($1,150+) Minneapolis, MN to Bakersfield, CA Movers
Moving from Minneapolis, MN, to Bakersfield, CA, runs anywhere from $1,186 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $11,753 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,943 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 5 to 16 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 $2,623, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $11,753 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,653 - $5,858, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $1,186 - $3,263.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Minneapolis, MN, to Bakersfield, CA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,811 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 Minneapolis, MN to Bakersfield, CA
Moving options from Minneapolis to Bakersfield fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move costs $3,811 - $7,781 on this route, with movers handling all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 30% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 60% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This 1,943-mile route typically takes 5 to 16 days door to door.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 1,943-mile route from Minneapolis to Bakersfield, broken down by home size:
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $2,623 - $6,030 | $1,653 - $3,259 | $1,186 - $2,171 | $1,547 - $2,850 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $3,811 - $7,781 | $2,033 - $4,479 | $1,244 - $2,557 | $1,626 - $3,584 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $6,414 - $11,753 | $2,841 - $5,858 | $1,554 - $3,263 | $2,225 - $4,453 |
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated September 16, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Minneapolis, MN to Bakersfield, CA
Hiring full-service movers from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Bakersfield, California, costs between $2,623 and $11,753. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 1,943-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $313 - $2,084, depending on the size of your home. Your final cost comes down to two things: the total weight of your shipment and the distance between Minneapolis and Bakersfield. For a rough baseline, movers based in Minneapolis tend to start around $240 plus $109/hour per mover on local jobs, before long-distance pricing takes over for a move this size.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Minneapolis to Bakersfield:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,623 - $6,030
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,811 - $7,781
- 4+ bedrooms: $6,414 - $11,753
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 Minneapolis to Bakersfield.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Minnesota to California. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
Pro tip: Avoiding peak moving season dates (May - September) is one of the easiest ways to reduce costs. Off-season moves typically come with lower pricing and more room to negotiate since movers have fewer bookings.
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Specialty moving services from Minneapolis, MN to Bakersfield, CA
Specialty needs vary by market — 91% of Minneapolis movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Bakersfield, 80% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing100% of local movers | $521 - $5,210 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready91% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: Matt's Moving Company | $208 - $1,250/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $313 - $2,501 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage29% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs59% of local movers | $1,042 - $3,126 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,605 - $10,420 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $780 - $1,483 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items41% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: College Muscle Movers, LLC | $1,042 - $2,605 |
| Piano | Any piano type76% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: Matt's Moving Company | $834 - $3,647 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling21% of local movers | $313 - $1,563 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect12% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: College Muscle Movers, LLC | $677 - $2,084 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $313 - $15,630+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $313 - $3,647+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Minneapolis to Bakersfield?
All three below meet the standards set by the California Moving & Storage Association, the group most California movers are affiliated with.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list, with flat-rate pricing that holds firm on moving day and a customer support team available around the clock.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here. With 30+ years of interstate moves behind them, AVL uses full-time in-house crews instead of the contracted labor most national carriers rely on.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan available on every long-distance move.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national movers are consistently lower-priced than local companies in Minneapolis, MN. Van lines spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments, while local movers tend to charge 30% - 40% more for the same distance. A direct route with a local mover averages 2-day delivery, but that added speed typically carries a higher price tag.
Moving container costs from Minneapolis, MN to Bakersfield, CA
Moving containers from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Bakersfield, California, cost between $1,653 and $5,858. A container is delivered to your home and you load it on your own time. Loading windows vary by company: U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30. From there, the company takes over and transports it to Bakersfield. If you go over that window, storage in Minneapolis adds around $70/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Minneapolis to Bakersfield:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,653 - $3,259
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,033 - $4,479
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,841 - $5,858
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $78 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $156 per month.
- Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Bakersfield, CA, if you need to retrieve anything while items are still in storage.
- Moving labor: Since you're responsible for loading the container yourself, many customers bring in hourly help. Based on moveBuddha data, hiring 2 movers for approximately 5 hours costs about $729 in Minneapolis, MN. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: Full-value protection goes beyond the standard minimum and covers repair, replacement, or reimbursement at declared value. Pricing is typically 1% - 2% of your total shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 move.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Minnesota 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 $1,653. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $2,033 - $4,479, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Minneapolis to Bakersfield?
- 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 Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis:
- AAA Movers (4.4/5), 38 years in business
- College Muscle Movers, LLC (4.5/5), 19 years in business
- Daymakers Moving & Storage (4.9/5), 8 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Minneapolis, MN to Bakersfield, CA
Truck rentals from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Bakersfield, California, range from $1,186 - $3,263 for the 1,943-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:
- Fuel for the drive: $644 - $736
- Daily insurance: $31/day
- Equipment rentals: $7 - $21
- Minneapolis daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.59 - $0.79
| 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 Minneapolis to Bakersfield based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,186 - $2,171
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,244 - $2,557
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,554 - $3,263
Pro tip: Budget beyond the advertised rate of $1,186 - $3,263 when pricing out a rental truck from Minneapolis to Bakersfield. Fuel alone runs ($644 - $736) , and overnight lodging ($156/night), meals, and equipment rentals add up quickly. Most people spend an additional $600 - $1,200 beyond the base rate by the time the move is done.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $729.
