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Santa Cruz, CA

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

Movers from Rapid City to Santa Cruz

About 1,298 road miles heading west. Typical two-bedroom cost $5,900–$8,780, delivery in 3–7 days, 23 carriers on the Rapid City side and 27 in Santa Cruz.

  • 1,298 miroad distance
  • 23 h 5 mindriving time
  • 3–7 daysdelivery window
  • $5,900–$8,7802-bedroom estimate
Photo: Don DeBold from San Jose, CA, USA · CC BY 2.0
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Route summary

Road distance
≈ 1,298 miles (1,100 straight-line)
Drive time
23 h 5 min
Delivery window
3–7 days
Move type
Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin
23 (17 interstate)
Movers at destination
27 (6 interstate)

Reverse: Santa Cruz → Rapid City

The route from Rapid City, SD to Santa Cruz, CA covers roughly 1,298 miles by road, a west-bound trip that falls into the long-distance move category for pricing purposes.

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 $5,900 to $8,780 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 5 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 Cruz (6 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 Cruz.

Rapid City has a population of about 80,000 and Santa Cruz about 62,000. Santa Cruz is the denser city (4,942 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 Cruz

Full-service estimate for 1,298 miles, by home size
Home sizeEst. weightLowTypicalHigh
Studio 2,000 lb $2,360 $2,880 $3,510
1 Bedroom 3,000 lb $3,540 $4,320 $5,270
2 Bedrooms 5,000 lb $5,900 $7,190 $8,780
3 Bedrooms 8,000 lb $9,440 $11,510 $14,040
4+ Bedrooms 11,000 lb $12,980 $15,820 $19,310

Rental truck (DIY)

$1,780–$2,520

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

Portable container

$2,180–$3,200

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

Full-service mover

$5,900–$8,780

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Rapid City, SD → Santa Cruz, 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 Cruz (destination)

Lambert And Son Moving

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Bill Lambert

USDOT
3528657
MC
1220611
Based in
Santa Cruz, CA 95065 (5 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
4 trucks, 7 drivers
USDOT registered
2020
Call (831) 777-4265 Route Verify on FMCSA

Edward W Grace

Licensed interstate
USDOT
1559365
MC
643222
Based in
Santa Cruz, CA 95062 (3 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
1 truck, 3 drivers
USDOT registered
2006
Call (831) 465-6865 Route Verify on FMCSA

Denise Hoselton Living Tr

Interstate carrier
USDOT
4197804
MC
1618833
Based in
Brookdale, CA 95007 (10 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
1 truck, 1 drivers
USDOT registered
2024
Call (831) 704-6804 Route Verify on FMCSA

Delivertron

Interstate carrier

Legal name: Delivertron LLC

USDOT
3592367
Based in
Boulder Creek, CA 95006 (15 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
1 truck, 1 drivers
USDOT registered
2021
Call (831) 293-4823 Route Verify on FMCSA

Locatelli Moving And Storage INC

Intrastate carrier
USDOT
1891836
Based in
Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (4 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
7 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered
2009
Call (831) 425-7775 Route Verify on FMCSA

Coast Paper & Supply

Intrastate carrier
USDOT
2666577
Based in
Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (4 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
4 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered
2015
Call (831) 423-3350 Route Verify on FMCSA

Rational Moving INC

Intrastate carrier
USDOT
3393511
MC
1565780
Based in
Scotts Valley, CA 95066 (7 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered
2020
Call (831) 425-1448 Route Verify on FMCSA

Full Load

Intrastate carrier

Legal name: Robert D Joseph

USDOT
2773290
Based in
Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (4 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
2 trucks, 2 drivers
USDOT registered
2015
Call (831) 419-5395 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 27 movers in Santa Cruz

Related routes

Other destinations from Rapid City

Other origins to Santa Cruz

Frequently asked questions

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

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,360 to $3,510 for a studio, $3,540 to $5,270 for a one-bedroom, $5,900 to $8,780 for a two-bedroom, $9,440 to $14,040 for a three-bedroom and $12,980 to $19,310 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Santa Cruz from Rapid City?

About 1,298 road miles (1,100 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 23 h 5 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 Cruz?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $1,780 to $2,520 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,180 to $3,200. 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 Rapid City–Santa Cruz corridor.