Moving to Tempe, AZ: Routes, Costs & What to Expect

If you're moving to Tempe, you're landing in one of the more interesting corners of the Phoenix metro — an ASU college town that's grown into a real tech and healthcare hub without fully losing the campus energy. Housing is cheaper than the coastal cities most Tempe newcomers are leaving behind, the light rail is actually useful, and yes, the summers are every bit as punishing as you've heard. July and August regularly hit 110°F. That's not a selling point, but it's something you need to plan around.

Below I've organized every major route into Tempe — local moves within Arizona and long-distance moves from across the country — so you can get to the right estimates and movers quickly.

What a Move to Tempe Actually Costs

Distance and shipment weight are the two numbers that drive your quote. Here's a rough range to calibrate your expectations:

• Local moves within the Phoenix metro (under 50 miles): $300–$1,500 for a 2-bedroom, depending on crew size and hours
• Regional moves from the Southwest (California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas): $1,500–$5,000
• Long-distance from the Midwest or East Coast: $4,000–$10,000+, sometimes higher for a full household

Use the moving cost calculator to plug in your actual origin, destination, and home size — it'll get you closer than any rule of thumb can.

One thing worth knowing: summer is off-peak for moves into the Phoenix metro, because most people moving locally wait until it cools down. If you're flexible on timing, you may find more availability and better pricing in June through August — even if you'll be sweating through the loading day.

Moving Companies Worth Knowing for a Tempe Move

For long-distance moves into Tempe, these carriers consistently perform well on this route:

• Allied Van Lines — solid nationwide network, reliable for larger household moves
• North American Van Lines — strong Southwest corridor coverage
• Mayflower — good option if you have specialty items like pianos or fine art
• United Van Lines — worth a quote if you're coming from the Midwest or Southeast
• Safeway Moving — competitive pricing for budget-conscious long-distance moves
• International Van Lines — a strong pick if there's any international component or you want white-glove handling

If you're coming from the Southeast or Mid-Atlantic, SafeShip Moving is a broker I've found worth talking to — they're good at pairing cross-country shipments with vetted carriers at rates that don't embarrass anyone.

For moves staying inside the Phoenix metro, skip the nationals and go local. Get three quotes, read reviews from the last 12 months, and verify FMCSA registration before you book.

Choose Your Move to Tempe

Moving Within Arizona

Already in the state and heading to Tempe? Here are the most common local routes:

• Chandler to Tempe
• Gilbert to Tempe
• Mesa to Tempe
• Phoenix to Tempe
• Scottsdale to Tempe
• Tucson to Tempe

Long-Distance Moves to Tempe

Alabama to Tempe

• Birmingham, AL to Tempe, AZ
• Huntsville, AL to Tempe, AZ
• Mobile, AL to Tempe, AZ
• Montgomery, AL to Tempe, AZ

Arkansas to Tempe

• Little Rock, AR to Tempe, AZ

California to Tempe

People leaving California for Tempe make up one of the largest inbound streams — the cost-of-living gap is real, and Tempe absorbs a lot of that westward-fleeing population.

• Anaheim, CA to Tempe, AZ
• Bakersfield, CA to Tempe, AZ
• Chula Vista, CA to Tempe, AZ
• Fontana, CA to Tempe, AZ
• Fremont, CA to Tempe, AZ
• Fresno, CA to Tempe, AZ
• Irvine, CA to Tempe, AZ
• Lancaster, CA to Tempe, AZ
• Long Beach, CA to Tempe, AZ
• Los Angeles, CA to Tempe, AZ
• Modesto, CA to Tempe, AZ
• Moreno Valley, CA to Tempe, AZ
• Oakland, CA to Tempe, AZ
• Ontario, CA to Tempe, AZ
• Oxnard, CA to Tempe, AZ
• Riverside, CA to Tempe, AZ
• Roseville, CA to Tempe, AZ
• Sacramento, CA to Tempe, AZ
• San Bernardino, CA to Tempe, AZ
• San Diego, CA to Tempe, AZ
• San Francisco, CA to Tempe, AZ
• San Jose, CA to Tempe, AZ
• Santa Ana, CA to Tempe, AZ
• Santa Clarita, CA to Tempe, AZ
• Stockton, CA to Tempe, AZ

