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Lake Charles, LA

Columbia, SC → Lake Charles, LA · Long-distance move

Movers from Columbia to Lake Charles

About 905 road miles heading west. Typical two-bedroom cost $4,120–$6,140, delivery in 2–5 days, 389 carriers on the Columbia side and 25 in Lake Charles.

  • 905 miroad distance
  • 16 h 18 mindriving time
  • 2–5 daysdelivery window
  • $4,120–$6,1402-bedroom estimate
Photo: Downtown Lake Charles.JPG by CTtcg L'Auberge du Lac Casino.JPG by CTtcg Bulber.jpg by Kingfish27 John McNeese.jpg by Kin · CC-BY-SA-4.0
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Route summary

Road distance
≈ 905 miles (767 straight-line)
Drive time
16 h 18 min
Delivery window
2–5 days
Move type
Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin
389 (223 interstate)
Movers at destination
25 (18 interstate)

Reverse: Lake Charles → Columbia

Moving from Columbia to Lake Charles is a long-distance move of roughly 905 road miles, heading west from South Carolina to Louisiana.

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 $4,120 to $6,140 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 2 to 5 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 16 h 18 min.

On the Columbia side there are 389 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (223 of them authorized for interstate work), and 25 around Lake Charles (18 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 Lake Charles.

Columbia has a population of about 147,035 and Lake Charles about 80,000. Lake Charles is the denser city (1,788 people per square mile versus 999 in Columbia), which often means shuttle trucks, parking restrictions or building move-in windows on delivery day.

Cost of moving from Columbia to Lake Charles

Full-service estimate for 905 miles, by home size
Home sizeEst. weightLowTypicalHigh
Studio 2,000 lb $1,650 $2,010 $2,450
1 Bedroom 3,000 lb $2,470 $3,020 $3,680
2 Bedrooms 5,000 lb $4,120 $5,030 $6,140
3 Bedrooms 8,000 lb $6,600 $8,050 $9,820
4+ Bedrooms 11,000 lb $9,070 $11,060 $13,500

Rental truck (DIY)

$1,380–$1,950

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

Portable container

$1,830–$2,690

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

Full-service mover

$4,120–$6,140

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Columbia, SC → Lake Charles, LA. Adjust the other options to see your range.

—to—

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 Columbia (origin)

Nilson Van & Storage

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
122025
MC
109331
Based in
Columbia, SC 29203 (9 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
43 trucks, 36 drivers
USDOT registered
1974
Call (803) 786-1090 Route Verify on FMCSA

Two Men And A Truck

Interstate carrier

Legal name: Kb Enterprises INC

USDOT
1713552
Based in
Columbia, SC 29209 (8 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
18 trucks, 11 drivers
USDOT registered
2007
Call (803) 731-7775 Route Verify on FMCSA

R L Solutions Trucking LLC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
2074562
MC
749775
Based in
Columbia, SC 29204 (5 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
16 trucks, 15 drivers
USDOT registered
2010
Call (864) 485-3482 Route Verify on FMCSA

On Time Services

Licensed interstate

Legal name: On Time Services Incorporated

USDOT
1290786
MC
663927
Based in
West Columbia, SC 29169 (11 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
9 trucks, 6 drivers
USDOT registered
2004
Call (803) 739-2009 Route Verify on FMCSA

Movemart Relocation INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
787737
MC
1217231
Based in
Columbia, SC 29201 (8 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
8 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered
1998
Call (803) 256-1078 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bossman Trucking LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
3790147
MC
1360126
Based in
Columbia, SC 29223 (4 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
7 trucks, 7 drivers
USDOT registered
2021
Call (704) 200-4823 Route Verify on FMCSA

Prohelp LLC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3304870
MC
1048763
Based in
Columbia, SC 29201 (8 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
7 trucks, 7 drivers
USDOT registered
2019
Call (803) 776-4357 Route Verify on FMCSA

Johnson & Smith Global Services LLC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
4464723
MC
1761240
Based in
Columbia, SC 29223 (4 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
6 trucks, 6 drivers
USDOT registered
2025
Call (803) 939-2014 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 389 movers in Columbia

Near Lake Charles (destination)

Lake City Trucking

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: James G Gobert INC

USDOT
319385
MC
211234
Based in
Lake Charles, LA 70615 (7 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
42 trucks, 33 drivers
USDOT registered
1988
Call (337) 494-6900 Route Verify on FMCSA

Two Men And A Truck Lake Charles

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Cbl Jones LLC

USDOT
2944986
MC
996676
Based in
Lake Charles, LA 70605 (6 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
6 trucks, 12 drivers
USDOT registered
2016
Call (337) 656-4938 Route Verify on FMCSA

Pappillion Trucking INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
1227886
MC
485326
Based in
Lake Charles, LA 70615 (7 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
6 trucks, 6 drivers
USDOT registered
2004
Call (337) 494-3894 Route Verify on FMCSA

Hr Express Logistics LLC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
7409267
MC
97081033
Based in
Lake Charles, LA 70605 (6 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
3 trucks, 1 drivers
USDOT registered
2026
Call (337) 730-1207 Route Verify on FMCSA

Drive Max Trucking

Interstate carrier
USDOT
4284072
Based in
Lake Charles, LA 70601 (2 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
2 trucks, 2 drivers
USDOT registered
2024
Call (225) 371-8581 Route Verify on FMCSA

Dredging Contractor Firm

Interstate carrier Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Mike Hooks LLC

USDOT
107462
Based in
Westlake, LA 70669 (5 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
1 truck, 1 drivers
USDOT registered
1974
Call (337) 436-6693 Route Verify on FMCSA

Fmtransport11 LLC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3156355
MC
108062
Based in
Lake Charles, LA 70605 (6 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
1 truck, 2 drivers
USDOT registered
2018
Call (337) 499-7171 Route Verify on FMCSA

J K Malveaux Transport LLC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3686835
MC
1284622
Based in
Lake Charles, LA 70605 (6 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
1 truck, 1 drivers
USDOT registered
2021
Call (337) 802-0370 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 25 movers in Lake Charles

Related routes

Other destinations from Columbia

Other origins to Lake Charles

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Columbia to Lake Charles?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $1,650 to $2,450 for a studio, $2,470 to $3,680 for a one-bedroom, $4,120 to $6,140 for a two-bedroom, $6,600 to $9,820 for a three-bedroom and $9,070 to $13,500 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Lake Charles from Columbia?

About 905 road miles (767 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 16 h 18 min.

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 2 to 5 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 Louisiana 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 Columbia to Lake Charles?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $1,380 to $1,950 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,830 to $2,690. 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 Columbia–Lake Charles corridor.