Moving from Missourito California
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Saint Louis and Los Angeles it is about 1,850 miles and 4 days on the road (about 34 hours of driving); the 100 city pairs we price between the two states run from 1,518 to 2,030 miles.
Prices from our published model, not quotes. Distances marked ~ are estimated from city coordinates. We do not move anyone.
Saint Louis 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 Missouri and California.
Cost of moving from Missouri to California
At about 1,850 miles, full-service movers should land around $8,325 – $11,100 for a two-bedroom home and $9,574 – $12,765 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $5,994 – $7,992; a freight trailer is $3,996 – $5,328.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $6,244 – $8,325 | $4,496 – $5,994 | $2,997 – $3,996 |
| 1 bedroom | $7,493 – $9,990 | $5,395 – $7,193 | $3,596 – $4,795 |
| 2 bedrooms | $8,325 – $11,100 | $5,994 – $7,992 | $3,996 – $5,328 |
| 3 bedrooms | $9,574 – $12,765 | $6,893 – $9,191 | $4,595 – $6,127 |
| 4 bedrooms | $10,823 – $14,430 | $7,792 – $10,390 | $5,195 – $6,926 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $12,488 – $16,650 | $8,991 – $11,988 | $5,994 – $7,992 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,850 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 Missouri to California
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 52 have a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City to San Bernardino | ~1,518 mi | 7–14 days | $6,831 – $9,108 | $7,856 – $10,474 |
| Kansas City to Moreno Valley | ~1,519 mi | 7–14 days | $6,836 – $9,114 | $7,861 – $10,481 |
| Kansas City to Fontana | ~1,529 mi | 7–14 days | $6,881 – $9,174 | $7,913 – $10,550 |
| Kansas City to Riverside | ~1,530 mi | 7–14 days | $6,885 – $9,180 | $7,918 – $10,557 |
| Kansas City to Ontario | ~1,540 mi | 7–14 days | $6,930 – $9,240 | $7,969 – $10,626 |
| Kansas City to Chula Vista | ~1,550 mi | 7–14 days | $6,975 – $9,300 | $8,021 – $10,695 |
| Kansas City to Anaheim | ~1,555 mi | 7–14 days | $6,998 – $9,330 | $8,047 – $10,729 |
| Kansas City to Lancaster | ~1,556 mi | 7–14 days | $7,002 – $9,336 | $8,052 – $10,736 |
| Kansas City to San Diego | ~1,556 mi | 7–14 days | $7,002 – $9,336 | $8,052 – $10,736 |
| Kansas City to Irvine | ~1,561 mi | 7–14 days | $7,025 – $9,366 | $8,078 – $10,771 |
| Kansas City to Santa Ana | ~1,566 mi | 7–14 days | $7,047 – $9,396 | $8,104 – $10,805 |
| Kansas City to Los Angeles | ~1,579 mi | 7–14 days | $7,106 – $9,474 | $8,171 – $10,895 |
| Kansas City to Santa Clarita | ~1,584 mi | 7–14 days | $7,128 – $9,504 | $8,197 – $10,930 |
| Kansas City to Long Beach | ~1,585 mi | 7–14 days | $7,133 – $9,510 | $8,202 – $10,936 |
| Springfield to Moreno Valley | ~1,585 mi | 7–14 days | $7,133 – $9,510 | $8,202 – $10,936 |
| Springfield to San Bernardino | ~1,586 mi | 7–14 days | $7,137 – $9,516 | $8,208 – $10,943 |
| Kansas City to Bakersfield | ~1,593 mi | 7–14 days | $7,169 – $9,558 | $8,244 – $10,992 |
| Springfield to Fontana | ~1,597 mi | 7–14 days | $7,187 – $9,582 | $8,264 – $11,019 |