Colorado to Tempe

• Aurora, CO to Tempe, AZ
• Colorado Springs, CO to Tempe, AZ
• Denver, CO to Tempe, AZ
• Fort Collins, CO to Tempe, AZ

Connecticut to Tempe

• Bridgeport, CT to Tempe, AZ
• Hartford, CT to Tempe, AZ
• New Haven, CT to Tempe, AZ

Delaware to Tempe

• Wilmington, DE to Tempe, AZ

Florida to Tempe

• Cape Coral, FL to Tempe, AZ
• Gainesville, FL to Tempe, AZ
• Hialeah, FL to Tempe, AZ
• Jacksonville, FL to Tempe, AZ
• Miami, FL to Tempe, AZ
• Orlando, FL to Tempe, AZ
• Port St. Lucie, FL to Tempe, AZ
• St. Petersburg, FL to Tempe, AZ
• Tallahassee, FL to Tempe, AZ
• Tampa, FL to Tempe, AZ

Georgia to Tempe

• Atlanta, GA to Tempe, AZ
• Augusta, GA to Tempe, AZ
• Columbus, GA to Tempe, AZ

Idaho to Tempe

• Boise, ID to Tempe, AZ

Illinois to Tempe

• Chicago, IL to Tempe, AZ

Indiana to Tempe

• Evansville, IN to Tempe, AZ
• Fort Wayne, IN to Tempe, AZ
• Indianapolis, IN to Tempe, AZ

Iowa to Tempe

• Des Moines, IA to Tempe, AZ

Kansas to Tempe

• Overland Park, KS to Tempe, AZ
• Wichita, KS to Tempe, AZ

Kentucky to Tempe

• Lexington, KY to Tempe, AZ
• Louisville, KY to Tempe, AZ

Louisiana to Tempe

• Baton Rouge, LA to Tempe, AZ
• Lafayette, LA to Tempe, AZ
• New Orleans, LA to Tempe, AZ

Maine to Tempe

• Portland, ME to Tempe, AZ

Maryland to Tempe

• Baltimore, MD to Tempe, AZ
• Washington, DC to Tempe, AZ

Massachusetts to Tempe

• Boston, MA to Tempe, AZ

Michigan to Tempe

• Ann Arbor, MI to Tempe, AZ
• Detroit, MI to Tempe, AZ
• Grand Rapids, MI to Tempe, AZ
• Lansing, MI to Tempe, AZ

Minnesota to Tempe

• Minneapolis, MN to Tempe, AZ
• St. Paul, MN to Tempe, AZ

Mississippi to Tempe

• Jackson, MS to Tempe, AZ

Missouri to Tempe

• Kansas City, MO to Tempe, AZ
• St. Louis, MO to Tempe, AZ

Montana to Tempe

• Billings, MT to Tempe, AZ
• Missoula, MT to Tempe, AZ

Nebraska to Tempe

• Omaha, NE to Tempe, AZ

Nevada to Tempe

• Henderson, NV to Tempe, AZ
• Las Vegas, NV to Tempe, AZ
• North Las Vegas, NV to Tempe, AZ
• Paradise, NV to Tempe, AZ
• Reno, NV to Tempe, AZ
• Spring Valley, NV to Tempe, AZ

New Hampshire to Tempe

• Manchester, NH to Tempe, AZ

New Jersey to Tempe

• Jersey City, NJ to Tempe, AZ
• Newark, NJ to Tempe, AZ

New Mexico to Tempe

• Albuquerque, NM to Tempe, AZ

New York to Tempe

• Albany, NY to Tempe, AZ
• Buffalo, NY to Tempe, AZ
• New York City, NY to Tempe, AZ
• Rochester, NY to Tempe, AZ
• Yonkers, NY to Tempe, AZ

North Carolina to Tempe

• Chapel Hill, NC to Tempe, AZ
• Charlotte, NC to Tempe, AZ
• Durham, NC to Tempe, AZ
• Fayetteville, NC to Tempe, AZ
• Greensboro, NC to Tempe, AZ
• Raleigh, NC to Tempe, AZ
• Winston-Salem, NC to Tempe, AZ

