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Santa Barbara, CA

Rapid City, SD → Santa Barbara, CA · Long-distance move

Movers from Rapid City to Santa Barbara

About 1,302 road miles heading southwest. Typical two-bedroom cost $5,910–$8,790, delivery in 3–7 days, 23 carriers on the Rapid City side and 27 in Santa Barbara.

  • 1,302 miroad distance
  • 23 h 9 mindriving time
  • 3–7 daysdelivery window
  • $5,910–$8,7902-bedroom estimate
Photo: Pierre André · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Route summary

Road distance
≈ 1,302 miles (1,104 straight-line)
Drive time
23 h 9 min
Delivery window
3–7 days
Move type
Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin
23 (17 interstate)
Movers at destination
27 (9 interstate)

Reverse: Santa Barbara → Rapid City

Moving from Rapid City to Santa Barbara is a long-distance move of roughly 1,302 road miles, heading southwest from South Dakota 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 $5,910 to $8,790 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 3 to 7 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 23 h 9 min.

On the Rapid City side there are 23 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (17 of them authorized for interstate work), and 27 around Santa Barbara (9 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 Barbara.

Rapid City has a population of about 80,000 and Santa Barbara about 88,000. Santa Barbara is the denser city (4,549 people per square mile versus 1,357 in Rapid City), which often means shuttle trucks, parking restrictions or building move-in windows on delivery day. California is a higher-cost state than South Dakota, so budget a little more for destination-side help, deposits and first-month expenses. Note that California does collect a state income tax, unlike South Dakota, so factor that into the cost-of-living comparison.

Cost of moving from Rapid City to Santa Barbara

Full-service estimate for 1,302 miles, by home size
Home sizeEst. weightLowTypicalHigh
Studio 2,000 lb $2,360 $2,880 $3,520
1 Bedroom 3,000 lb $3,550 $4,320 $5,270
2 Bedrooms 5,000 lb $5,910 $7,210 $8,790
3 Bedrooms 8,000 lb $9,450 $11,530 $14,070
4+ Bedrooms 11,000 lb $13,000 $15,850 $19,340

Rental truck (DIY)

$1,790–$2,520

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

Portable container

$2,180–$3,210

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

Full-service mover

$5,910–$8,790

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Rapid City, SD → Santa Barbara, CA. 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 Rapid City (origin)

The Moving Guys LLC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3199241
MC
160684
Based in
Rapid City, SD 57702 (10 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
6 trucks, 6 drivers
USDOT registered
2018
Call (605) 877-2258 Route Verify on FMCSA

Northwestern Warehouse Company

Licensed interstate
USDOT
159450
MC
142617
Based in
Rapid City, SD 57701 (4 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
5 trucks, 8 drivers
USDOT registered
1974
Call (605) 342-1460 Route Verify on FMCSA

North Central Supply INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
126865
MC
158116
Based in
Rapid City, SD 57701 (4 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
4 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered
1974
Call (605) 343-5486 Route Verify on FMCSA

Green'S Moving & Storage INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
207599
MC
146767
Based in
Rapid City, SD 57701 (4 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
4 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered
1981
Call (605) 342-7060 Route Verify on FMCSA

Dakota Express

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Dakota Express Transportation INC

USDOT
379471
MC
226380
Based in
Rapid City, SD 57701 (4 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
4 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered
1990
Call (605) 341-5458 Route Verify on FMCSA

Thomas & Sons Moving Company LLC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
2997736
MC
22439
Based in
Rapid City, SD 57702 (10 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered
2017
Call (605) 787-3871 Route Verify on FMCSA

Aces And Eights Transport INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3232950
MC
1013972
Based in
Rapid City, SD 57701 (4 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
2 trucks, 2 drivers
USDOT registered
2019
Call (612) 406-1441 Route Verify on FMCSA

D & D Logistics LLC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
4017443
MC
1514392
Based in
Rapid City, SD 57701 (4 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
1 truck, 1 drivers
USDOT registered
2023
Call (605) 858-4772 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 23 movers in Rapid City

Near Santa Barbara (destination)

Aussie Moving

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Aussie Moving INC

USDOT
2424966
MC
876037
Based in
Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
2 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered
2013
Call (805) 456-6498 Route Verify on FMCSA

Twentyfour7 Msi

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Twenty Four 7 Moving Specialists INC

USDOT
1821147
MC
661157
Based in
Carpinteria, CA 93013 (12 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
2 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered
2008
Call (805) 696-9247 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mammoth Van Lines

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Mammoth Moving Holding Corporation

USDOT
374567
MC
225136
Based in
Santa Barbara, CA 93111 (6 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
1 truck, 2 drivers
USDOT registered
1989
Call (805) 968-8643 Route Verify on FMCSA

All Things Home Services LLC

Interstate carrier
USDOT
8395520
Based in
Santa Barbara, CA 93111 (6 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
1 truck, 4 drivers
USDOT registered
2026
Call (805) 245-3822 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bushnell Moving

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Kenneth Lee Bushnell

USDOT
1355626
MC
608117
Based in
Santa Barbara, CA 93105 (9 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
1 truck, 1 drivers
USDOT registered
2005
Call (805) 682-5454 Route Verify on FMCSA

Santa Barbara Home Improvement Center

Intrastate carrier

Legal name: Santa Barbara Home Improvement Center INC

USDOT
2735884
Based in
Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered
2015
Call (805) 963-7825 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mike'S Deliveries

Intrastate carrier

Legal name: Miguel A Barrios

USDOT
3008579
Based in
Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered
2017
Call (805) 331-0318 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bright Delivery And Install INC

Intrastate carrier
USDOT
3544323
Based in
Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered
2021
Call (805) 679-1020 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 27 movers in Santa Barbara

Related routes

Other destinations from Rapid City

Other origins to Santa Barbara

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Rapid City to Santa Barbara?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,360 to $3,520 for a studio, $3,550 to $5,270 for a one-bedroom, $5,910 to $8,790 for a two-bedroom, $9,450 to $14,070 for a three-bedroom and $13,000 to $19,340 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Santa Barbara from Rapid City?

About 1,302 road miles (1,104 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 23 h 9 min.

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 3 to 7 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 Dakota 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 Rapid City to Santa Barbara?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $1,790 to $2,520 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,180 to $3,210. 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 Rapid City–Santa Barbara corridor.