Moving to a new place is a stressful commitment, but that stress only worsens when your destination is far away. When planning a move, choosing the best long-distance movers for your specific needs is important – working with the right company will minimize stress and ensure a smooth, efficient move, from helping you pack belongings into storage units to physically relocating them to your new home.
As with any major investment or commitment, you’ll want to research your options for moving companies before deciding. In this article, we’ll help you with that research by outlining some of the pros and cons of our top-rated long-distance movers so you can make an informed decision for yourself.
1. Allied Van Lines
Best for: Full-Service Moving
With over 95 years of experience and the largest mover network in the world, Allied Van Lines is one of the most recognizable names on our list. They offer the complete package for transporting your belongings from place to place, no matter the distance. From packing and storage to moving and unloading, Allied promises to handle every step of the process without requiring you to do the heavy lifting.
We also rank Allied as one of the best long-distance moving companies thanks to their fine-tuned, attentive customer service that works around the clock to address any claims or support requests you may have through the process.
2. American Van Lines
Best for: Specialty Item Moves
American Van Lines has been in operation since 1995, and have established themselves as a reliable and affordable option, with their customer service receiving rave reviews from USA Today and Newsweek. They offer specific services for moving, storing, and protecting customers’ valuable specialty items, such as pianos and antiques.
While their full-service moves make them an easy choice for one of the best long-distance movers on the market, if you prefer to be more hands-on with your move, American Van Lines also offers a low-cost, no-frills pickup and delivery option to save money and give you more control over your personal belongings.
3. United Van Lines
Best for: Nationwide Availability
United Van Lines prioritizes new technologies and safety innovations to streamline moves of all distances. They incorporate services from over 500 companies throughout the United States, making it simple to move anywhere you need to, whether locally or out of state.
As one of the top-rated long-distance movers in the US, United offers the cutting-edge Snapmoves℠ service for moves of any size or distance, allowing customers to fully personalize their experience from the initial quote to the final move.
4. North American Van Lines
Best for: Flexible Pricing Options
North American Van Lines prides themselves on tailoring moves and prices to meet customers’ needs during the quoting process. With a network of over 500 movers and more than 90 years of moving experience, North American Van Lines covers moves in all 50 states (and even internationally!) They’re another premier choice on our best long-distance moving companies list.
North American also offers climate-controlled storage facilities for items that require them, different options for household and corporate relocation, and personalized services to help customers budget and save money every step of the way.
5. Mayflower Transit
Best for: Comprehensive Moving Packages
Mayflower Transit’s moving packages offer some of the most specific and complete options for any budget and distance. In addition to full-service moving packages and comprehensive item protection, customers can request custom crating for fragile items, specialty packing for electronics, and help to install appliances and electronics once they reach their destination.
When planning a move with Mayflower, you receive an attentive personal coordinator to help you handle everything on your moving checklist. They also offer Snapmoves℠ to ensure a smooth relocation, further proving themselves as one of the best moving companies for long-distance travel.
6. JK Moving Services
Best for: Customized Moving Solutions
Located in the DMV area but offering nationwide service, JK Moving Services offers custom packages for any distance you may need to relocate. Their independent status means even more attention to detail when you require customer service, and their tech-forward approach means every item is inventoried with unprecedented attention to detail.
JK sets itself apart as one of the best moving companies for long-distance relocation with dedicated warehouse facilities and custom packing solutions, as well as an advanced AI home surveying tool to help customers make the best use of their space.
7. Safeway Moving
Best for: Transparent Pricing
While most moving partners offer quote calculators and customizable services, Safeway Moving stands out by offering transparent, flat-rate pricing for their long-distance services. All additional costs are discussed up front, ensuring customers won’t run into any surprises or hidden fees throughout the process.
Safeway wouldn’t be one of the best moving companies for long-distance travel without proven services to back up their pricing–and they deliver (quite literally) with reliable drivers, storage solutions, and comprehensive help packing and unpacking your items.
8. International Van Lines
Best for: International Relocations
As you’d expect from their name, International Van Lines specializes in getting customers’ belongings from one country to another with minimal stress. They offer services for moving to 140+ countries whether on the ground or in the air, and have been spotlighted as one of the best moving companies for long distance by Forbes, US News and World Report, USA Today, and Better Homes and Gardens.
IVL also offers domestic moving services with the same attention to detail and quality as their international services, ensuring customers can trust their experience regardless of how far they’re going.
Alternative Options for a Long Distance Move
Not every long distance move will require a full-service partnership with a moving company. There are always options available that may be easier to use or more cost-effective in different situations.
- Portable storage solutions, such as PODs or Zippyshell, provide storage containers for you to pack at your own pace. The company will pick up your container when it’s full, keep it in storage, and then deliver it when you’re ready to make your move. SpareFoot can help you compare and decide on portable storage if you decide it’s best for your needs.
- DIY moving truck companies, such as Uhaul and Budget, enable you to rent a truck that you drive yourself, giving you more control over how your items are packed and stored. These solutions are more geared towards items that don’t need to be put in storage and movers without many bulky or valuable items.
Ready For Your Long-Distance Move?
There are almost too many moving companies to count, so we hope that this article has helped you identify some of the best long distance movers on the market. You can trust that these partners will take care of your belongings, whether you’re packing and storing them yourself or having them load up their dedicated storage units and moving trucks for you.
If you’re looking for more information on how best to make a long-distance move, or you’re finding you need help with a different relocation or storage need, SpareFoot can help you find those solutions. We’re here to assist you with all of your self-storage and moving questions.
Tabitha Wilson
