Charleston, SC → Santa Monica, CA · Cross-country move

Movers from Charleston to Santa Monica

About 2,608 road miles heading west. Typical two-bedroom cost $8,370–$12,460, delivery in 7–14 days, 180 carriers on the Charleston side and 603 in Santa Monica.

2,608 miroad distance
45 hours (6 driving days)driving time
7–14 daysdelivery window
$8,370–$12,4602-bedroom estimate

Photo: User:User2004 · Public domain

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Route summary

From: Charleston, South Carolina
To: Santa Monica, California
Road distance: ≈ 2,608 miles (2,210 straight-line)
Drive time: 45 hours (6 driving days)
Delivery window: 7–14 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 180 (89 interstate)
Movers at destination: 603 (222 interstate)

Reverse: Santa Monica → Charleston

Moving from Charleston to Santa Monica is a cross-country move of roughly 2,608 road miles, heading west from South Carolina to California.

At this distance carriers price by shipment weight and mileage rather than by the hour. A two-bedroom home (around 5,000 lb of goods) typically costs $8,370 to $12,460 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 7 to 14 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 45 hours (6 driving days).

On the Charleston side there are 180 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (89 of them authorized for interstate work), and 603 around Santa Monica (222 interstate). For an interstate move you can book from either end; movers near the origin handle loading and are usually the better first call, while a destination-side company can be useful if you need storage or delivery-day help in Santa Monica.

Charleston has a population of about 159,423 and Santa Monica about 92,000. Santa Monica is the denser city (11,069 people per square mile versus 1,309 in Charleston), which often means shuttle trucks, parking restrictions or building move-in windows on delivery day. California is a higher-cost state than South Carolina, so budget a little more for destination-side help, deposits and first-month expenses.

Cost of moving from Charleston to Santa Monica

Full-service estimate for 2,608 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$3,350	$4,080	$4,980
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$5,020	$6,130	$7,470
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$8,370	$10,210	$12,460
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$13,400	$16,340	$19,930
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$18,420	$22,460	$27,410

Rental truck (DIY)

$3,580–$5,050

One-way truck for the distance, mileage and fuel included; you load and drive.

Portable container

$3,350–$4,920

Container delivered, you load, company transports; transit is slower than a mover.

Full-service mover

$8,370–$12,460

Two-bedroom reference; crew loads, hauls and unloads.

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Charleston, SC → Santa Monica, CA. Adjust the other options to see your range.

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Typical full-service range.

Estimates use market baselines described on the cost guide; your quotes will vary by inventory, access and date.

Moving companies for this route

Near Charleston (origin)

Antler Transport LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 951978
MC: 407642
Based in: Mt Pleasant, SC 29464 (7 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 143 trucks, 143 drivers
USDOT registered: 2001

Call (843) 849-0451 Route Verify on FMCSA

Harbor Logistics

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Ats Intermodal LLC

USDOT: 776430
MC: 347563
Based in: North Charleston, SC 29418 (9 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 139 trucks, 117 drivers
USDOT registered: 1998

Call (843) 308-9600 Route Verify on FMCSA

Precise Logistical Services INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3298761
MC: 1045896
Based in: N Charleston, SC 29420 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 55 trucks, 55 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (843) 425-3495 Route Verify on FMCSA

Xon Logistic LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3730419
MC: 1316630
Based in: Charleston, SC 29414 (8 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 45 trucks, 49 drivers
USDOT registered: 2021

Call (305) 916-0122 Route Verify on FMCSA

Two Men And A Truck

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Aba Moving & Storage INC

USDOT: 3402685
MC: 1095537
Based in: N Charleston, SC 29406 (8 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 14 trucks, 11 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (843) 529-0220 Route Verify on FMCSA

Harbor Logistics

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Premier Logistics LLC

USDOT: 1220227
MC: 340338
Based in: Hanahan, SC 29410 (8 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 12 trucks, 17 drivers
USDOT registered: 2004

