Moving in Laguna Beach's Hills and Coves
Laguna Beach climbs almost straight up from its coves, and the hills decide how most moves here go. Homes in Top of the World, Arch Beach Heights and Bluebird Canyon sit on sloping lots, and Third Street, between Mermaid Street and Park Avenue, has a reputation as one of the steepest roads in California. Closer to the water, the hard part is usually finding a legal place for the truck to stand.
Hillside Streets and the Shuttle Truck
A full-size moving van needs room to turn around and a level place to park. When a hillside street or driveway can't offer either, we add a shuttle: a smaller truck that runs loads between your door and the big van, which waits wherever there's space. It means extra handling, so we decide on it during the estimate rather than on the morning of the move.
Then there's the walk from the street. Houses built into a slope often have stairs between the curb and the front door, and more inside. We count them, because stairs are where a local move's hours go.
Moving During Festival Season
Summer in Laguna belongs to the art shows. The Festival of Arts with its Pageant of the Masters, and the Sawdust Art Festival across the road, fill Laguna Canyon Road from the end of June into early September. Add beach traffic on Coast Highway and getting a truck into town takes longer all summer. If your dates are flexible, September through May is easier. If they aren't, we start early, before the festival lots and beach parking fill up.
Paintings, Ceramics and Sculpture
Laguna began as an artists' colony, and moving here often means moving art. Framed canvases go into made-to-size cartons or wooden crates, ceramics and glass are wrapped piece by piece, and a heavy sculpture gets a crate built around it. Our guide to moving fine art in Southern California explains how we pack it, and our packing and crating crews can handle the rest of the house.
What We Check Before Quoting a Laguna Move
- Truck access. Whether a full-size van can reach your street or the move needs a shuttle.
- The carry. Stairs from the curb, a sloped driveway or a parking spot down the block.
- The date. A Saturday in festival season is a different day from a Tuesday in February.
- Gate access. In Three Arch Bay, a private gated community at the south end of town, we get the crew's names to the gate ahead of time.
For the estimate itself, a Relocation Consultant comes to the house at no charge, or an Inside Sales Representative goes over your inventory by phone or video. You get the result in writing. A move within Laguna, or between Laguna and San Diego, counts as local and is charged by the hour, truck and crew together; call 1.858.360.1569 for current rates.
Common Questions About Moving in Laguna
How much do movers cost in Laguna Beach?
It comes down to hours on the job, and in Laguna the hills drive many of them: how close the truck can park, how many steps there are, whether a shuttle is needed. We price it after a survey rather than guessing over the phone.
Do you move people from San Diego to Laguna Beach?
Yes. Our crews come up from San Marcos, and a move between San Diego and Laguna is still a local, hourly move. For neighborhoods, schools and the cost of living, see our guide to relocating from San Diego to Laguna Beach.
What if we're leaving California?
We handle that as an agent for North American Van Lines. Interstate moves are figured on weight and mileage, with packing per unit. A binding estimate locks the price, and it only changes if you add to the shipment or the services, switch the delivery address or shift the load date.
