The Best Long-Distance Movers in Lake Forest, CA
Fact Checked by: 
Let's get moving.
-
Terry Moving and Storage Inc.
-
Safeway Moving
-
Best California Movers
-
MiniMoves
-
PODS
-
Best California Movers
-
U-Haul Truck Rental
Preferred partners
Our track record
Each year, 400,000+ people trust our moving recommendations. Here are a few reasons why:
- Founded in 2015
- 3,500+ moving companies analyzed
- $50,000 in moving grants delivered
- Up-to-date pricing info & industry data
- Fact-checked for accuracy
Best long-distance movers in Lake Forest for those moving out of state
If you're moving out of Lake Forest and heading beyond California's borders, here are our top picks for interstate moving companies:
- Safeway Moving: 4.85 out of 5 stars
- American Van Lines: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- North American Van Lines: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- Allied Van Lines: 4.75 out of 5 stars
- Mayzlin Relocation: 4.9 out of 5 stars
rating
- GPS tracking en route
- Veteran-owned
- Dedicated move coordinator
- Flat-rate pricing
- Donates a portion of moves to charity
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
- Custom crates for electronics & art
- Satellite shipment tracking
- 1,500 local agents covering all 50 states
- Self-packing option
- No deposit required
- Fragile packing
- Storage options
- 24/7 shipment tracking
- Quick & efficient
- Accurate quotes
- Family-owned, with locations covering the East Coast
- Full refund if you cancel within 7 days of your move
- Hands-on customer service
- 24/7 support
- Price-matching policy
Best long-distance movers in Lake Forest for those staying in state
Are you moving from Lake Forest but staying in California? Depending on how far you’re relocating, some in-state moves are still considered long-distance.
If your move within California is a couple hundred miles or more, you should hire one of the best long-distance moving companies.
Consider these top Lake Forest, CA, movers:
Best California Movers: 4.52 out of 5 stars
- Terry Moving and Storage Inc.: 4.58 out of 5 stars
- NorthStar Moving Company : 4.56 out of 5 stars
- Meathead Movers: 4.62 out of 5 stars
- SafeWay Moving & Storage: 4.44 out of 5 stars
- Laaks Moving Services: 4.48 out of 5 stars
Company Info
State license #: T0192283
Pricing: $109/hr
Years in Business: 6
DOT #: 3489907
Alternate Names: Best California Movers & Storage, An Moving Forward
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Crating
- Storage
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
Company Info
State license #: 189603
Years in Business: 28
DOT #: 649215
Alternate Names: Terry Moving and Storage Inc, Richards Moving Company, Orange County Storage Movers
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Pool Tables
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Pay by credit card
Company Info
State license #: 0182466
Years in Business: 30
DOT #: 1836576
Alternate Names: NorthStar Moving Corporation
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
Company Info
State license #: 189849
Years in Business: 27
DOT #: 921143
Alternate Names: Meat Head Movers Inc, Meathead Movers Inc
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Storage
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
Company Info
State license #: 0190459
Years in Business: 17
DOT #: 70719
Alternate Names: Safeway Moving LLC
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Storage
- Safes
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
Company Info
State license #: 0191604
Years in Business: 11
DOT #: 2995987
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Shipment tracking
- Storage
- Safes
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
Moving services available in Lake Forest
Specialty moving services like piano transport, antiques handling, and climate-controlled storage aren’t always offered everywhere. The table below shows how many movers in Lake Forest provide these add-ons compared to state and national providers. This helps you quickly spot whether local, statewide, or national companies are your best bet for the services you need.
Storage
Comparing Lake Forest, CA, & national movers
Lake Forest
California
Nationwide
Top Lake Forest storage movers
Custom-built crates
Comparing Lake Forest, CA, & national movers
Lake Forest
California
Nationwide
Top Lake Forest custom crating movers
Antiques handling
Comparing Lake Forest, CA, & national movers
Lake Forest
California
Nationwide
Top Lake Forest antique movers
Piano loading & unloading
Comparing Lake Forest, CA, & national movers
Lake Forest
California
Nationwide
Top Lake Forest piano movers
Fragile-only packing
Comparing Lake Forest, CA, & national movers
Lake Forest
California
Nationwide
Top Lake Forest fragile-only packing movers
Specialty art handling
Comparing Lake Forest, CA, & national movers
Lake Forest
California
Nationwide
Top Lake Forest art movers
Best long-distance movers in Lake Forest, CA, for small moves
Most professional moving companies won’t take on moves below a certain weight limit. That means small relocations often don’t qualify for their services.
The good news? Some movers specialize in small moves. So if you're heading out of Lake Forest with only a few items or a studio’s worth of furniture, check out these recommendations:
|
|
|
Moving containers for long-distance moves in Lake Forest, CA
If you're moving from Lake Forest and want more control over your schedule, moving containers are a smart choice. You take care of the packing and loading on your own time, and the container company manages storage and delivery to your next home.
