Moving from North Dakota to Montana
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Fargo and Billings it is about 656 miles and 2 days on the road (about 12 hours of driving); the 4 city pairs we price between the two states run from 437 to 946 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.
- ~656 miFargo → Billings
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $2,952+2-bedroom, movers
- 4City routes priced
In short
About 591 people moved from North Dakota to Montana in 2024 (Census estimate, ±462), and about 1,556 went the other way. Between Fargo and Billings it is about 656 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $2,952 – $3,936 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 22 movers based in North Dakota hold interstate authority.
Who moves from North Dakota to Montana
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 591 people a year (±462), against about 1,556 (±1,131) from Montana to North Dakota, so Montana loses about 965 people a year on this exchange. North Dakota is the 20th-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 |
|---|---|---|
| Williams County | Cascade County | 339 ±491* |
| Morton County | Missoula County | 117 ±172* |
| Williams County | Flathead County | 102 ±68 |
| Ward County | Cascade County | 86 ±126* |
| McLean County | Yellowstone County | 85 ±117* |
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.
Fargo 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 North Dakota and Montana.
Cost of moving from North Dakota to Montana
At about 656 miles, full-service movers should land around $2,952 – $3,936 for a two-bedroom home and $3,395 – $4,526 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $2,125 – $2,834; a freight trailer is $1,417 – $1,889.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,214 – $2,952 | $1,594 – $2,125 | $1,063 – $1,417 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,657 – $3,542 | $1,913 – $2,551 | $1,275 – $1,700 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,952 – $3,936 | $2,125 – $2,834 | $1,417 – $1,889 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,395 – $4,526 | $2,444 – $3,259 | $1,630 – $2,173 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,838 – $5,117 | $2,763 – $3,684 | $1,842 – $2,456 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $4,428 – $5,904 | $3,188 – $4,251 | $2,125 – $2,834 |
Transport only, for an estimated 656 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 North Dakota 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck to Billings | ~437 mi | 3–7 days | $1,967 – $2,622 | $2,261 – $3,015 |
| Fargo to Billings | ~656 mi | 3–7 days | $2,952 – $3,936 | $3,395 – $4,526 |
| Bismarck to Missoula | ~727 mi | 3–7 days | $3,272 – $4,362 | $3,762 – $5,016 |
| Fargo to Missoula | ~946 mi | 3–7 days | $4,257 – $5,676 | $4,896 – $6,527 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in North Dakota
12 of the 22 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 136 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 7 of 53 vehicle inspections (13.2%), below the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 11 of 136 driver inspections (8.1%, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midwest Moving Midwest Moving Company Mmco MMCWest Fargo, ND · USDOT 3263587 | 77 | 3 of 32 | 3 of 77 |
| Reile's Transfer & Delivery IncFargo, ND · USDOT 36127 | 30 | 3 of 11 | 3 of 30 |
| Senske & SonGrand Forks, ND · USDOT 125571 | 5 | none inspected | 0 of 5 |
| 2 Vets Moving CompanyBismarck, ND · USDOT 3003189 | 4 | 0 of 2 | 1 of 4 |
| Williston TransferWilliston, ND · USDOT 351315 | 4 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 4 |
| Quality Movers LLCBismarck, ND · USDOT 4271723 | 4 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 4 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
28 listed household-goods carriers are based in North Dakota, 22 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the North Dakota 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 North Dakota. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from North Dakota
North Dakota to Montana moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from North Dakota to Montana?
Between the two states' main cities, Fargo and Billings, the distance is about 656 miles. From our model that is $2,952 – $3,936 for a two-bedroom home and $3,395 – $4,526 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $2,125 – $2,834 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $1,417 – $1,889. Across the 4 city pairs we price between North Dakota and Montana, distances run from 437 to 946 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from North Dakota to Montana take?
Fargo to Billings is 2 days on the road (about 12 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 North Dakota to Montana?
Yes. A move from North Dakota into Montana is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 28 listed movers based in North Dakota, 22 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within North Dakota.
What is the cheapest way to move from North Dakota to Montana?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $1,417 – $1,889 for a two-bedroom home over 656 miles against $2,952 – $3,936 with full-service movers. A container, about $2,125 – $2,834, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from North Dakota to Montana each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 591 people (±462) moved from North Dakota to Montana that year, against about 1,556 (±1,131) from Montana to North Dakota. That makes North Dakota the 20th-largest source of new residents for Montana among the states.