- Gas: Fuel costs total $644 - $736 for the 1,943-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 $63 and $339, depending on what you need.
- Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
- Lodging: Budget around $156 per night for hotel stops on the 1,943-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $313 - $469.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Minneapolis to Bakersfield?
- 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 Minneapolis, MN to Bakersfield, CA
Freight trailers are well suited for larger moves from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Bakersfield, California, when you want to do the loading yourself without having to drive a massive vehicle. The trailer is delivered, you pack it up, and the carrier handles the long haul.
What sets freight trailers apart is the pay-for-what-you-use pricing model. Each additional foot of trailer space you occupy adds to the cost. Overall pricing for a move of this size and distance typically lands around $1,626 and $3,584.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Minneapolis to Bakersfield:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,547 - $2,850
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,626 - $3,584
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,225 - $4,453
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 $78 - $156 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 Minneapolis, Minnesota, typically costs $729.
What are the best freight companies from Minneapolis to Bakersfield?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Primarily known as a top moving container option for its DIY hybrid model where customers load and the company drives, MovingYourself also functions as a strong freight option thanks to its 53-foot trucks and pay-only-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. Best known for its container service, U-Pack also runs a top-notch freight trailer operation with the same no-deposit, pay-by-the-foot approach that keeps overall costs lower than most freight competitors.
- T.A. Dedicated, Inc. (4.8/5 stars): T.A. Dedicated, Inc. is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned facilities and accessible live support staff make scheduling and route coordination easier on local-area routes than what most national freight providers can offer.
Pro tip: Freight trailers move fast, making them one of the quickest ways to get your belongings from Minneapolis to Bakersfield. If you have a hard move-in date and want your stuff there as soon as possible, freight is hard to beat. It's worth noting that freight works best when you're ready to receive your delivery, so if your move-in date is still up in the air or you'll need short-term storage, a moving container is likely the more practical choice.
Cost of living: Minneapolis, MN vs Bakersfield, CA
Day-to-day costs in Bakersfield are close to what you're used to in Minneapolis: cost of living index of 100 versus 107, with average rent of $1,695/mo compared to $1,484/mo. Housing, income, and taxes are all in a similar range, so budgeting for this move mostly comes down to the moving costs above rather than a shift in your monthly expenses. Walkability and safety scores are close too, at 71/100 and 43.94/100 in Minneapolis versus 37/100 and 41.51/100 in Bakersfield.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Bakersfield, CA to Minneapolis, MN guide.
Why book your mover through moveBuddha:
moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Minnesota to California in the past 3 months alone, keeping our pricing data current. Run your numbers through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors. For context, we track 49 movers based in Minnesota, handy for sizing up options on this 1,943-mile route.
Our take
For a move from Minneapolis, MN, to Bakersfield, CA, full-service movers are the most hands-off option, with costs ranging from $2,623 for a studio to $11,753 for a 4 - 5 bedroom home on the 1,943-mile route. If you want to cut costs without doing everything yourself, moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,653 - $5,858. A rental truck from Budget or U-Haul is the lowest-cost option at $1,186 - $3,263, though you'll be handling the driving and loading yourself. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with quotes starting around $3,811 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage included, and 24/7 live customer support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Bakersfield City School District and Clinica Sierra Vista.
FAQs: Moving from Minneapolis, MN, to Bakersfield, CA
What size moving truck do I need for this route?
Rental trucks generally range from 10 to 26 feet. A 15- to 17-foot truck covers most 2-bedroom moves, while a smaller 10- to 12-foot truck works for a studio or 1-bedroom. Homes with 3 or more bedrooms usually need a 20- to 26-foot truck, and anything that size typically runs on diesel rather than gas.
How much does it cost to move from Minneapolis, MN to Bakersfield, CA?
Costs on this route range from around $2,623 to $11,753, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $2,623 and $11,753, while DIY options like rental trucks and containers come in lower. Moving during peak season (May - September) tends to push prices higher across the board.
What is the cheapest way to move from Minneapolis, MN to Bakersfield, CA?
Renting a moving truck is almost always the most affordable option, since you handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself. A 2-bedroom rental truck move on this route averages $1,244 - $2,557. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
What extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($644 - $736), daily insurance ($31/day), and equipment rentals ($7 - $21) on top. Overnight stops can add another $156/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
How long does a move from Minneapolis, MN to Bakersfield, CA take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 5 - 7 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are usually the fastest option outside of driving yourself, with deliveries in 3 - 5 days, though you'll need to be ready to receive your shipment on arrival. Driving a rental truck yourself puts the schedule entirely in your hands.
What percentage of Minneapolis movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 76% of movers in Minneapolis handle piano moves, and 41% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
