Lake Charles, LA

Santa Barbara, CA → Lake Charles, LA · Cross-country move

Movers from Santa Barbara to Lake Charles

About 1,853 road miles heading east. Typical two-bedroom cost $7,000–$10,410, delivery in 5–10 days, 27 carriers on the Santa Barbara side and 25 in Lake Charles.

  • 1,853 miroad distance
  • 32 hours (4 driving days)driving time
  • 5–10 daysdelivery window
  • $7,000–$10,4102-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
≈ 1,853 miles (1,570 straight-line)
Drive time
32 hours (4 driving days)
Delivery window
5–10 days
Move type
Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin
27 (9 interstate)
Movers at destination
25 (18 interstate)

Reverse: Lake Charles → Santa Barbara

Moving from Santa Barbara to Lake Charles is a cross-country move of roughly 1,853 road miles, heading east from California 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 $7,000 to $10,410 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 5 to 10 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 32 hours (4 driving days).

On the Santa Barbara side there are 27 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (9 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.

Santa Barbara has a population of about 88,000 and Lake Charles about 80,000. Santa Barbara is considerably denser (4,549 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 California, which tends to make destination-side services such as unpacking or storage cheaper than the same services back home.

Cost of moving from Santa Barbara to Lake Charles

Full-service estimate for 1,853 miles, by home size
Home sizeEst. weightLowTypicalHigh
Studio 2,000 lb $2,800 $3,410 $4,160
1 Bedroom 3,000 lb $4,200 $5,120 $6,250
2 Bedrooms 5,000 lb $7,000 $8,530 $10,410
3 Bedrooms 8,000 lb $11,200 $13,650 $16,660
4+ Bedrooms 11,000 lb $15,400 $18,780 $22,910

Rental truck (DIY)

$2,650–$3,750

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

Portable container

$2,670–$3,930

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

Full-service mover

$7,000–$10,410

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Santa Barbara, CA → 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 Santa Barbara (origin)

Aussie Moving

Licensed interstate
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

Twentyfour7 Msi

Licensed interstate
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

Mammoth Van Lines

Licensed interstate
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

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

Bushnell Moving

Licensed interstate
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

Santa Barbara Home Improvement Center

Intrastate carrier
USDOT
2735884
Based in
Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered
2015

Mike'S Deliveries

Intrastate carrier
USDOT
3008579
Based in
Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered
2017

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

All 27 movers in Santa Barbara

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 Santa Barbara to Lake Charles?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,800 to $4,160 for a studio, $4,200 to $6,250 for a one-bedroom, $7,000 to $10,410 for a two-bedroom, $11,200 to $16,660 for a three-bedroom and $15,400 to $22,910 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Lake Charles from Santa Barbara?

About 1,853 road miles (1,570 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 32 hours (4 driving days).

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 5 to 10 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 California 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 Santa Barbara to Lake Charles?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $2,650 to $3,750 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,670 to $3,930. 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 Santa Barbara–Lake Charles corridor.