Don't trust just anyone with your cross-country move. These companies have the experience and know-how to do the job right.
The Best Long-Distance Moving Companies
Updated on Mar. 12, 2024
Long Distance Move Tips
As far as life stressors go, moving — whether across town or across the country — ranks up there with divorce.
Uprooting your life and settling into a new place are hard enough. Then there’s the endless packing, cleaning and decluttering that can push you over the edge before you even get to your destination.
Long-distance moves create special logistical challenges. After all, if you forget something, you can’t just run across town. Long-distance moves generally mean those over 400 miles, although no precise definition exists. If your long-distance move takes you to another state, it’s an interstate move. (Here are tips for moving out of state.)
Full-service moving companies offer packing and unpacking, storage and cleanup, and you’ll pay for the ease. Do-it-yourself options save tons of money if you’re willing to pitch in on the heavy lifting, so to speak. If you’re going the DIY route, here are the best ways to pack for a move.
According to the cost estimator at Moving.com, moving a studio or one-bedroom apartment 1,000 miles costs from $1.44 to $3.02 per mile. For a two-bedroom or three-bedroom home, it’s $3.15 to $6 per mile. These are estimates. The cost of your move depends on your destination, the weight of your items, the time of year and the services you choose.
Here are the best long-distance movers on the road today.
Allied Van Lines
Allied Van Lines is one of the largest and oldest moving companies in the U.S., operating in all 50 states and 130 countries. Allied offers full-service moves, a shuttle service if you live far from a main road, and online tracking so you know exactly where your stuff is.
Allied also offers a storage container moving service, Allied Express. You can fill the container yourself or let Allied movers pack it for you. Allied will store the container in a secure facility until delivery, and unpack it as well. It also guarantees the delivery date.
P.S. Here’s how much you should tip your movers.
American Van Lines
If you own high-value items that are awkward to move, take a look at American Van Lines. Antiques and fine art can be stored in climate-controlled facilities, and specially-trained piano movers know how to disassemble and reassemble complex musical instruments.
American Van Lines offers special deals for moves to and from popular cities, and puts the estimate right on their website. (Example: Moving a one-bedroom apartment from Dallas to Las Vegas costs approximately $3,500.) American offers military discounts and binding estimates, which means you won’t be stuck with an extra bill if costs run over.
Mayflower
Mayflower has been around for nearly 100 years, offering full-service moving personalized for your individual needs. Customizable plans let you choose which services you need, including packing, unpacking and assembly. Its movers put up televisions, too.
If you’re moving to or from a studio apartment, dorm or one-bedroom house, Mayflower offers “Snapmoves,” with mix-and-match services tailored for small spaces. And their moving experts understand small-space urban living, with its parking, street traffic and elevator considerations.
North American Moving Services
Interstate moves are North American’s specialty. Whether you’re moving from Minneapolis to Wisconsin or California to New York, interstate moving companies must be licensed and registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
If you’ve ever been scammed by a shoddy moving company — and many people have — the peace of mind from using a reputable national brand makes North American Moving Services a logical choice for your long-distance move.
United Van Lines
United Van Lines is a top-rated, full-service moving company that offers packing, unpacking, storage and car shipping services. Their website is easy to navigate and provides tons of helpful advice, including extensive moving checklists, videos to help you pack, and tracking and claim services.
United Van Lines is U.S. General Service Administration (GSA) approved, too. So if you’re a member of the military, you know you’ll get a good deal with a company that knows the ins-and-outs of military moves. United and Mayflower are sister companies, so United also offers Snapmoves for smaller jobs.
International Van Lines
As the name suggests, International Van Lines (IVL) operates around the world, with door-to-door service in more than 150 countries. But it’s a leading full-service domestic mover, too. Established in 2000, it’s newer to the industry than other companies on this list. Still, it consistently earns top scores for customer service, according to Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report and Forbes.
A few other things set IVL apart. It’s a minority-owned business that showcases its commitment to inclusive hiring practices. Its cancellation policy stands out, too. If your plans change, you can cancel your move up to 48 hours before pickup for a full refund.
Atlas Van Lines
If you’re an AAA member, check out Atlas Van Lines. It offers full value protection for your belongings with your move at no additional cost. That’s a $600 value. It even provides a link to sign up for AAA before you start your estimate.
Atlas is a business cooperative, with each agent operating independently. This means you’ll work with local partners with a stake in the community. Atlas has an extensive and helpful frequently asked questions page, offering tips from how to move houseplants to whether you can transport firearms.
PODS
If you’re looking for flexibility, PODS lets you pack and move at your own pace. You’ve seen the familiar PODS containers in your neighbors’ driveways, but did you know the company also can store your container in a secure facility?
PODS has completely contactless operations, too, so you don’t have to be present at pickup. That’s helpful for today’s COVID-aware consumer.
PODS offers a handy calculator to help you size your container, perfect for DIY moves. If you want packing or car-moving services, PODS can connect you with local companies that provide those needed extras.
1-800-Pack-Rat
Another popular and top-rated DIY moving and storage option, 1-800-Pack-Rat offers weatherproof, all-steel containers with barn doors for easy filling. Its Best Price Guarantee means it’ll match any competitor price, and it offers discounts for seniors, military members, teachers and first responders.
With contactless delivery, secure storage and locations across the U.S., 1-800-PACK-RAT is a strong entry in the DIY moving and storage market. And if you need help packing? It can do that, too.
Next: Learn about 15 minute cities.