| Springfield to Riverside | ~1,597 mi | 7–14 days | $7,187 – $9,582 | $8,264 – $11,019 |
| Springfield to Chula Vista | ~1,605 mi | 7–14 days | $7,223 – $9,630 | $8,306 – $11,074 |
| Kansas City to Fresno | ~1,608 mi | 7–14 days | $7,236 – $9,648 | $8,321 – $11,095 |
| Springfield to Ontario | ~1,608 mi | 7–14 days | $7,236 – $9,648 | $8,321 – $11,095 |
| Springfield to San Diego | ~1,612 mi | 7–14 days | $7,254 – $9,672 | $8,342 – $11,123 |
| Springfield to Anaheim | ~1,622 mi | 7–14 days | $7,299 – $9,732 | $8,394 – $11,192 |
| Springfield to Irvine | ~1,627 mi | 7–14 days | $7,322 – $9,762 | $8,420 – $11,226 |
| Springfield to Lancaster | ~1,631 mi | 7–14 days | $7,340 – $9,786 | $8,440 – $11,254 |
| Springfield to Santa Ana | ~1,633 mi | 7–14 days | $7,349 – $9,798 | $8,451 – $11,268 |
| Kansas City to Oxnard | ~1,635 mi | 7–14 days | $7,358 – $9,810 | $8,461 – $11,281 |
| Springfield to Los Angeles | ~1,649 mi | 7–14 days | $7,421 – $9,894 | $8,534 – $11,378 |
| Springfield to Long Beach | ~1,652 mi | 7–14 days | $7,434 – $9,912 | $8,549 – $11,399 |
| Columbia to Moreno Valley | ~1,656 mi | 7–14 days | $7,452 – $9,936 | $8,570 – $11,426 |
| Columbia to San Bernardino | ~1,656 mi | 7–14 days | $7,452 – $9,936 | $8,570 – $11,426 |
| Springfield to Santa Clarita | ~1,657 mi | 7–14 days | $7,457 – $9,942 | $8,575 – $11,433 |
| Columbia to Fontana | ~1,667 mi | 7–14 days | $7,502 – $10,002 | $8,627 – $11,502 |
| Kansas City to Modesto | ~1,667 mi | 7–14 days | $7,502 – $10,002 | $8,627 – $11,502 |
| Columbia to Riverside | ~1,668 mi | 7–14 days | $7,506 – $10,008 | $8,632 – $11,509 |
| Kansas City to Roseville | ~1,670 mi | 7–14 days | $7,515 – $10,020 | $8,642 – $11,523 |
| Springfield to Bakersfield | ~1,674 mi | 7–14 days | $7,533 – $10,044 | $8,663 – $11,551 |
| Columbia to Ontario | ~1,678 mi | 7–14 days | $7,551 – $10,068 | $8,684 – $11,578 |
| Kansas City to Stockton | ~1,681 mi | 7–14 days | $7,565 – $10,086 | $8,699 – $11,599 |
| Kansas City to Sacramento | ~1,683 mi | 7–14 days | $7,574 – $10,098 | $8,710 – $11,613 |
| Columbia to Chula Vista | ~1,685 mi | 7–14 days | $7,583 – $10,110 | $8,720 – $11,626 |
| Columbia to San Diego | ~1,692 mi | 7–14 days | $7,614 – $10,152 | $8,756 – $11,675 |
| Columbia to Anaheim | ~1,693 mi | 7–14 days | $7,619 – $10,158 | $8,761 – $11,682 |
| Columbia to Lancaster | ~1,695 mi | 7–14 days | $7,628 – $10,170 | $8,772 – $11,695 |
| Columbia to Irvine | ~1,699 mi | 7–14 days | $7,646 – $10,194 | $8,792 – $11,723 |
| Springfield to Fresno | ~1,700 mi | 7–14 days | $7,650 – $10,200 | $8,797 – $11,730 |
| Columbia to Santa Ana | ~1,704 mi | 7–14 days | $7,668 – $10,224 | $8,818 – $11,758 |
| Springfield to Oxnard | ~1,707 mi | 7–14 days | $7,682 – $10,242 | $8,834 – $11,778 |
| Columbia to Los Angeles | ~1,717 mi | 7–14 days | $7,727 – $10,302 | $8,885 – $11,847 |
| Columbia to Long Beach | ~1,722 mi | 7–14 days | $7,749 – $10,332 | $8,911 – $11,882 |
| Columbia to Santa Clarita | ~1,723 mi | 7–14 days | $7,754 – $10,338 | $8,917 – $11,889 |
