Moving from California to Arizona: Movers, Costs, and Benefits

It’s expensive, it’s full of bums, it’s crowded, and it’s EXPENSIVE. You’ve heard it all before, and that’s why you’re ready to escape from California. Arizona is right next door, and while the summers can reach like a bajillion degrees, it’s worth it for the lower cost of living, increased personal freedoms, and seriously stunning natural beauty.

But how do you get out there in the first place? Fortunately, there are tons of movers who operate the California to Arizona route, and iMoving can help you find the best of the best. With an easy-to-use online marketplace, we’ve made it easier than ever to shop around, compare prices, and book your California to Arizona movers. No house calls, no phone calls - it’s all online and a few clicks away.

If you’re ready to get started, tell us some more details about your move and we’ll get you packing. Otherwise, read on to learn a little more about what you can expect on moving day.

It’ll cost you anywhere from $1,000 to $3,500 to book your California to Arizona movers. It’s a huge window, but it all comes down to how much you’re hauling, and how far you’re going. A studio from Needles to Phoenix won’t break the bank. A five-bedroom from Redding to Tucson might.

If you’re trying to save money, we recommend downsizing as much as possible before shopping for a quote. Sell, donate, or just plain junk all your unwanted or unused items. If you don’t want it, don’t take it with you - and definitely don’t pay to have it moved!

Even though the states are right next to each other, moving from California to Arizona can take anywhere from 1 to 21 days. For starters, under federal law, drivers can’t clock more than 400 miles of interstate travel per day. But aside from rules and regulations, you should consider how bundling can impact your schedule.

Moving companies don’t send half-empty trucks all over the place. If they’re sending a truck (and using the gas), they may as well get the most out of the route.

For better efficiency, your movers will bundle multiple moves together in the same truck (while keeping everything separate and secure, of course). A smaller amount of stuff may take longer, thanks to all the extra pickups and deliveries along the way.

When you’re shopping for a moving quote, you’re getting a lot more than just loading and hauling. Take a look at everything that goes into your final price, and see how you can trim down the cost of your California to Arizona move:

1. Distance

Distance is arguably the most important factor in your final price. The more miles you have to travel, the more you’ll have to pay. Fortunately, California and Arizona aren’t too far apart. Unfortunately, it’s on a per-mile basis, so if you’re moving from like… Redding to Tucson, you may want to prepare your wallet accordingly.

2. Physical Dimensions

Notice we said the distance was “arguably” the most important factor behind your price. That’s because the physical size of your move also makes a huge difference. Movers usually measure this out by weight or volume, and the more pounds or cubic feet you have to move, the more money you’ll owe. Want to save some cash? Get rid of your unwanted stuff before you shop for a quote.

3. Packing Services

It’s possible to do your own packing, but this is one of those optional services that’s well worth the money. You’ll be able to sit back and relax while your movers deal with the bubble wrap and boxes. Plus, you’ll usually have to pay for professional packing services if you want a mover’s full value insurance coverage.

4. Access Fees

Here’s a fun experiment. Walk from your front door to the street, and take note of all the obstacles you had to deal with. Long hallways? Elevators? Multiple flights of stairs? What about long driveways or gates? All these obstacles will make the job harder for your movers, and your final price will reflect the extra challenge.

5. Shuttle Fees

Similar to access fees, but more expensive. Long-distance movers use big semi-trucks for long hauls. Unfortunately, some cities are restrictive about when and where these trucks can park on their streets.

In some cases, your movers will have to park the semi outside of town, and use a smaller shuttle or van to get your stuff to the staging area. It's not cheap, but sadly, it's unavoidable thanks to city hall.

6. Storage

A storage unit can give you some extra square footage - and also some extra time to get unpacked and resituated. However, these units come with a monthly fee (and most people get busy with a million other things before they can completely clear out their units).

If you downsize or even just disassemble those bulky items, it’ll be easier to fit everything in your home. It may feel cluttered for a while, but it’s cheaper than storage.

7. Insurance

Moving companies offer a bare minimum of $0.60 per pound for lost, damaged, or destroyed. If you want to move on the cheap, you can get basic insurance coverage. But if you want to get paid the actual value of your items in case anything gets broken, you’ll have to pay for full value coverage. (You’ll also probably have to pay for packing, too.)

Tell your friends you’re getting out of California, and they’ll probably understand. But why choose Arizona of all places? Here are a few good reasons you should consider moving to Arizona.

• Price: You knew this was gonna be the first on the list. Arizona is way cheaper than California. Sure, all the new transplants are boosting prices a little, but it’s not as bad as those insultingly high prices you’ve seen in LA, San Francisco, and everywhere else.

• Less crowded: Arizona is also much less crowded than California. “Oh, but California’s a really big state, and the population is so spread out!” Yeah, well, Arizona still has a fraction of the people, and it’s not a tiny state by any means.

• More freedoms: California has been banning so much stuff and enacting so many restrictive policies it’s hard to imagine it’s even part of the United States anymore. Want to actually enjoy your constitutional rights? Arizona’s the place. For now.

• Plenty of heat: For those of you who are tired of all the fog up in NorCal, Arizona’s the right ticket for plenty of sunshine. Yes, it gets ridiculously hot in the summer, but that’s part of the appeal for some folks.

• Not too far from home: Unless you failed geography, you probably already know Arizona is California’s inland neighbor. This is extra convenient if you ever need to go back to California for family or friends.

Arizona’s not just desert, desert, and more desert. There’s a ton of stuff to do once you get out there, so we’ve highlighted just a few of our favorites:

• Explore the great outdoors: Arizona has a great scene for hiking, camping, and other outdoorsy pursuits. You won’t be far from scenic landscapes, and a night sky so dark you can see the milky way.

• The Grand Canyon: This one gets its own bullet point. The Grand Canyon is one of those things you have to see before you die. Plus, you can take tours, check out the visitor center, and even go rafting down the river at the bottom.

• Drive down Route 66: You’re coming from California, so the odds are pretty good you already have a car. When you’re in Arizona, you can cruise down Route 66. The whole drive is dotted with great views and neat little shops and towns.

• Visit Tombstone: If you want to get in touch with the Wild West, Tombstone has it in spades. You can check out the site of the historic gunfight at the O.K. Corall, and you can even see its reenactment (by actors, this time).

• Play golf: Arizona has over 370 golf courses. If you’re not into golf yet, you will be. Hit the links, or just enjoy the driving range and get tanked at the clubhouse afterwards. We know which one we’d rather do.

California’s way too expensive, way too crowded, and way too crazy. If you want to get out, you’re in good company. And if you want to move to Arizona, iMoving can make it easier than ever.

At iMoving, we have a marketplace of over 1000 long distance movers, and they’re all vetted, verified, and ready to help you hit the road. Ready to get started? Tell us more about your move, and shop, compare prices, and book you California to Arizona movers today.