Below are our recommended container movers for long-distance relocations from Lake Forest:
|
|
|
Rental trucks in Lake Forest, CA for a total DIY long-distance move
If saving money is your top priority, renting a truck for your move from Lake Forest might be the way to go. Just remember — it’s a full DIY job. You’ll be packing, lifting, driving, and unloading everything yourself. And while it may look budget-friendly upfront, costs like gas, mileage, and tolls can sneak up on you. Do the math before locking it in.
Take a look at our top rental truck picks for long-distance moves:
|
|
|
Labor-only moving companies in Lake Forest, CA
Labor-only movers are perfect when you need extra hands but not a full-service moving truck. They’ll handle the packing, heavy lifting, and even furniture assembly, while you’re in charge of the truck and materials.
Check out these top-rated labor-only moving companies for long-distance moves from Lake Forest, CA:
|
|
|
|
Comparing the best long-distance movers in Lake Forest, CA
| Company | Our Rating | Quote |
|---|---|---|
| Safeway Moving |
|
Get A Quote |
| American Van Lines |
|
Get A Quote |
| North American Van Lines |
|
Get A Quote |
| Allied Van Lines |
|
Get A Quote |
| Mayzlin Relocation |
|
Get A Quote |
How we chose the best long-distance movers in Lake Forest, CA
Over the past 10 years, we’ve developed a rigorous review process to identify the absolute best moving companies. We look at:
- Customer satisfaction (40%): Companies that consistently deliver services in a timely manner — with good communication and within the estimated cost — score the highest within this category.
- Dispute resolution (20%): Mistakes cannot be avoided in the moving industry, so we look for companies that take a customer-focused approach to handling their mistakes and make genuine efforts to fix any issues that arise during a move.
- Industry reputation (15%): We look at whether a company is well-regarded within the moving industry and participates in industry conferences and organizations.
- Online reputation (15%): It’s important to us that a company maintains a professional website with accurate information and promptly and professionally responds to online customer inquiries.
- Service options (10%): We look for companies with a wide breadth of services, including packing, storage, specialty item handling, and expedited delivery.
Read more about our moving company rating methodology.
Average cost of a long-distance move out of Lake Forest, CA
Expect to pay around $122 per hour for professional movers in California. Of course, that’s just a starting point—factors like how far you’re going and how much you’re moving help the best long-distance movers generate an accurate quote.
Here’s a breakdown of average long-distance moving costs from Lake Forest, CA to top U.S. cities:
| Destination | Distance | Home size | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR | 1,665 miles | 3 bedroom | $4,058 - $6,648 |
| Des Moines, IA | 1,683 miles | 2 bedroom | $3,271 - $6,049 |
| Milwaukee, WI | 2,056 miles | 1 bedroom | $2,674 - $5,431 |
To get an accurate estimate of the cost for your long-distance move out of Lake Forest, use our moving cost calculator. And, be sure to check out our detailed post about moving costs in California.
FAQs
What else should you know about moving out of state?
Movers helping you relocate from California must carry proper licensing and a USDOT number. All Lake Forest movers on our list meet these standards, but you can confirm this info yourself via the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s database.
Don’t forget to check out the FMCSA’s Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move booklet before your interstate move.
Is it better to use local or national movers to relocate from Lake Forest?
There are 10 movers in Lake Forest, which puts you in a good spot: enough options to weigh service and pricing, but not so many that the search becomes overwhelming. Across California, you’ll find 317 movers. To simplify the process, we’ve spotlighted the best local moving companies.
For cross-state or cross-country moves, Safeway Moving consistently stands out as the most reliable partner.
Are there moving discounts available in Lake Forest?
Yes — a number of movers in Lake Forest extend special savings to certain groups: 1 companies reduce rates for teachers and other educators. 1 movers give discounted pricing to military families. 2 providers offer lower costs for seniors.
Since these promotions change, make sure to confirm current deals with the mover before locking in your booking.
When is the cheapest time of year to move away from Lake Forest?
Moving companies in Lake Forest are usually slower in November and December due to the holidays and kids being in school, so you can negotiate with a mover more during those months and save some money.
What are the cheapest ways to move out of Lake Forest?
DIY moving will always be cheaper, especially when moving within 50 miles of Lake Forest. The cheapest options for moving out of Lake Forest are usually renting a moving truck like U-Haul or a moving container like PODS. We’ve also got a helpful guide if you’re looking for the cheapest ways to move out of state.
Long-distance movers in nearby cities
Helpful Lake Forest Resources
Lake Forest Moving Services
Nearby Cities
Not what you were looking for?
Check out other categories that can help you find the information you need!