North Dakota to Tempe

• Fargo, ND to Tempe, AZ

Ohio to Tempe

• Akron, OH to Tempe, AZ
• Cincinnati, OH to Tempe, AZ
• Cleveland, OH to Tempe, AZ
• Columbus, OH to Tempe, AZ
• Dayton, OH to Tempe, AZ
• Toledo, OH to Tempe, AZ

Oklahoma to Tempe

• Oklahoma City, OK to Tempe, AZ
• Tulsa, OK to Tempe, AZ

Oregon to Tempe

• Eugene, OR to Tempe, AZ
• Portland, OR to Tempe, AZ

Pennsylvania to Tempe

• Harrisburg, PA to Tempe, AZ
• Philadelphia, PA to Tempe, AZ
• Pittsburgh, PA to Tempe, AZ

Rhode Island to Tempe

• Providence, RI to Tempe, AZ

South Carolina to Tempe

• Charleston, SC to Tempe, AZ
• Columbia, SC to Tempe, AZ
• Greenville, SC to Tempe, AZ
• Myrtle Beach, SC to Tempe, AZ

South Dakota to Tempe

• Sioux Falls, SD to Tempe, AZ

Tennessee to Tempe

• Chattanooga, TN to Tempe, AZ
• Knoxville, TN to Tempe, AZ
• Memphis, TN to Tempe, AZ
• Nashville, TN to Tempe, AZ

Texas to Tempe

• Amarillo, TX to Tempe, AZ
• Austin, TX to Tempe, AZ
• Corpus Christi, TX to Tempe, AZ
• Dallas, TX to Tempe, AZ
• El Paso, TX to Tempe, AZ
• Fort Worth, TX to Tempe, AZ
• Garland, TX to Tempe, AZ
• Houston, TX to Tempe, AZ
• Irving, TX to Tempe, AZ
• Laredo, TX to Tempe, AZ
• Lubbock, TX to Tempe, AZ
• McAllen, TX to Tempe, AZ
• McKinney, TX to Tempe, AZ
• Plano, TX to Tempe, AZ
• San Antonio, TX to Tempe, AZ

Utah to Tempe

• Ogden, UT to Tempe, AZ
• Salt Lake City, UT to Tempe, AZ
• St. George, UT to Tempe, AZ

Vermont to Tempe

• Burlington, VT to Tempe, AZ

Virginia to Tempe

• Arlington, VA to Tempe, AZ
• Chesapeake, VA to Tempe, AZ
• Norfolk, VA to Tempe, AZ
• Richmond, VA to Tempe, AZ
• Virginia Beach, VA to Tempe, AZ

Washington to Tempe

• Olympia, WA to Tempe, AZ
• Seattle, WA to Tempe, AZ
• Spokane, WA to Tempe, AZ
• Tacoma, WA to Tempe, AZ

West Virginia to Tempe

• Charleston, WV to Tempe, AZ

Wisconsin to Tempe

• Madison, WI to Tempe, AZ
• Milwaukee, WI to Tempe, AZ

Wyoming to Tempe

• Cheyenne, WY to Tempe, AZ

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A Few Things to Know Before You Move to Tempe

Book movers early if you're moving in fall or spring. Those are the peak seasons for moves into the Arizona market. Summer moves get you better availability and sometimes better pricing — just be ready for early-morning loading calls.

Verify your mover's FMCSA registration. For any interstate move, your carrier needs a valid USDOT number. Look it up before you sign anything. A legitimate company will hand that over without hesitation.

Consider your vehicle situation. If you're driving a second car across the country, it may be worth comparing auto transport quotes against the wear, mileage, and fuel cost of driving it yourself.

Moving a smaller load? Moving containers can be worth comparing against full-service quotes, particularly for regional moves from California or Nevada where you have more flexibility on delivery timing.

Start with the MoveFinders calculator to get a baseline for your specific route, then get at least three in-home or video estimates before you commit to anyone.