Lake Charles, LA

Joliet, IL → Lake Charles, LA · Long-distance move

Movers from Joliet to Lake Charles

About 981 road miles heading south. Typical two-bedroom cost $4,530–$6,740, delivery in 2–5 days, 694 carriers on the Joliet side and 25 in Lake Charles.

  • 981 miroad distance
  • 17 h 37 mindriving time
  • 2–5 daysdelivery window
  • $4,530–$6,7402-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

Route summary

Road distance
≈ 981 miles (831 straight-line)
Drive time
17 h 37 min
Delivery window
2–5 days
Move type
Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin
694 (561 interstate)
Movers at destination
25 (18 interstate)

Reverse: Lake Charles → Joliet

Lake Charles sits about 981 miles south of Joliet, which makes this an interstate relocation from Illinois to Louisiana that most movers classify as a long-distance move.

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 $4,530 to $6,740 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 17 h 37 min.

On the Joliet side there are 694 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (561 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.

Joliet has a population of about 152,241 and Lake Charles about 80,000. Joliet is considerably denser (2,331 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 Illinois, which tends to make destination-side services such as unpacking or storage cheaper than the same services back home.

Cost of moving from Joliet to Lake Charles

Full-service estimate for 981 miles, by home size
Home sizeEst. weightLowTypicalHigh
Studio 2,000 lb $1,810 $2,210 $2,700
1 Bedroom 3,000 lb $2,720 $3,310 $4,040
2 Bedrooms 5,000 lb $4,530 $5,520 $6,740
3 Bedrooms 8,000 lb $7,250 $8,840 $10,780
4+ Bedrooms 11,000 lb $9,970 $12,150 $14,830

Rental truck (DIY)

$1,460–$2,060

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

Portable container

$1,900–$2,790

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

Full-service mover

$4,530–$6,740

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Joliet, IL → 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 Joliet (origin)

Forsage INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
2588231
MC
907486
Based in
Channahon, IL 60410 (7 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
600 trucks, 600 drivers
USDOT registered
2015

Em Cargo LLC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3073738
MC
62685
Based in
Lemont, IL 60439 (14 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
260 trucks, 260 drivers
USDOT registered
2017

Legacy Express Trucking INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
1744355
MC
772181
Based in
Joliet, IL 60435 (2 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
205 trucks, 165 drivers
USDOT registered
2008

Vynera Transportation INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
1585417
MC
586954
Based in
Romeoville, IL 60446 (8 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
185 trucks, 185 drivers
USDOT registered
2006

Prima Express INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
1313194
MC
527982
Based in
Joliet, IL 60432 (6 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
165 trucks, 150 drivers
USDOT registered
2004

Tva Logistics INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
2555496
MC
890930
Based in
Plainfield, IL 60544 (8 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
150 trucks, 163 drivers
USDOT registered
2014

Road King Express INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
2578534
MC
902373
Based in
Romeoville, IL 60446 (8 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
138 trucks, 124 drivers
USDOT registered
2015

Zmile INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3342792
MC
1067250
Based in
Romeoville, IL 60446 (8 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
120 trucks, 120 drivers
USDOT registered
2019

All 694 movers in Joliet

Near Lake Charles (destination)

Lake City Trucking

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
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

Two Men And A Truck Lake Charles

Licensed interstate
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

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

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

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

Dredging Contractor Firm

Interstate carrier Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
107462
Based in
Westlake, LA 70669 (5 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
1 truck, 1 drivers
USDOT registered
1974

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

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

All 25 movers in Lake Charles

Related routes

Frequently asked questions

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

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $1,810 to $2,700 for a studio, $2,720 to $4,040 for a one-bedroom, $4,530 to $6,740 for a two-bedroom, $7,250 to $10,780 for a three-bedroom and $9,970 to $14,830 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Lake Charles from Joliet?

About 981 road miles (831 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 17 h 37 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 Illinois 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 Joliet to Lake Charles?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $1,460 to $2,060 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,900 to $2,790. 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 Joliet–Lake Charles corridor.