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Lake Charles, LA

Panama City, FL → Lake Charles, LA · Long-distance move

Movers from Panama City to Lake Charles

About 531 road miles heading west. Typical two-bedroom cost $3,370–$5,020, delivery in 2–5 days, 56 carriers on the Panama City side and 25 in Lake Charles.

  • 531 miroad distance
  • 9 h 51 mindriving time
  • 2–5 daysdelivery window
  • $3,370–$5,0202-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
≈ 531 miles (450 straight-line)
Drive time
9 h 51 min
Delivery window
2–5 days
Move type
Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin
56 (23 interstate)
Movers at destination
25 (18 interstate)

Reverse: Lake Charles → Panama City

Moving from Panama City to Lake Charles is a long-distance move of roughly 531 road miles, heading west from Florida 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 $3,370 to $5,020 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 9 h 51 min.

On the Panama City side there are 56 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (23 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.

Panama City has a population of about 36,000 and Lake Charles about 80,000. Lake Charles is the denser city (1,788 people per square mile versus 930 in Panama City), which often means shuttle trucks, parking restrictions or building move-in windows on delivery day. Labor and living costs run lower in Louisiana than in Florida, which tends to make destination-side services such as unpacking or storage cheaper than the same services back home. Note that Louisiana does collect a state income tax, unlike Florida, so factor that into the cost-of-living comparison.

Cost of moving from Panama City to Lake Charles

Full-service estimate for 531 miles, by home size
Home sizeEst. weightLowTypicalHigh
Studio 2,000 lb $1,350 $1,650 $2,010
1 Bedroom 3,000 lb $2,020 $2,470 $3,010
2 Bedrooms 5,000 lb $3,370 $4,110 $5,020
3 Bedrooms 8,000 lb $5,400 $6,580 $8,030
4+ Bedrooms 11,000 lb $7,420 $9,050 $11,040

Rental truck (DIY)

$850–$1,190

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

Portable container

$1,490–$2,200

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

Full-service mover

$3,370–$5,020

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Panama City, FL → 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 Panama City (origin)

Two Men And A Truck

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Destiny Services INC

USDOT
2014393
MC
709581
Based in
Panama City, FL 32401 (2 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
16 trucks, 18 drivers
USDOT registered
2010
Call (850) 785-2222 Route Verify on FMCSA

Greg Abrams Seafood INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
649083
MC
498968
Based in
Panama City, FL 32401 (2 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
10 trucks, 9 drivers
USDOT registered
1996
Call (850) 769-4658 Route Verify on FMCSA

Paulk'S Moving & Storage INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
89936
MC
135068
Based in
Panama City, FL 32401 (2 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
4 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered
1974
Call (850) 785-4333 Route Verify on FMCSA

Emerald Moving & Storage

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Emerald Coast Moving And Storage

USDOT
3246056
MC
1399110
Based in
Southport, FL 32409 (12 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
4 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered
2019
Call (850) 909-3009 Route Verify on FMCSA

Summit Movers INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
1995595
MC
706025
Based in
Panama City, FL 32405 (2 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
3 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered
2010
Call (850) 890-6009 Route Verify on FMCSA

L&m Delivery Service LLC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3578993
MC
1208249
Based in
Panama City, FL 32404 (10 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
3 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered
2021
Call (770) 733-0285 Route Verify on FMCSA

Van Horn Transfer & Storage Company

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
89994
MC
614619
Based in
Panama City, FL 32401 (2 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
2 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered
1974
Call (850) 763-3965 Route Verify on FMCSA

Cumbie'S Trucking

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Andrew William Cumbie

USDOT
537601
MC
273715
Based in
Panama City, FL 32405 (2 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
2 trucks, 2 drivers
USDOT registered
1993
Call (850) 628-1109 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 56 movers in Panama City

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 Panama City

Other origins to Lake Charles

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Panama City to Lake Charles?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $1,350 to $2,010 for a studio, $2,020 to $3,010 for a one-bedroom, $3,370 to $5,020 for a two-bedroom, $5,400 to $8,030 for a three-bedroom and $7,420 to $11,040 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Lake Charles from Panama City?

About 531 road miles (450 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 9 h 51 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 Florida 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 Panama City to Lake Charles?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $850 to $1,190 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,490 to $2,200. 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 Panama City–Lake Charles corridor.