Moving from Montana to California
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Billings and Los Angeles it is about 1,119 miles and 3 days on the road (about 20 hours of driving); the 50 city pairs we price between the two states run from 782 to 1,184 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.
- ~1,119 miBillings → Los Angeles
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $5,036+2-bedroom, movers
- 50City routes priced
In short
About 2,531 people moved from Montana to California in 2024 (Census estimate, ±925), and about 4,872 went the other way. Between Billings and Los Angeles it is about 1,119 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $5,036 – $6,714 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 23 movers based in Montana hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Montana to California
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 2,531 people a year (±925), against about 4,872 (±1,563) from California to Montana, so California loses about 2,341 people a year on this exchange. Montana is the 33rd-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 |
|---|---|---|
| Missoula County | Trinity County | 134 ±130 |
| Gallatin County | Los Angeles County | 98 ±87 |
| Deer Lodge County | Shasta County | 67 ±78* |
| Yellowstone County | Fresno County | 53 ±74* |
| Flathead County | Orange County | 44 ±38 |
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.
Billings 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 Montana and California.
Cost of moving from Montana to California
At about 1,119 miles, full-service movers should land around $5,036 – $6,714 for a two-bedroom home and $5,791 – $7,721 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $3,626 – $4,834; a freight trailer is $2,417 – $3,223.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,777 – $5,036 | $2,719 – $3,626 | $1,813 – $2,417 |
| 1 bedroom | $4,532 – $6,043 | $3,263 – $4,351 | $2,175 – $2,900 |
| 2 bedrooms | $5,036 – $6,714 | $3,626 – $4,834 | $2,417 – $3,223 |
| 3 bedrooms | $5,791 – $7,721 | $4,169 – $5,559 | $2,780 – $3,706 |
| 4 bedrooms | $6,546 – $8,728 | $4,713 – $6,284 | $3,142 – $4,190 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $7,553 – $10,071 | $5,438 – $7,251 | $3,626 – $4,834 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,119 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 Montana to California
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula to Roseville | ~782 mi | 3–7 days | $3,519 – $4,692 | $4,047 – $5,396 |
| Missoula to Sacramento | ~801 mi | 3–7 days | $3,605 – $4,806 | $4,145 – $5,527 |
| Missoula to Stockton | ~837 mi | 3–7 days | $3,767 – $5,022 | $4,331 – $5,775 |
| Missoula to Modesto | ~852 mi | 3–7 days | $3,834 – $5,112 | $4,409 – $5,879 |
| Missoula to Oakland | ~880 mi | 3–7 days | $3,960 – $5,280 | $4,554 – $6,072 |
| Missoula to San Francisco | ~886 mi | 3–7 days | $3,987 – $5,316 | $4,585 – $6,113 |
| Missoula to Fresno | ~887 mi | 3–7 days | $3,992 – $5,322 | $4,590 – $6,120 |
| Missoula to Fremont | ~891 mi | 3–7 days | $4,010 – $5,346 | $4,611 – $6,148 |
| Missoula to San Jose | ~900 mi | 3–7 days | $4,050 – $5,400 | $4,658 – $6,210 |
| Billings to Roseville | ~949 mi | 3–7 days | $4,271 – $5,694 | $4,911 – $6,548 |
| Billings to Sacramento | ~967 mi | 3–7 days | $4,352 – $5,802 | $5,004 – $6,672 |
| Missoula to Bakersfield | ~976 mi | 3–7 days | $4,392 – $5,856 | $5,051 – $6,734 |
| Billings to Stockton | ~991 mi | 3–7 days | $4,460 – $5,946 | $5,128 – $6,838 |
| Billings to Modesto | ~996 mi | 3–7 days | $4,482 – $5,976 | $5,154 – $6,872 |
| Billings to Fresno | ~997 mi | 3–7 days | $4,487 – $5,982 | $5,159 – $6,879 |
| Missoula to Lancaster | ~1,013 mi | 3–7 days | $4,559 – $6,078 | $5,242 – $6,990 |
| Missoula to Santa Clarita | ~1,040 mi | 3–7 days | $4,680 – $6,240 | $5,382 – $7,176 |
| Billings to Oakland | ~1,045 mi | 3–7 days | $4,703 – $6,270 | $5,408 – $7,211 |
| Missoula to San Bernardino | ~1,045 mi | 3–7 days | $4,703 – $6,270 | $5,408 – $7,211 |
| Billings to Fremont | ~1,047 mi | 3–7 days | $4,712 – $6,282 | $5,418 – $7,224 |
| Missoula to Fontana | ~1,049 mi | 3–7 days | $4,721 – $6,294 | $5,429 – $7,238 |
| Billings to San Francisco | ~1,053 mi | 3–7 days | $4,739 – $6,318 | $5,449 – $7,266 |
| Billings to San Jose | ~1,054 mi | 3–7 days | $4,743 – $6,324 | $5,454 – $7,273 |
| Missoula to Ontario | ~1,057 mi | 3–7 days | $4,757 – $6,342 | $5,470 – $7,293 |
| Billings to Bakersfield | ~1,058 mi | 3–7 days | $4,761 – $6,348 | $5,475 – $7,300 |
| Missoula to Moreno Valley | ~1,061 mi | 3–7 days | $4,775 – $6,366 | $5,491 – $7,321 |
| Missoula to Riverside | ~1,062 mi | 3–7 days | $4,779 – $6,372 | $5,496 – $7,328 |