Call (843) 554-7529 Route Verify on FMCSA

All My Sons Moving & Storage Of Charleston LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2276296
MC: 779892
Based in: North Charleston, SC 29405 (2 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 10 trucks, 15 drivers
USDOT registered: 2012

Call (469) 461-5000 Route Verify on FMCSA

Smooth Move

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Go Smooth Move LLC

USDOT: 2357653
MC: 834668
Based in: North Charleston, SC 29405 (2 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 10 trucks, 12 drivers
USDOT registered: 2012

Call (843) 860-9717 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 180 movers in Charleston

Near Santa Monica (destination)

Clutter INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2719785
MC: 934868
Based in: Culver City, CA 90230 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 191 trucks, 382 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (877) 626-1887 Route Verify on FMCSA

Arru Group INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4420956
MC: 1738102
Based in: Los Angeles, CA 90029 (13 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 52 trucks, 180 drivers
USDOT registered: 2025

Call (424) 335-1991 Route Verify on FMCSA

Ing Logistics

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1778992
MC: 648911
Based in: Los Angeles, CA 90037 (12 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 50 trucks, 21 drivers
USDOT registered: 2008

Call (213) 944-0878 Route Verify on FMCSA

Dsd Trucking INC

Interstate carrier Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 465743
MC: 309255
Based in: Redondo Beach, CA 90278 (12 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 39 trucks, 31 drivers
USDOT registered: 1991

Call (310) 725-1999 Route Verify on FMCSA

Grt Logistics LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3410979
MC: 1099772
Based in: Los Angeles, CA 90008 (9 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 35 trucks, 80 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (310) 508-6676 Route Verify on FMCSA

Harmony Home Remodels

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4468385
MC: 1763223
Based in: Van Nuys, CA 91411 (12 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 33 trucks, 45 drivers
USDOT registered: 2025

Call (818) 747-3439 Route Verify on FMCSA

Dlvr

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3471374
MC: 1136305
Based in: Culver City, CA 90230 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 25 trucks, 55 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Route Verify on FMCSA

Melogistix INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3479671
MC: 1141564
Based in: LA, CA 90019 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 25 trucks, 48 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (323) 377-8628 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 603 movers in Santa Monica

Tips for this move

Confirm which items the mover will not carry (plants, perishables, propane, some batteries).
Expect a delivery spread of one to two weeks; plan temporary housing in Santa Monica accordingly.
Compare a full-service van line against a container service; for a small household the container often wins.
Ask about consolidated versus dedicated truck options—dedicated is faster but costs more.

Near Charleston

Near Santa Monica

Related routes

Other destinations from Charleston

Other origins to Santa Monica

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Charleston to Santa Monica?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $3,350 to $4,980 for a studio, $5,020 to $7,470 for a one-bedroom, $8,370 to $12,460 for a two-bedroom, $13,400 to $19,930 for a three-bedroom and $18,420 to $27,410 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Santa Monica from Charleston?

About 2,608 road miles (2,210 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 45 hours (6 driving days).

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 7 to 14 days after pickup. Carriers give a spread rather than a fixed date because long-distance trucks carry several shipments; a dedicated truck or expedited service shortens the window for an extra fee.

Does my mover need interstate authority for this move?

Yes. Crossing from South Carolina into California makes this an interstate move, so the carrier must hold active FMCSA operating authority (an MC number) in addition to its USDOT number. The company cards on this page flag which carriers are authorized for interstate work.

Is it cheaper to rent a truck or use a container for Charleston to Santa Monica?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $3,580 to $5,050 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $3,350 to $4,920. Both save money versus a full-service crew but you do the loading, and container transit can take longer than a mover's delivery window.

When is the least expensive time to book this move?

Rates are highest in summer and around the last days of any month, when demand peaks. Mid-month, mid-week and winter dates are usually quoted below the standard rate. Booking four to eight weeks ahead gives you the widest choice of carriers on the Charleston–Santa Monica corridor.