| Kansas City to Fremont | ~1,728 mi | 7–14 days | $7,776 – $10,368 | $8,942 – $11,923 |
| Kansas City to San Jose | ~1,728 mi | 7–14 days | $7,776 – $10,368 | $8,942 – $11,923 |
| Columbia to Bakersfield | ~1,733 mi | 7–14 days | $7,799 – $10,398 | $8,968 – $11,958 |
| Kansas City to Oakland | ~1,744 mi | 7–14 days | $7,848 – $10,464 | $9,025 – $12,034 |
| Columbia to Fresno | ~1,749 mi | 7–14 days | $7,871 – $10,494 | $9,051 – $12,068 |
| Kansas City to San Francisco | ~1,752 mi | 7–14 days | $7,884 – $10,512 | $9,067 – $12,089 |
| Springfield to Modesto | ~1,767 mi | 7–14 days | $7,952 – $10,602 | $9,144 – $12,192 |
| Columbia to Oxnard | ~1,773 mi | 7–14 days | $7,979 – $10,638 | $9,175 – $12,234 |
| Springfield to Roseville | ~1,777 mi | 7–14 days | $7,997 – $10,662 | $9,196 – $12,261 |
| Springfield to Stockton | ~1,783 mi | 7–14 days | $8,024 – $10,698 | $9,227 – $12,303 |
| Saint Louis to Moreno Valley | ~1,788 mi | 7–14 days | $8,046 – $10,728 | $9,253 – $12,337 |
| Saint Louis to San Bernardino | ~1,788 mi | 7–14 days | $8,046 – $10,728 | $9,253 – $12,337 |
| Springfield to Sacramento | ~1,789 mi | 7–14 days | $8,051 – $10,734 | $9,258 – $12,344 |
| Saint Louis to Fontana | ~1,799 mi | 7–14 days | $8,096 – $10,794 | $9,310 – $12,413 |
| Saint Louis to Riverside | ~1,800 mi | 7–14 days | $8,100 – $10,800 | $9,315 – $12,420 |
| Columbia to Modesto | ~1,808 mi | 7–14 days | $8,136 – $10,848 | $9,356 – $12,475 |
| Saint Louis to Ontario | ~1,810 mi | 7–14 days | $8,145 – $10,860 | $9,367 – $12,489 |
| Columbia to Roseville | ~1,811 mi | 7–14 days | $8,150 – $10,866 | $9,372 – $12,496 |
| Saint Louis to Chula Vista | ~1,815 mi | 7–14 days | $8,168 – $10,890 | $9,393 – $12,524 |
| Saint Louis to San Diego | ~1,821 mi | 7–14 days | $8,195 – $10,926 | $9,424 – $12,565 |
| Columbia to Stockton | ~1,822 mi | 7–14 days | $8,199 – $10,932 | $9,429 – $12,572 |
| Columbia to Sacramento | ~1,824 mi | 7–14 days | $8,208 – $10,944 | $9,439 – $12,586 |
| Saint Louis to Anaheim | ~1,825 mi | 7–14 days | $8,213 – $10,950 | $9,444 – $12,593 |
| Springfield to San Jose | ~1,826 mi | 7–14 days | $8,217 – $10,956 | $9,450 – $12,599 |
| Springfield to Fremont | ~1,828 mi | 7–14 days | $8,226 – $10,968 | $9,460 – $12,613 |
| Saint Louis to Lancaster | ~1,829 mi | 7–14 days | $8,231 – $10,974 | $9,465 – $12,620 |
| Saint Louis to Irvine | ~1,831 mi | 7–14 days | $8,240 – $10,986 | $9,475 – $12,634 |
| Saint Louis to Santa Ana | ~1,836 mi | 7–14 days | $8,262 – $11,016 | $9,501 – $12,668 |
| Springfield to Oakland | ~1,845 mi | 7–14 days | $8,303 – $11,070 | $9,548 – $12,731 |
| Saint Louis to Los Angeles | ~1,850 mi | 7–14 days | $8,325 – $11,100 | $9,574 – $12,765 |
| Saint Louis to Long Beach | ~1,854 mi | 7–14 days | $8,343 – $11,124 | $9,594 – $12,793 |
| Springfield to San Francisco | ~1,854 mi | 7–14 days | $8,343 – $11,124 | $9,594 – $12,793 |
| Saint Louis to Santa Clarita | ~1,856 mi | 7–14 days | $8,352 – $11,136 | $9,605 – $12,806 |
| Saint Louis to Bakersfield | ~1,867 mi | 7–14 days | $8,402 – $11,202 | $9,662 – $12,882 |
| Columbia to Fremont | ~1,869 mi | 7–14 days | $8,411 – $11,214 | $9,672 – $12,896 |