| Missoula to Los Angeles | ~1,064 mi | 3–7 days | $4,788 – $6,384 | $5,506 – $7,342 |
| Missoula to Oxnard | ~1,069 mi | 3–7 days | $4,811 – $6,414 | $5,532 – $7,376 |
| Billings to Lancaster | ~1,072 mi | 3–7 days | $4,824 – $6,432 | $5,548 – $7,397 |
| Missoula to Anaheim | ~1,073 mi | 3–7 days | $4,829 – $6,438 | $5,553 – $7,404 |
| Billings to San Bernardino | ~1,083 mi | 3–7 days | $4,874 – $6,498 | $5,605 – $7,473 |
| Missoula to Santa Ana | ~1,084 mi | 3–7 days | $4,878 – $6,504 | $5,610 – $7,480 |
| Missoula to Long Beach | ~1,086 mi | 3–7 days | $4,887 – $6,516 | $5,620 – $7,493 |
| Missoula to Irvine | ~1,087 mi | 3–7 days | $4,892 – $6,522 | $5,625 – $7,500 |
| Billings to Fontana | ~1,090 mi | 3–7 days | $4,905 – $6,540 | $5,641 – $7,521 |
| Billings to Moreno Valley | ~1,096 mi | 3–7 days | $4,932 – $6,576 | $5,672 – $7,562 |
| Billings to Ontario | ~1,100 mi | 3–7 days | $4,950 – $6,600 | $5,693 – $7,590 |
| Billings to Riverside | ~1,100 mi | 3–7 days | $4,950 – $6,600 | $5,693 – $7,590 |
| Billings to Santa Clarita | ~1,102 mi | 3–7 days | $4,959 – $6,612 | $5,703 – $7,604 |
| Billings to Anaheim | ~1,117 mi | 3–7 days | $5,027 – $6,702 | $5,780 – $7,707 |
| Billings to Los Angeles | ~1,119 mi | 3–7 days | $5,036 – $6,714 | $5,791 – $7,721 |
| Billings to Irvine | ~1,130 mi | 3–7 days | $5,085 – $6,780 | $5,848 – $7,797 |
| Billings to Santa Ana | ~1,130 mi | 3–7 days | $5,085 – $6,780 | $5,848 – $7,797 |
| Billings to Long Beach | ~1,137 mi | 3–7 days | $5,117 – $6,822 | $5,884 – $7,845 |
| Billings to Oxnard | ~1,142 mi | 3–7 days | $5,139 – $6,852 | $5,910 – $7,880 |
| Missoula to San Diego | ~1,157 mi | 3–7 days | $5,207 – $6,942 | $5,987 – $7,983 |
| Missoula to Chula Vista | ~1,162 mi | 3–7 days | $5,229 – $6,972 | $6,013 – $8,018 |
| Billings to San Diego | ~1,182 mi | 3–7 days | $5,319 – $7,092 | $6,117 – $8,156 |
| Billings to Chula Vista | ~1,184 mi | 3–7 days | $5,328 – $7,104 | $6,127 – $8,170 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Montana
6 of the 23 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 108 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 9 of 59 vehicle inspections (15.3%), below the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 11 of 106 driver inspections (10.4%, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hi-Line Moving Services IncGreat Falls, MT · USDOT 877828 | 59 | 5 of 33 | 3 of 59 |
| A Team Moving and StorageMarion, MT · USDOT 2376754 | 36 | 2 of 20 | 5 of 36 |
| All Lanes Moving & Storage IncMissoula, MT · USDOT 917105 | 9 | 1 of 4 | 3 of 9 |
| Merchants Moving & StorageHamilton, MT · USDOT 1124148 | 2 | 1 of 2 | none inspected |
| Two Men and A Truck KalispellColumbia Falls, MT · USDOT 2965219 | 1 | none inspected | 0 of 1 |
| Service Long Distance Moving LLCMissoula, MT · USDOT 4461286 | 1 | none inspected | 0 of 1 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
30 listed household-goods carriers are based in Montana, 23 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Montana 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 Montana. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Montana
Montana to California moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Montana to California?
Between the two states' main cities, Billings and Los Angeles, the distance is about 1,119 miles. From our model that is $5,036 – $6,714 for a two-bedroom home and $5,791 – $7,721 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $3,626 – $4,834 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $2,417 – $3,223. Across the 50 city pairs we price between Montana and California, distances run from 782 to 1,184 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Montana to California take?
Billings to Los Angeles is 3 days on the road (about 20 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 Montana to California?
Yes. A move from Montana into California is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 30 listed movers based in Montana, 23 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Montana.
What is the cheapest way to move from Montana to California?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $2,417 – $3,223 for a two-bedroom home over 1,119 miles against $5,036 – $6,714 with full-service movers. A container, about $3,626 – $4,834, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Montana to California each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 2,531 people (±925) moved from Montana to California that year, against about 4,872 (±1,563) from California to Montana. That makes Montana the 33rd-largest source of new residents for California among the states.