Moving from Minneapolis, MN to San Diego, CA
About 1,785 miles across a state line, from Minnesota into California, so the federal interstate rules apply from the first quote.
Distance estimated from city coordinates; the calculator measures your exact route. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Minneapolis, MN to San Diego, CA covers about 1,785 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $8,033 – $10,710 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 340 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 1,785 miles from Minnesota to California. Almost all of these move as consolidated freight: your goods share a trailer and the carrier quotes 7 to 14 days rather than a date. It is why a two-bedroom home here runs $8,033 – $10,710 instead of scaling straight with distance, and also why there is more handling and a looser schedule.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 4 days on the road (about 32 hours of driving)
- Usually moves on
- a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households
- Book ahead
- 6 to 8 weeks
Cost of moving from Minneapolis to San Diego
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $6,024 – $8,033 | $4,338 – $5,783 | $2,892 – $3,856 |
| 1 bedroom | $7,229 – $9,639 | $5,205 – $6,940 | $3,470 – $4,627 |
| 2 bedrooms | $8,033 – $10,710 | $5,783 – $7,711 | $3,856 – $5,141 |
| 3 bedrooms | $9,237 – $12,317 | $6,651 – $8,868 | $4,434 – $5,912 |
| 4 bedrooms | $10,442 – $13,923 | $7,518 – $10,025 | $5,012 – $6,683 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $12,049 – $16,065 | $8,675 – $11,567 | $5,783 – $7,711 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,785 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.
Worked example: a two-bedroom home, Minneapolis to San Diego
1,785 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $8,925. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $8,033 to $10,710, transport only. Every parameter is on the methodology page; moving cost per mile explains why the rate falls with distance.
How many people move from Minneapolis to San Diego
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 340 people a year (±121) moved from Hennepin County, MN, home to Minneapolis, to San Diego County, CA, home to San Diego. Going the other way: about 275 people a year (±125). Movers from Hennepin County make up 0.3% of the 132,807 people a year who moved into San Diego County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 3,533 people a year (±1,394) moving from Minnesota to California and about 6,928 people a year (±2,325) from California to Minnesota — a net gain for Minnesota of about 3,395 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Ramsey County, MN | 12,138 ±1,365 |
| Anoka County, MN | 8,764 ±1,203 |
| Dakota County, MN | 6,506 ±899 |
| Carver County, MN | 2,839 ±475 |
| Washington County, MN | 2,544 ±572 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles County, CA | 10,436 ±1,312 |
| Orange County, CA | 8,261 ±1,298 |
| Riverside County, CA | 8,201 ±1,135 |
| San Bernardino County, CA | 5,342 ±857 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | 3,074 ±756 |
Licensed movers at each end
56 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Minneapolis (187 counting those licensed only inside Minnesota). 34 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 17.5% of their 715 vehicle inspections ended with a truck put out of service. The largest by registered fleet:
| Carrier | Based in | Size | Inspections, 24 mo | Vehicle out of service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay and BayUSDOT 125630 | Eagan · 10 mi | 360 trucks | 954 | 15.8% of 507 |
| Berger Transfer & Storage IncUSDOT 125665 | Saint Paul · 6 mi | 221 trucks | 63 | 13.9% of 36 |
| Manning Transfer IncUSDOT 116111 | Blaine · 14 mi | 60 trucks | 104 | 23.5% of 51 |
| AAA Movers IncUSDOT 1140502 | Brooklyn Park · 11 mi | 44 trucks | 7 | 0.0% of 4 |
| Matt's Moving LLCUSDOT 1704106 | Saint Paul · 10 mi | 32 trucks | 15 | 25.0% of 4 |
| Twin Cities Moving Systems IncUSDOT 1273556 | Prior Lake · 22 mi | 30 trucks | 47 | 25.0% of 24 |
How these figures are calculated
At the San Diego end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of San Diego: Mills Van Lines (San Diego, 108 trucks), Corovan Moving & Storage Co (Poway, 88 trucks), Republic Moving & Storage (Chula Vista, 21 trucks), Ackley Moving Services (Poway, 21 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Minnesota into California, 49 CFR Part 375 applies: a written estimate before loading, no more than 110% of a non-binding estimate collected at delivery, and full-value protection unless you choose released value in writing. See binding vs non-binding estimates and valuation explained.
Before you book Minneapolis to San Diego
Insist on a survey
Over 1,785 miles the price is driven almost entirely by weight. A quote given without a video or in-home survey is a guess that gets revised upward on loading day, and at this distance the revision is expensive.
Keep full-value protection
It is the default on an interstate move. Signing it away for released value means 60 cents per pound, about $18 for a 30 lb television, after 1,785 miles of handling.
Arriving in San Diego
A local move inside San Diego later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $515 – $859 for a two-bedroom home and $867 – $1,587 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from San Diego are Chula Vista (about 12 mi), Irvine (about 88 mi), Santa Ana (about 95 mi).
Other routes from Minneapolis
All routes from Minneapolis, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis to Saint Paul, MN | ~10 mi | $535 – $873 |
| Minneapolis to Rochester, MN | ~90 mi | $535 – $873 |
| Minneapolis to Sioux Falls, SD | ~231 mi | $1,040 – $1,386 |
| Minneapolis to Fargo, ND | ~250 mi | $1,125 – $1,500 |
| Minneapolis to Madison, WI | ~272 mi | $1,224 – $1,632 |
| Minneapolis to Des Moines, IA | ~274 mi | $1,233 – $1,644 |
| Minneapolis to Omaha, NE | ~338 mi | $1,521 – $2,028 |
| Minneapolis to Milwaukee, WI | ~347 mi | $1,562 – $2,082 |
Also moving to San Diego: from Moreno Valley, CA, from Anaheim, CA, from Fontana, CA, from Los Angeles, CA.
Minneapolis to San Diego moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Minneapolis to San Diego?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 1,785 miles cost about $6,024 – $8,033 for a studio, $8,033 – $10,710 for a two-bedroom home and $9,237 – $12,317 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Minneapolis to San Diego take?
The drive is 4 days on the road (about 32 hours of driving), but the move usually takes 7 to 14 days because it moves on a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 6 to 8 weeks, 8 to 12 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from Minneapolis to San Diego?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $3,856 – $5,141 for a two-bedroom home, against $8,033 – $10,710 with full-service movers; a moving container is $5,783 – $7,711.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Minneapolis to San Diego?
Yes. Minneapolis is in Minnesota and San Diego is in California, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 56 listed movers within 30 miles of Minneapolis hold it.
How many people move from Minneapolis to San Diego each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 340 people a year (margin of error ±121) moved from Hennepin County, which contains Minneapolis, to San Diego County, which contains San Diego.
Sources for this page
The published cost model; US Census Bureau ACS migration flows (± is the 90% margin of error); the FMCSA Motor Carrier Census and Safety Measurement System; 49 CFR Part 375. Data last refreshed September 24, 2026.