San Francisco Long-Distance Moving Services
Welcome to Colonial Van Lines, where we combine extensive long-distance moving experience with the personal care of our family-owned business.
Get your moving quote
For a fast and accurate quote, call one of our Relocation Specialists at (800) 356-1855
Our team of full-service movers at Colonial Van Lines knows San Francisco inside and out. This means we can navigate all the challenges and eccentricities that make moving in San Francisco unique, such as:
- San Francisco’s steep hills are notoriously difficult to manage when parallel parking and moving boxes and furniture on moving day.
- Extremely narrow streets in neighborhoods like the Mission District, Haight Ashbury, and Russian Hill can make driving and parking particularly challenging.
- Permit parking with temporary signage are often required for moving trucks — and must be secured at least 72 hours in advance.
- Victorian and Edwardian buildings with tight hallways, narrow staircases, and fragile molding make it challenging tor move bulky furniture around.
- Mandatory Certificates of Insurance (COIs) are required for many larger apartment buildings and condos.
- Fog and rainy weather can make stairs and sidewalks slippery year-round.
- Street parking is extremely limited, especially in the North Beach, Chinatown, and Marina neighborhoods.
- Parking can be competitive thanks to limited spaces.
San Francisco, CA
I was moving 3,000 miles across the country for work, from New York to San Francisco, and Colonial Van Lines responded to an inquiry. The rep was super nice. She was great and right on the spot. Overall, all was good and very helpful.
San Francisco, CA
The rep who helped me was very professional and the services and expectations they set were pretty accurate. Also, working with the movers on moving day was a breeze.
San Francisco, CA
I like that Colonial doesn't farm anything out. They put the stuff in the truck, and then they move it from one to the other. They gave me a quote. When they got there, it never changed. It was exactly what they said. They moved it properly and quickly. Not only did they arrive on time, they were there early. They were also polite and careful. They didn't overcharge me. They weren't the cheapest but they weren't the most expensive. I'll be moving next year and I'm moving to Arizona from California. I'll be calling them and using them again. There are so many bad moving companies out there and I've worked with a couple of them. It's refreshing to finally find a company that does what they say.
San Francisco, CA
You should definitely give them a call and they’ll definitely take you step-by-step.They have one of the better deals. I got in touch with the operator who was in charge of issues and she was very nice and she always followed up. We kept in touch until all our stuff got here and there was good communication with Colonial. If they didn’t pick up, I left a message, they’d followed up either that day or the following day. Everything was the same as how we packed them. The movers came over, mentioned how things work and moved the stuff wherever I wanted them to put it. I’d recommend Colonial.
San Francisco, CA
I recently hired Colonial Van Lines for my relocation, and I couldn't be happier with their service. The entire team was professional, punctual, and efficient. They handled my belongings with great care and attention to detail. I highly recommend…
Call us or click here to get your quote today.
Popular Long-Distance Moves from San Francisco
San Francisco residents might move for a number of reasons. Perhaps they’re chasing lower living costs, new job opportunities, or simply a change in lifestyle. No matter the motivation, a few destinations consistently rank as top choices for those leaving the Bay Area.
Here are some of the most popular San Francisco moving destinations and some helpful tips for navigating these moves.
Call us or click here to get your quote today.
At Colonial Van Lines, we’re consistently recognized as one of the nation’s leading moving services. In 2025, U.S. News & World Report honored Colonial as a top full-service moving company, thanks to the expertise and dedication of our skilled pro movers.
Our long-distance movers receive thorough training at Colonial Van Lines University (CVLU) in Pompano Beach, Florida. Over two to four weeks, they practice packing and hauling in a fully furnished demo home, where they also learn key safety protocols and efficient moving techniques to keep your belongings secure during every move.
Interstate Moving Services
Only DOT-licensed companies are legally allowed to move your belongings across state lines — that’s why picking the right interstate moving company matters. Colonial has held a DOT license for decades and pairs it with extensive experience, which ensures you have a smooth, worry-free move every time.
