Moving from Maine to 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 (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.
- ~3,063 miPortland → Los Angeles
- 7–14 daysTypical transit
- $13,784+2-bedroom, movers
- 50City routes priced
In short
About 1,860 people moved from Maine to California in 2024 (Census estimate, ±1,028), and about 1,784 went the other way. Between Portland and Los Angeles it is about 3,063 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $13,784 – $18,378 in our model, delivered in 7–14 days. 16 movers based in Maine hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Maine to California
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 1,860 people a year (±1,028), against about 1,784 (±875) from California to Maine, so California gains about 76 people a year on this exchange. Maine is the 37th-largest of the 50 states sending people to California; California took in about 406,873 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | San Bernardino County | 828 ±298 |
| York County | Santa Barbara County | 145 ±180* |
| Lincoln County | Riverside County | 131 ±173* |
| Cumberland County | San Mateo County | 125 ±190* |
| Cumberland County | Alameda County | 122 ±110 |
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.
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. 2 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.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Maine
10 of the 16 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 25 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 2 of 14 vehicle inspections (14.3%), below the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 2 of 25 driver inspections (8.0%, against 13.0%). With fewer than 30 vehicle inspections, a single out-of-service order moves that rate by several points, so treat it as a small sample. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty Bell Moving & Storage IncSouth Portland, ME · USDOT 1846942 | 7 | 1 of 3 | 2 of 7 |
| Allen's Transfer & Storage LLCAugusta, ME · USDOT 4357146 | 6 | 0 of 4 | 0 of 6 |
| Knowlton Moving and Storage CorpWarren, ME · USDOT 2371561 | 2 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 2 |
| J C Moving LLCPortland, ME · USDOT 3266900 | 2 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 2 |
| Earle W Noyes & Sons Moving SpecialistsPortland, ME · USDOT 51022 | 2 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 2 |
| Gore Moving & Storage IncWindham, ME · USDOT 714881 | 2 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 2 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
39 listed household-goods carriers are based in Maine, 16 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Maine directory ranks them. At the California end, 1,592 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in California, moving costs in California, or the reverse trip, California to Maine. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
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. A move from Maine into California is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 39 listed movers based in Maine, 16 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Maine.
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, about $9,924 – $13,232, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Maine to California each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 1,860 people (±1,028) moved from Maine to California that year, against about 1,784 (±875) from California to Maine. That makes Maine the 37th-largest source of new residents for California among the states.