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Lake Charles, LA

El Cajon, CA → Lake Charles, LA · Cross-country move

Movers from El Cajon to Lake Charles

About 1,661 road miles heading east. Typical two-bedroom cost $6,670–$9,920, delivery in 5–10 days, 339 carriers on the El Cajon side and 25 in Lake Charles.

  • 1,661 miroad distance
  • 29 hours (4 driving days)driving time
  • 5–10 daysdelivery window
  • $6,670–$9,9202-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
≈ 1,661 miles (1,408 straight-line)
Drive time
29 hours (4 driving days)
Delivery window
5–10 days
Move type
Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin
339 (105 interstate)
Movers at destination
25 (18 interstate)

Reverse: Lake Charles → El Cajon

Moving from El Cajon to Lake Charles is a cross-country move of roughly 1,661 road miles, heading east from California 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 $6,670 to $9,920 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 5 to 10 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 29 hours (4 driving days).

On the El Cajon side there are 339 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (105 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.

El Cajon has a population of about 101,755 and Lake Charles about 80,000. El Cajon is considerably denser (7,325 people per square mile versus 1,788), so expect tighter loading conditions, parking permits or elevator reservations at the origin and easier truck access at the destination. Labor and living costs run lower in Louisiana than in California, which tends to make destination-side services such as unpacking or storage cheaper than the same services back home.

Cost of moving from El Cajon to Lake Charles

Full-service estimate for 1,661 miles, by home size
Home sizeEst. weightLowTypicalHigh
Studio 2,000 lb $2,670 $3,250 $3,970
1 Bedroom 3,000 lb $4,000 $4,880 $5,950
2 Bedrooms 5,000 lb $6,670 $8,130 $9,920
3 Bedrooms 8,000 lb $10,670 $13,010 $15,870
4+ Bedrooms 11,000 lb $14,670 $17,890 $21,820

Rental truck (DIY)

$2,310–$3,260

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

Portable container

$2,500–$3,680

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

Full-service mover

$6,670–$9,920

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for El Cajon, CA → 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 El Cajon (origin)

Magic Mile LLC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3296634
MC
1044843
Based in
Poway, CA 92064 (13 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
45 trucks, 70 drivers
USDOT registered
2019
Call (619) 991-9424 Route Verify on FMCSA

Djw Logistics

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Walk With Me INC

USDOT
3312065
MC
1052279
Based in
Chula Vista, CA 91910 (13 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
30 trucks, 60 drivers
USDOT registered
2019
Call (858) 294-3804 Route Verify on FMCSA

Republic Moving & Storage

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Lovejoy'S Family Moving INC

USDOT
3369820
MC
778208
Based in
Chula Vista, CA 91914 (9 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
21 trucks, 20 drivers
USDOT registered
2019
Call (951) 541-6710 Route Verify on FMCSA

Ackley Moving Services

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Ackley Enterprises INC

USDOT
1868365
MC
675281
Based in
Poway, CA 92064 (13 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
21 trucks, 19 drivers
USDOT registered
2009
Call (858) 735-9587 Route Verify on FMCSA

Allstate Logistics

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Allstate Van & Storage INC

USDOT
692879
MC
321079
Based in
Poway, CA 92064 (13 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
18 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered
1997
Call (858) 746-1000 Route Verify on FMCSA

The Cms Companies

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Sullivan Moving & Storage INC

USDOT
56181
MC
127405
Based in
San Diego, CA 92111 (12 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
17 trucks, 42 drivers
USDOT registered
1974
Call (253) 395-5432 Route Verify on FMCSA

B One LLC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
2271280
MC
780878
Based in
El Cajon, CA 92020 (1 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
16 trucks, 11 drivers
USDOT registered
2012
Call (619) 215-5125 Route Verify on FMCSA

C & D Towing Specialists

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: C & D Towing Specialists INC

USDOT
1057657
MC
442792
Based in
El Cajon, CA 92020 (1 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
13 trucks, 19 drivers
USDOT registered
2002
Call (619) 463-8697 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 339 movers in El Cajon

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 El Cajon

Other origins to Lake Charles

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from El Cajon to Lake Charles?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,670 to $3,970 for a studio, $4,000 to $5,950 for a one-bedroom, $6,670 to $9,920 for a two-bedroom, $10,670 to $15,870 for a three-bedroom and $14,670 to $21,820 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Lake Charles from El Cajon?

About 1,661 road miles (1,408 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 29 hours (4 driving days).

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 5 to 10 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 California 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 El Cajon to Lake Charles?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $2,310 to $3,260 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,500 to $3,680. 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 El Cajon–Lake Charles corridor.