Moving to the Inland Empire: Cities, Commutes and Heat

Most people moving to the Inland Empire tell us the same thing: they want more space. A bigger yard, a garage that fits a car, a newer house, or simply more home for the money than they could find in Los Angeles or Orange County. Our headquarters is in Moreno Valley, so the Inland Empire is home turf for our crews, and we see what works (and what goes wrong) on moving day across both counties.

The Inland Empire covers western Riverside County and southwestern San Bernardino County. This guide compares the main cities, explains what new-build communities and HOAs mean for your move, and covers the heat and the freeways. For details on a single city, follow the links or start at our Riverside County movers and San Bernardino County movers pages.

Riverside, Corona and Moreno Valley

Riverside is the region’s oldest big city. Downtown has the Mission Inn and Mount Rubidoux, UC Riverside sits on the east side, and neighborhoods like the Wood Streets are full of older homes with character. Expect a mix of historic houses, mid-century tracts and newer subdivisions toward the edges.

Corona is the gateway from Orange County, right where the 91 meets I-15. It has older neighborhoods near the center and many newer tracts in the hills to the south, most of them with HOAs. It is popular with people who still work in Orange County.

Moreno Valley stretches along SR-60 and I-215, next to March Air Reserve Base. It is mostly single-family neighborhoods, largely built from the 1980s onward, plus newer subdivisions on the east side, and it usually offers a lot of house for the money.

Temecula and Murrieta

Southwest Riverside County is a favorite with families. Temecula is known for Old Town Temecula and its wine country to the east, and much of the city is made up of planned neighborhoods such as Harveston and Redhawk. Murrieta, just to the north where I-15 and I-215 meet, has a similar feel with many newer tracts and HOAs.

The appeal is newer homes, parks and a quieter pace. The trade-off is distance: commuting to Orange County, Los Angeles or San Diego from here is a real daily commitment, so test the drive before you commit.

The west end: Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga and Ontario

The western edge of San Bernardino County sits along I-10, I-15 and the 210. Rancho Cucamonga climbs toward the San Gabriel foothills, with neighborhoods such as Alta Loma and Etiwanda, the Victoria Gardens shopping district and many master-planned streets.

Ontario is home to Ontario International Airport and a large logistics and warehouse economy, with older neighborhoods near downtown and large new communities in the south of the city. Fontana has older central streets and newer tracts in the north, close to the 210 and I-15.

Redlands, San Bernardino and the high desert

Redlands, east along I-10, is known for the University of Redlands, its citrus history and streets of Victorian and craftsman homes. The city of San Bernardino is the county seat, at the junction of I-10 and I-215.

Over the Cajon Pass on I-15, the high desert is a different world. Victorville, Hesperia and Apple Valley offer large lots and newer homes at lower prices, with hot summers, cold winter mornings and strong wind. Many residents commute down the pass every day, which makes I-15 conditions part of daily life.

A rule of thumb from moving day: if you commute to Orange County, look along the 91 and I-15 corridor around Corona and Riverside; if you work in Los Angeles County, the west end along I-10 and the 210 is usually easier; and if you work locally or remotely, Temecula, Moreno Valley, Redlands and the high desert give you the most room for your budget.

New-build communities and HOAs

A large share of our Inland Empire moves are into newly built homes. They are great to move into, but they come with their own checklist:

• Closing dates slip. Builders often move closing or key dates by days. If your old place has to be empty first, overnight storage on our truck costs $129 per night for 1–2 bedrooms and $149 per night for 3–4 bedrooms. For longer gaps, see our storage services.
• HOA rules apply from day one. Ask about allowed move hours, where the truck can park and whether trucks can stay overnight on the street.
• Gates need notice. Give us the gate code or add our company name to the guest list.
• New floors and fresh landscaping. Tell us about new hardwood, fresh paint or just-laid sod so we can plan the path into the house.
• Special taxes. Many newer communities carry Mello-Roos or similar special assessments. That is a question for your agent or lender, but it is worth asking before you buy.

Moving in the heat

Inland summers are hot, and on a July afternoon the inside of a moving truck gets far hotter than the air outside. What we recommend:

• Book the earliest start time you can in summer. Crews work faster and more safely in the morning.
• Carry heat-sensitive items in your car: candles, vinyl records, medication, wine, houseplants and electronics with batteries.
• Keep pets in a cool room or with a friend on moving day.
• Have water ready for everyone, and make sure the new home’s AC is switched on before we arrive.

Fall brings Santa Ana winds and fire-weather days. Wind makes mattresses and large flat items hard to carry, so expect a little extra time on gusty days.

Commutes: the 91, 15, 215, 10 and 60

• SR-91: the main link between Riverside, Corona and Orange County, with express lanes through Corona and the Santa Ana Canyon.
• I-15: runs north and south from Temecula through Corona and Ontario to the Cajon Pass and the high desert.
• I-215: connects Murrieta, Moreno Valley, Riverside and San Bernardino.
• I-10: heads west through Ontario toward Los Angeles and east to Redlands and beyond.
• SR-60: links Moreno Valley and Riverside with the San Gabriel Valley and Los Angeles.

Metrolink lines from Riverside, San Bernardino, Corona and Perris give some commuters a break from driving into Los Angeles or Orange County.

What a move to the Inland Empire costs

Moves from Los Angeles, Orange County or San Diego County into the Inland Empire are local hourly moves under California rules. You pay for the time worked plus double drive time: the drive time between your old and new home, billed twice under the California rule instead of charging for our trip to you and back. Because our headquarters is in Moreno Valley, drive time for many Inland Empire moves is short.

• 2 movers and a truck: $119 per hour
• 3 movers: $159 per hour
• 4 movers: $199 per hour
• 5 movers: $239 per hour

These are weekday rates; weekends and month-end may differ. There are no stair or long-carry fees on hourly moves, and Released Value coverage at $0.60 per pound per item is included at no cost. Learn more about local moving.

Planning a move to the Inland Empire?

Tell us your addresses, your home size and anything heavy, such as a piano or a safe, and we will give you a clear estimate. Request a free estimate or call (877) 671-3535, every day from 8am to 7pm.