Moving from Minnesota to Montana
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Minneapolis and Billings it is about 863 miles and 2 days on the road (about 16 hours of driving); the 6 city pairs we price between the two states run from 863 to 1,234 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.
- ~863 miMinneapolis → Billings
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $3,884+2-bedroom, movers
- 6City routes priced
In short
About 1,435 people moved from Minnesota to Montana in 2024 (Census estimate, ±817), and about 710 went the other way. Between Minneapolis and Billings it is about 863 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $3,884 – $5,178 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 92 movers based in Minnesota hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Minnesota to Montana
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 1,435 people a year (±817), against about 710 (±358) from Montana to Minnesota, so Montana gains about 725 people a year on this exchange. Minnesota is the 8th-largest of the 45 states sending people to Montana; Montana took in about 35,735 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Douglas County | Gallatin County | 212 ±267* |
| Otter Tail County | Gallatin County | 188 ±265* |
| Hennepin County | Flathead County | 123 ±102 |
| Roseau County | Yellowstone County | 75 ±115* |
| Hennepin County | Missoula County | 75 ±78* |
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.
Minneapolis 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 Minnesota and Montana.
Cost of moving from Minnesota to Montana
At about 863 miles, full-service movers should land around $3,884 – $5,178 for a two-bedroom home and $4,466 – $5,955 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $2,796 – $3,728; a freight trailer is $1,864 – $2,485.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,913 – $3,884 | $2,097 – $2,796 | $1,398 – $1,864 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,495 – $4,660 | $2,517 – $3,355 | $1,678 – $2,237 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,884 – $5,178 | $2,796 – $3,728 | $1,864 – $2,485 |
| 3 bedrooms | $4,466 – $5,955 | $3,216 – $4,287 | $2,144 – $2,858 |
| 4 bedrooms | $5,049 – $6,731 | $3,635 – $4,847 | $2,423 – $3,231 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $5,825 – $7,767 | $4,194 – $5,592 | $2,796 – $3,728 |
Transport only, for an estimated 863 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 Minnesota to Montana
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. Run any pair through the calculator for a measured distance.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis to Billings | ~863 mi | 3–7 days | $3,884 – $5,178 | $4,466 – $5,955 |
| Saint Paul to Billings | ~873 mi | 3–7 days | $3,929 – $5,238 | $4,518 – $6,024 |
| Rochester to Billings | ~924 mi | 3–7 days | $4,158 – $5,544 | $4,782 – $6,376 |
| Minneapolis to Missoula | ~1,168 mi | 3–7 days | $5,256 – $7,008 | $6,044 – $8,059 |
| Saint Paul to Missoula | ~1,178 mi | 3–7 days | $5,301 – $7,068 | $6,096 – $8,128 |
| Rochester to Missoula | ~1,234 mi | 7–14 days | $5,553 – $7,404 | $6,386 – $8,515 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Minnesota
61 of the 92 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 1,807 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 199 of 939 vehicle inspections (21.2%), above the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 44 of 1,807 driver inspections (2.4%, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay and BayEagan, MN · USDOT 125630 | 954 | 80 of 507 | 12 of 954 |
| Manning Transfer IncBlaine, MN · USDOT 116111 | 104 | 12 of 51 | 1 of 104 |
| C T XRush City, MN · USDOT 493429 | 87 | 24 of 43 | 1 of 87 |
| Polman Transfer IncWadena, MN · USDOT 116195 | 81 | 8 of 31 | 0 of 81 |
| Berger Transfer & Storage IncSaint Paul, MN · USDOT 125665 | 63 | 5 of 36 | 5 of 63 |
| Cool Fuel TransportationClearwater, MN · USDOT 242597 | 60 | 4 of 25 | 0 of 60 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
273 listed household-goods carriers are based in Minnesota, 92 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Minnesota 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 Minnesota. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Minnesota
Minnesota to Montana moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Minnesota to Montana?
Between the two states' main cities, Minneapolis and Billings, the distance is about 863 miles. From our model that is $3,884 – $5,178 for a two-bedroom home and $4,466 – $5,955 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $2,796 – $3,728 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $1,864 – $2,485. Across the 6 city pairs we price between Minnesota and Montana, distances run from 863 to 1,234 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Minnesota to Montana take?
Minneapolis to Billings is 2 days on the road (about 16 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 Minnesota to Montana?
Yes. A move from Minnesota into Montana is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 273 listed movers based in Minnesota, 92 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Minnesota.
What is the cheapest way to move from Minnesota to Montana?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $1,864 – $2,485 for a two-bedroom home over 863 miles against $3,884 – $5,178 with full-service movers. A container, about $2,796 – $3,728, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Minnesota to Montana each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 1,435 people (±817) moved from Minnesota to Montana that year, against about 710 (±358) from Montana to Minnesota. That makes Minnesota the 8th-largest source of new residents for Montana among the states.