Ontario | ~3,110 mi | 7–14 days | $13,995 – $18,660 | $16,094 – $21,459 |
| Portland to Oxnard | ~3,114 mi | 7–14 days | $14,013 – $18,684 | $16,115 – $21,487 |
| Bangor to Lancaster | ~3,116 mi | 7–14 days | $14,022 – $18,696 | $16,125 – $21,500 |
| Bangor to Anaheim | ~3,127 mi | 7–14 days | $14,072 – $18,762 | $16,182 – $21,576 |
| Bangor to Fresno | ~3,127 mi | 7–14 days | $14,072 – $18,762 | $16,182 – $21,576 |
| Bangor to Irvine | ~3,135 mi | 7–14 days | $14,108 – $18,810 | $16,224 – $21,631 |
| Bangor to Chula Vista | ~3,136 mi | 7–14 days | $14,112 – $18,816 | $16,229 – $21,638 |
| Bangor to Bakersfield | ~3,138 mi | 7–14 days | $14,121 – $18,828 | $16,239 – $21,652 |
| Bangor to Roseville | ~3,138 mi | 7–14 days | $14,121 – $18,828 | $16,239 – $21,652 |
| Bangor to Santa Ana | ~3,139 mi | 7–14 days | $14,126 – $18,834 | $16,244 – $21,659 |
| Bangor to San Diego | ~3,141 mi | 7–14 days | $14,135 – $18,846 | $16,255 – $21,673 |
| Bangor to Los Angeles | ~3,146 mi | 7–14 days | $14,157 – $18,876 | $16,281 – $21,707 |
| Bangor to Santa Clarita | ~3,146 mi | 7–14 days | $14,157 – $18,876 | $16,281 – $21,707 |
| Portland to Fremont | ~3,150 mi | 7–14 days | $14,175 – $18,900 | $16,301 – $21,735 |
| Portland to San Jose | ~3,152 mi | 7–14 days | $14,184 – $18,912 | $16,312 – $21,749 |
| Bangor to Long Beach | ~3,155 mi | 7–14 days | $14,198 – $18,930 | $16,327 – $21,769 |
| Bangor to Sacramento | ~3,155 mi | 7–14 days | $14,198 – $18,930 | $16,327 – $21,769 |
| Portland to Oakland | ~3,158 mi | 7–14 days | $14,211 – $18,948 | $16,343 – $21,790 |
| Bangor to Modesto | ~3,162 mi | 7–14 days | $14,229 – $18,972 | $16,363 – $21,818 |
| Bangor to Stockton | ~3,166 mi | 7–14 days | $14,247 – $18,996 | $16,384 – $21,845 |
| Portland to San Francisco | ~3,166 mi | 7–14 days | $14,247 – $18,996 | $16,384 – $21,845 |
| Bangor to Oxnard | ~3,195 mi | 7–14 days | $14,378 – $19,170 | $16,534 – $22,045 |
| Bangor to Fremont | ~3,220 mi | 7–14 days | $14,490 – $19,320 | $16,663 – $22,218 |
| Bangor to San Jose | ~3,223 mi | 7–14 days | $14,504 – $19,338 | $16,679 – $22,239 |
| Bangor to Oakland | ~3,227 mi | 7–14 days | $14,522 – $19,362 | $16,700 – $22,266 |
| Bangor to San Francisco | ~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 Maine
40 household-goods carriers in Maine are active on the FMCSA register. The largest with interstate authority, by registered fleet:
- Earle W Noyes & Sons Moving Specialists, Portland · USDOT 51022 · 14 trucks
- Allen'S Transfer & Storage Llc, Augusta · USDOT 4357146 · 9 trucks
- Knowlton Moving And Storage Corp, Warren · USDOT 2371561 · 6 trucks
- Integrity Movers, Scarborough · USDOT 3107396 · 5 trucks
- Gordons Moving, Lewiston · USDOT 4425248 · 4 trucks
At the California end
1,617 household-goods carriers are based in California — useful if you need a local crew after delivery. A local move inside Los Angeles 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 Maine
Maine to California moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Maine to California?
Between the two states' main cities, Portland and Los Angeles, 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 Maine and California, distances run from 3,004 to 3,235 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Maine to California take?
Portland to Los Angeles 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 Maine to California?
Yes. Any move that crosses from Maine into California 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 Maine to California?
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.