Rochester, NY → Lakeland, FL · Long-distance move

Movers from Rochester to Lakeland

About 1,265 road miles heading south. Typical two-bedroom cost $5,910–$8,800, delivery in 3–7 days, 306 carriers on the Rochester side and 509 in Lakeland.

1,265 miroad distance
22 h 31 mindriving time
3–7 daysdelivery window
$5,910–$8,8002-bedroom estimate

Photo: Connor J. Williams · CC BY 3.0

Open navigation Google Maps Apple Maps Waze

Route summary

From: Rochester, New York
To: Lakeland, Florida
Road distance: ≈ 1,265 miles (1,072 straight-line)
Drive time: 22 h 31 min
Delivery window: 3–7 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 306 (95 interstate)
Movers at destination: 509 (177 interstate)

Reverse: Lakeland → Rochester

The route from Rochester, NY to Lakeland, FL covers roughly 1,265 miles by road, a south-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 $5,910 to $8,800 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 22 h 31 min.

On the Rochester side there are 306 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (95 of them authorized for interstate work), and 509 around Lakeland (177 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 Lakeland.

Rochester has a population of about 206,108 and Lakeland about 125,520. Rochester is considerably denser (5,903 people per square mile versus 1,702), 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 Florida than in New York, which tends to make destination-side services such as unpacking or storage cheaper than the same services back home. Florida levies no state income tax on wages, a frequent reason people make this exact move.

Cost of moving from Rochester to Lakeland

Full-service estimate for 1,265 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$2,370	$2,880	$3,520
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$3,550	$4,330	$5,280
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$5,910	$7,210	$8,800
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$9,460	$11,540	$14,080
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$13,010	$15,870	$19,360

Rental truck (DIY)

$1,750–$2,470

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

Portable container

$2,150–$3,160

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

Full-service mover

$5,910–$8,800

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Rochester, NY → Lakeland, FL. 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 Rochester (origin)

US Commercial Freight INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1858362
MC: 663221
Based in: Rochester, NY 14621 (2 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 301 trucks, 296 drivers
USDOT registered: 2009

Call (585) 266-1404 Route Verify on FMCSA

Wegmans Food Markets INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 185452
MC: 152450
Based in: Rochester, NY 14624 (6 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 216 trucks, 387 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (585) 279-4312 Route Verify on FMCSA

Custom Courier Solutions INC

Interstate carrier

USDOT: 1612855
Based in: Rochester, NY 14606 (4 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 39 trucks, 34 drivers
USDOT registered: 2007

Call (585) 568-1309 Route Verify on FMCSA

Cargo Transit INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2346265
MC: 802875
Based in: Rochester, NY 14626 (6 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 36 trucks, 36 drivers
USDOT registered: 2012

Call (585) 745-0216 Route Verify on FMCSA

Falcon Freight INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 2363517
MC: 810160
Based in: Rochester, NY 14613 (1 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 33 trucks, 38 drivers
USDOT registered: 2012

Call (585) 672-1496 Route Verify on FMCSA

Amj Home Delivery

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Amj Hd 23 INC

USDOT: 4058921
MC: 1539704
Based in: Rochester, NY 14623 (6 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 21 trucks, 12 drivers
USDOT registered: 2023

Call (905) 670-7111 Route Verify on FMCSA

Sheridan Brothers Moving INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1203584
MC: 489094
Based in: Rochester, NY 14624 (6 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 19 trucks, 6 drivers
USDOT registered: 2004

Call (585) 254-9000 Route Verify on FMCSA

Juan C Medina DBA Rogue Logistic

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Roque Logistic INC

USDOT: 3428666
MC: 1110266
Based in: Rochester, NY 14616 (5 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 15 trucks, 16 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (201) 906-6164 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 306 movers in Rochester

Near Lakeland (destination)

Publix

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Publix Super Markets INC

USDOT: 439262
MC: 1576808
Based in: Lakeland, FL 33815 (3 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 945 trucks, 1,720 drivers
USDOT registered: 1991

Call (863) 688-1188 Route Verify on FMCSA

Saddle Creek Transportation INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 1196553
MC: 470192
Based in: Lakeland, FL 33801 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 409 trucks, 535 drivers
USDOT registered: 2003

Call (863) 241-3533 Route Verify on FMCSA

Southeast Independent Delivery Services

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Se Independent Delivery Services INC

USDOT: 842212
MC: 370980
Based in: Lakeland, FL 33811 (7 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 748 trucks, 950 drivers
USDOT registered: 1999

Call (863) 616-6060 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mega Trucking LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2582238
MC: 904298
Based in: Auburndale, FL 33823 (9 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 550 trucks, 275 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (786) 345-7841 Route Verify on FMCSA

C & S Wholesale Services LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1338655
MC: 525824
Based in: Plant City, FL 33566 (10 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 388 trucks, 401 drivers
USDOT registered: 2005

Call (904) 545-7825 Route Verify on FMCSA

Phoenix Logistics & Cold Storage LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3348075
MC: 1069873
Based in: Lakeland, FL 33801 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 257 trucks, 243 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (305) 691-3535 Route Verify on FMCSA

Exxact Transport

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Exxact Transport INC

USDOT: 612401
MC: 277158
Based in: Lakeland, FL 33801 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 91 trucks, 96 drivers
USDOT registered: 1995

Call (863) 682-4101 Route Verify on FMCSA

Star Transportation Company

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 549928
MC: 153627
Based in: Plant City, FL 33563 (11 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 74 trucks, 85 drivers
USDOT registered: 1994

Call (813) 659-1002 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 509 movers in Lakeland

Related routes

Other destinations from Rochester

Other origins to Lakeland

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Rochester to Lakeland?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,370 to $3,520 for a studio, $3,550 to $5,280 for a one-bedroom, $5,910 to $8,800 for a two-bedroom, $9,460 to $14,080 for a three-bedroom and $13,010 to $19,360 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Lakeland from Rochester?

About 1,265 road miles (1,072 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 22 h 31 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 New York into Florida 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 Rochester to Lakeland?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $1,750 to $2,470 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,150 to $3,160. 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 Rochester–Lakeland corridor.