| Columbia to San Jose | ~1,869 mi | 7–14 days | $8,411 – $11,214 | $9,672 – $12,896 |
| Columbia to Oakland | ~1,885 mi | 7–14 days | $8,483 – $11,310 | $9,755 – $13,007 |
| Saint Louis to Fresno | ~1,885 mi | 7–14 days | $8,483 – $11,310 | $9,755 – $13,007 |
| Columbia to San Francisco | ~1,893 mi | 7–14 days | $8,519 – $11,358 | $9,796 – $13,062 |
| Saint Louis to Oxnard | ~1,907 mi | 7–14 days | $8,582 – $11,442 | $9,869 – $13,158 |
| Saint Louis to Modesto | ~1,945 mi | 7–14 days | $8,753 – $11,670 | $10,065 – $13,421 |
| Saint Louis to Roseville | ~1,948 mi | 7–14 days | $8,766 – $11,688 | $10,081 – $13,441 |
| Saint Louis to Stockton | ~1,959 mi | 7–14 days | $8,816 – $11,754 | $10,138 – $13,517 |
| Saint Louis to Sacramento | ~1,961 mi | 7–14 days | $8,825 – $11,766 | $10,148 – $13,531 |
| Saint Louis to Fremont | ~2,006 mi | 7–14 days | $9,027 – $12,036 | $10,381 – $13,841 |
| Saint Louis to San Jose | ~2,006 mi | 7–14 days | $9,027 – $12,036 | $10,381 – $13,841 |
| Saint Louis to Oakland | ~2,021 mi | 7–14 days | $9,095 – $12,126 | $10,459 – $13,945 |
| Saint Louis to San Francisco | ~2,030 mi | 7–14 days | $9,135 – $12,180 | $10,505 – $14,007 |
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 1,850 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 Missouri
245 household-goods carriers in Missouri are active on the FMCSA register. The largest with interstate authority, by registered fleet:
- United Van Lines, Fenton · USDOT 77949 · 4731 trucks
- Day Transfer Company Inc, Cape Girardeau · USDOT 2441154 · 80 trucks
- Carlyle Van Lines Inc, Warrensburg · USDOT 279780 · 62 trucks
- Aero Mayflower Transit Company, Earth City · USDOT 73351 · 42 trucks
- Cord Moving And Storage Company, Earth City · USDOT 181102 · 35 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 | $8,325 – $11,100 | $10,406 – $13,875 |
| 3 bedrooms | $9,574 – $12,765 | $11,968 – $15,956 |
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 Missouri
Missouri to California moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Missouri to California?
Between the two states' main cities, Saint Louis and Los Angeles, the distance is about 1,850 miles. From our model that is $8,325 – $11,100 for a two-bedroom home and $9,574 – $12,765 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $5,994 – $7,992 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $3,996 – $5,328. Across the 100 city pairs we price between Missouri and California, distances run from 1,518 to 2,030 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Missouri to California take?
Saint Louis to Los Angeles is 4 days on the road (about 34 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 Missouri to California?
Yes. Any move that crosses from Missouri 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 Missouri to California?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $3,996 – $5,328 for a two-bedroom home over 1,850 miles against $8,325 – $11,100 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 $11,968 – $15,956 rather than $9,574 – $12,765.