Cross-Country Movers
Relocating across the country is a major undertaking, but Colonial can help take the weight off your shoulders by managing the entire move from start to finish. Our professional cross-country movers rely on trusted techniques to protect your items over long distances. The result is a safer, easier, and more relaxed moving experience.
As a cross-country moving company we regularly support moves g from San Francisco, such as:
- Moving from San Francisco to New York
- Moving from San Francisco to Chicago
- Moving from San Francisco to Miami
Customizable Full-Service Moving
Every San Francisco Colonial move can be fully tailored to your needs. Our full-service moving approach includes loading, unloading, furniture assembly and disassembly, and more — everything you might need for a smooth transition in a city full of steep hills and tight spaces.
To make your move even easier, we offer a range of customizable add-on services, such as:
- Flexible packing services
- Additional insurance protection options
- Automobile shipping
- Secure storage services
- High-quality moving supplies
- Special handling for antiques and fragile items
- And more
From Our Blog: Long-Distance Moving Tips From the Experts
Planning a long-distance move can be daunting, but our expert-backed tips, checklists, hacks, and support can help alleviate some of the stress along the way. Here are a few resources to get you started.
Hiring movers in San Francisco can cost more or less depending on several factors, including how far you’re traveling and how many items you’re moving. If you opt for professional long-distance movers, here’s a rough estimate of potential costs for an average-sized two-bedroom household:
- Moving from San Francisco to Los Angeles: $1,800–$3,900
- Moving from San Francisco to New York: $6,000–$7,000
- Moving from San Francisco to Chicago: $4,700–$5,700
- Moving from San Francisco to Miami: $5,800-$6,800
While it’s not technically always required, you will usually need — and want — a permit if you plan to park a moving truck on a public street in San Francisco. If you want to reserve space for loading and unloading, particularly on a busy or narrow street, you can apply for a temporary “no-parking” sign through the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). Make sure to apply for your permit at least five business days before moving day.
Technically, yes, moving trucks and other large commercial vehicles are allowed on steep hills and narrow streets according to the SFMTA, but there may be parking or driving restrictions on specific streets. Because of this, make sure you plan ahead by looking into parking options and applying for a temporary “no-parking” sign if needed.
And as always, the standard parking rules for narrow streets and hills in SF (e.g., curbing your tires so your vehicle won’t roll) still apply.
Older buildings in San Francisco often have special move-in and move-out requirements, but these requirements always depend on the specific home, not on the City of San Francisco. The requirements for Victorian, Edwardian, and other pre-1940 San Francisco buildings will either be set by the landlord, building owner, or HOA.
For instance, building rules for move-in or move-out may include:
- Using padded blankets and floor runners to prevent damage to the building
- Scheduled move-in times
- Time limits on moving truck parking
- A Certificate of Insurance (COI)
- Additional insurance or liability coverage
Because the San Francisco Bay Area is so crowded, in the busy summer moving season, it’s worth giving yourself more lead time than you might during a slower time of year. This may require a minimum of 4–6 weeks for a local move or more than 6–8 weeks for cross-country moving.
Reputable full-service moving companies can also book out early — so the sooner you reserve movers, the better.
Get started on your cross country move! Call our moving specialists or click here to get your online quote today.
San Francisco Neighborhoods We Service
From high-rises and historic walk-ups to Victorian flats and hillside homes, we service the following San Francisco neighborhoods and more.
Russian Hill | Pacific Heights | Bernal Heights | Sea Cliff | Inner Sunset |
Potrero Hill | Alamo Square | Presidio Heights | Glen Park | Mission Bay |
Bayview | Lower Nob Hill | Treasure Island | Inner Richmond | West Portal |
Outer Richmond |Ingleside | Forest Hill | Outer Mission | Eureka Valley | Fremont | Mountainview | Menlo Park | Corona Heights | Diamond Heights | Westwood Park | Forest Knolls | Laurel Heights | Berkeley | Oakland | Pleasanton | San Jose | Walnut Creek