($1,633+) Portland, ME to Modesto, CA Movers
Moving from Portland, ME, to Modesto, CA, runs anywhere from $1,633 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $14,895 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 3,179 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 7 to 21 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.
- Full-service moves for smaller spaces (studio apartments and 1-bedrooms) start around $2,927, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $14,895 or more.
- Moving containers run $2,002 - $7,668, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $1,633 - $4,635.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Portland, ME, to Modesto, CA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $4,884 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
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Compare moving options from Portland, ME to Modesto, CA
Moving options from Portland to Modesto fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move costs $4,884 - $9,997 on this route, with movers handling all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 47% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 66% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This 3,179-mile route typically takes 7 to 21 days door to door.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 3,179-mile route from Portland to Modesto, broken down by home size:
Home size makes the biggest difference in what you'll pay on this route. A studio or 1-bedroom runs $2,927 - $7,437 with full-service movers and considerably less with a container ($2,002 - $3,675), rental truck ($1,633 - $3,170), or freight trailer ($1,730 - $3,307). A 2 - 3 bedroom home moves that range up to $4,884 - $9,997 full-service, and a 4+ bedroom household tops out around $14,895.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated November 2, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Portland, ME to Modesto, CA
Full-service movers for the 3,179-mile relocation from Portland, Maine, to Modesto, California, cost between $2,927 and $14,895. With a long-distance moving company, loading, transportation, and unloading are all taken care of. If you want to skip packing boxes, too, that can be added for $341 - $2,272, depending on your home size. What you pay in the end is mainly a function of how much your shipment weighs and how far it's traveling. As a point of reference, local movers in Portland typically charge a base rate around $382 plus $135 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Portland to Modesto:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,927 - $7,437
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $4,884 - $9,997
- 4+ bedrooms: $8,918 - $14,895
Packing, storage, shuttle fees, and added coverage can stack on top of the base price. See the full add-ons and specialty services table below for what each runs from Portland to Modesto.
Pro tip: Peak moving season (May - September) limits truck availability and pushes up full-service moving costs. Booking during slower months can give you more scheduling room and a lower final price.
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Specialty moving services from Portland, ME to Modesto, CA
Specialty needs vary by market: 50% of Portland movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Modesto, 60% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing84% of local movers | $568 - $5,680 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready50% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: Liberty Bell Moving & Storage of Maine | $227 - $1,363/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $341 - $2,726 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage21% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs53% of local movers | $1,136 - $3,408 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,840 - $11,360 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $851 - $1,617 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items32% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Tiny Tim's Moving | $1,136 - $2,840 |
| Piano | Any piano type44% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: Liberty Bell Moving & Storage of Maine | $909 - $3,976 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling21% of local movers | $341 - $1,704 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect21% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: Liberty Bell Moving & Storage of Maine | $738 - $2,272 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $341 - $17,040+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $341 - $3,976+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Portland to Modesto?
Movers licensed to operate in California are typically members of the California Moving & Storage Association, worth checking for before you book any of the three below.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 customer support, and 30 days of free storage are included with every move.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list, with 30+ years in business since 1995. AVL is one of the few national carriers that uses full-time in-house crews instead of contracted labor.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, combining fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan that covers damage, loss, and breakage.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Portland, ME. At that distance, local movers often charge 30% - 40% more because they don't spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments the way national carriers do. If a direct route and faster delivery (averaging 2 days) are priorities, a local mover may be worth considering, but that service comes at a higher price.
Moving container costs from Portland, ME to Modesto, CA
Moving containers from Portland, Maine, to Modesto, California, cost between $2,002 and $7,668. The container gets dropped at your door and you load it at your own pace. U-Haul gives you 3 days to load and PODS gives you up to 30. Once you're done, the company handles all the transportation. If you need extra time, storage in Portland runs about $100/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Portland to Modesto:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,002 - $3,675
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,572 - $5,718
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,626 - $7,668
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Moving labor: Containers are self-loaded, so many people hire hourly help for the heavy lifting. moveBuddha data shows two movers for about five hours runs around $795 in Portland, ME. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: If you want stronger coverage than the default liability, full-value protection is the upgrade to consider. Most providers charge 1% - 2% of your shipment value, roughly $500 - $1,000 for $50,000 in contents.
- Storage: After the first month, rental fees average $85 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $170 per month for a larger 12- to 16-foot unit.
- Access: If you anticipate needing to access items while in storage, confirm there's a facility conveniently located near your Modesto, CA, destination before booking.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Maine to California move in the past 90 days. Our pricing data is drawn from 1,500+ monthly data points across our vetted mover network and refreshed every month.
Pro tip: Before ordering moving containers, take a careful inventory of everything you're moving. A typical 1-bedroom home weighs around 3,000 pounds and fits in a single container starting at $2,002. Underestimating how much you have and needing an extra container means paying for another one, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise. For reference, a 2 - 3 bedroom home typically runs $2,572 - $5,718.
What are the best moving containers Portland to Modesto?
- Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
- U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
- MovingYourself (5.0/5 stars)
Want a hand without paying for full service? A container or truck move does not mean doing all the heavy lifting yourself. You can hire a labor-only crew in Portland to load and unload while you handle the drive, then book full help later if you change your mind. Three top-rated local crews for labor-only help in Portland:
- Tiny Tim's Moving (4.3/5), 33 years in business
- Midwest Moving Company (4.8/5), 0 years in business
- SC Moving Services (5.0/5), 14 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Portland, ME to Modesto, CA
Renting a moving truck for the 3,179-mile move from Portland, Maine, to Modesto, California, costs between $1,633 and $4,635, before these typical add-ons:
- Fuel for the drive: $1,149 - $1,313
- Daily insurance: $34/day
- Equipment rentals: $8 - $23
- Portland daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.89
| Home size | Typical truck size |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | 10 - 12 ft |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | 15 - 17 ft |
| 4+ bedrooms | 20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel) |
These are typical moving truck rental costs from Portland to Modesto based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,633 - $3,170
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,680 - $3,925
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,125 - $4,635
Pro tip: Truck rental pricing for a move from Portland to Modesto starts at $1,633 - $4,635, but that number does not tell the whole story. Fuel ($1,149 - $1,313), overnight lodging ($170/night), meals, and equipment rentals are all separate. Plan for roughly $600 - $1,200 more on top of fuel and lodging to cover meals, equipment, and other extras.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Portland, Maine, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $795.
- Gas: Fuel costs total $1,149 - $1,313 for the 3,179-mile drive, depending on whether your truck takes gas or diesel.
- Equipment: Appliance dollies, auto transport trailers, and furniture pads are separate rentals. Expect to spend between $68 and $369, depending on what you need.
- Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
- Lodging: Budget around $170 per night for hotel stops on the 3,179-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $341 - $511.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Portland to Modesto?
- Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
- Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
- U-Haul Truck Rental (4.2/5 stars)
The best truck rental companies for this route, based on moveBuddha's ratings.
Freight trailer costs from Portland, ME to Modesto, CA
Freight trailers are a good fit for medium-to-large moves where you need more space than a container but don't want to drive a rental truck from Portland, Maine, to Modesto, California. The trailer is delivered to your address, you load it, and the carrier takes it the rest of the way.
Unlike truck rentals with flat rates, freight trailers scale with your shipment. Every additional section of trailer space you fill increases your total. A 2 - 3 bedroom long-distance move using this method runs roughly between $2,182 and $4,574.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Portland to Modesto:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,730 - $3,307
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,182 - $4,574
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,872 - $6,016
Pro tip: Freight trailers come with a 4-foot loading ramp, which can be a challenge with bulky furniture. With 8 feet of vertical space available, stacking efficiently often requires a ladder and a plan. Since you're billed per linear foot, packing tight can make a real difference in your final cost.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- More space: Freight trailers are billed by the section you fill. If you misjudge your shipment size, each extra foot of trailer space adds around $85 - $170 to your final bill.
- Peak season pricing: Expect higher rates during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) when trailer availability tightens across the country.
- Moving labor: Loading is on you unless you hire outside help. A half-day crew of two movers in Portland, Maine, typically costs $795.
What are the best freight companies from Portland to Modesto?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Best known as a top moving container option thanks to its DIY hybrid model (you load, they drive), MovingYourself also doubles as a strong freight choice with their 53-foot trucks and pay-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. In addition to their well-known container service, U-Pack offers freight trailers that follow the same pay-by-the-foot model with no deposits or upfront fees, making them one of the most flexible freight options for budget-conscious moves.
Pro tip: Freight trailers are one of the fastest ways to move your belongings interstate, often beating full-service movers on delivery time. If getting your stuff to Modesto quickly is a priority, freight is worth a hard look. That said, freight carriers typically require you to be available to receive your shipment within a set window, so if you need short-term storage or your new place won't be ready right away, a container or full-service mover may give you more flexibility.
Cost of living: Portland, ME vs Modesto, CA
There's not a big cost-of-living gap between Portland and Modesto to plan around. Cost of living index: 112 vs. 116. Average rent: $1,991/mo vs. $1,800/mo. The bigger factor in your budget is the one-time cost of the move itself, covered above. Walkability: 62 vs. 48. Safety index: 67.84 vs. 34.24.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Modesto, CA to Portland, ME guide.
Why use moveBuddha to find your mover:
We've processed 10 real quotes from Maine to California over the past 3 months, giving us some of the most up-to-date pricing data around. Running your move through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers helps you avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors. There are 46 movers in our Maine network to compare for this 3,179-mile move.
Our take
How you handle your interstate move from Portland, ME, to Modesto, CA, comes down to your budget and how much time and work you're able to put into it. Hands-off relocations handled by full-service movers range from $2,927 - $14,895 on the 3,179-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $2,002 - $7,668 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $1,633 - $4,635 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $4,884 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and 24/7 live support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Save Mart Supermarkets and Sutter Central Valley Hospitals.
FAQs: Moving from Portland, ME, to Modesto, CA
What are some tips for saving money on a move from Portland, ME to Modesto, CA?
Cutting 500 pounds from your shipment, roughly one bedroom's worth of items, saves approximately $200 - $400 on a full-service move on this route. Beyond that, staying organized matters just as much. A solid moving checklist keeps you on schedule and helps you avoid costly last-minute mistakes.
Is Modesto a safe place to live?
Modesto has a safety index of 34.24 out of 100 and a crime index of 65.76, compared to 67.84 and 32.16 in Portland. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
How walkable is Modesto?
Modesto has a walkability score of 48 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 48, compared to 62 and 68 in Portland. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
What are the best neighborhoods in Modesto?
For families, Del Rio, Dutch Hollow, and La Loma are worth a look in Modesto. If you're moving solo or without kids, Downtown Modesto, College Area, and McHenry Village tend to be popular picks instead.
How do I know a mover is licensed in California?
When contacting a local moving company for an estimate in California, make sure each has a “T Number” issued by the California Public Utilities Commission (CAPUC). Moving companies with valid T Numbers have met state requirements for insurance, safety, and financial stability and have passed criminal clearance checks conducted by the California Department of Justice.
What percentage of Portland movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 44% of movers in Portland handle piano moves, and 32% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.