A long-distance move is a different job from crossing the city. The truck spends longer on the highway, the weather at one end of the trip can look nothing like the other, and timing matters more when the two homes are an hour or more apart. As long-distance movers based in Calgary, we plan these moves around the route as carefully as around the furniture.
Best Calgary Movers is family-owned, licensed in Alberta and WCB-insured, with more than 15 years of moving households into and out of Calgary. We cap the number of moves we take each day, so a longer trip isn't rushed to make room for the next booking.
Where our long-distance service goes
Our long-distance moves stay within Alberta. We regularly move households between Calgary and Banff, Canmore, Cochrane, Airdrie and Okotoks, and we also serve the towns around the city:
- Airdrie
- Banff
- Bragg Creek
- Canmore
- Chestermere
- Cochrane
- Diamond Valley
- High River
- Okotoks
Moving somewhere else in Alberta, such as Red Deer or Edmonton? Call us to confirm availability and pricing for your route. If your move crosses a provincial border, ask us before you book. The full list of communities we work in is on our service areas page.
Flat-rate or hourly: pricing a long-distance move
Moves inside Calgary are charged by the hour. For trips outside city limits we can usually offer a flat-rate option instead, so you know the total before the truck leaves your driveway. Because a flat rate depends on how much you're moving and where it's going, we quote each route individually.
If hourly pricing works out better for your move, our regular rates apply: $125/hr for two movers and a truck, $165/hr for three and $210/hr for four, plus one extra hour at the crew rate for truck and travel, and 5% GST. The moving cost calculator shows how those numbers add up.
Common routes out of Calgary
Moves out of the city tend to follow one of a handful of main roads:
- West on Highway 1. The Trans-Canada runs through the Bow Valley to Canmore and Banff, while Cochrane sits just off it on Highway 1A.
- North on the QEII. Airdrie is just past the city limits, and the same highway carries on toward Red Deer and Edmonton.
- South on Highway 2. The route toward Okotoks and High River.
- East toward Chestermere, only a short drive beyond the city's eastern edge.
Each route has its own quirks — summer construction on the QEII, weekend traffic heading to the mountains, wind and blowing snow on open stretches in winter. They're worth keeping in mind when you pick a date and a start time.
Moving to Canmore or Banff
Highway 1 between Calgary and the mountains can change fast in winter, and a clear morning in the city doesn't guarantee clear roads in the Bow Valley. Before a winter move, check the road reports on Alberta 511 and keep some flexibility in your plans if a storm is forecast.
In both towns, some streets are narrow and parking near the door can be limited, particularly in the busy tourist seasons. Find out ahead of time where a moving truck can stop at your new address. If you're moving into a condo, ask the building whether you need to reserve the elevator or loading area — our apartment movers page covers building rules in more detail.
A planning timeline for long-distance moves
- Four to six weeks out: request a quote with both addresses and your date. Weekends, month-end and summer dates fill up first.
- Three to four weeks out: order boxes and supplies, or book our packing services. Begin with the rooms you use least.
- Two weeks out: confirm key handover times at both homes, and reserve elevators or loading docks if either building requires it.
- A few days out: check the forecast and Alberta 511, set aside documents, medication and valuables to travel with you, and pack an overnight bag.
- Moving day: be at the old home when the crew arrives, and plan to reach the new home before the truck so someone is there to open the door.
Plans changed at the last minute? We hold last-minute slots every day and don't charge an urgency surcharge, so it's always worth a call.
Packing for the highway
A box that survives a trip across town can shift and crush on an hour or two of highway driving. A few habits help everything arrive in one piece:
- Fill every box to the top — half-empty boxes collapse as the load settles.
- Pad anything fragile and mark those boxes clearly.
- Remove mirrors and glass tops from dressers and tables so they can be wrapped on their own.
- Prepare appliances the day before: fridge emptied and defrosted, washer disconnected. Appliances are moved at $40 per unit.
- Keep valuables and paperwork in your own vehicle.
Rather skip the packing altogether? Our crew can pack the whole home, only the fragile items, or just the rooms you're dreading. Moving a house or townhome within the city instead? See our residential movers; relocating a business, see office movers.