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Lake Charles, LA

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

Movers from Santa Maria to Lake Charles

About 1,904 road miles heading east. Typical two-bedroom cost $7,090–$10,540, delivery in 5–10 days, 42 carriers on the Santa Maria side and 25 in Lake Charles.

  • 1,904 miroad distance
  • 33 hours (4 driving days)driving time
  • 5–10 daysdelivery window
  • $7,090–$10,5402-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
≈ 1,904 miles (1,614 straight-line)
Drive time
33 hours (4 driving days)
Delivery window
5–10 days
Move type
Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin
42 (23 interstate)
Movers at destination
25 (18 interstate)

Reverse: Lake Charles → Santa Maria

The route from Santa Maria, CA to Lake Charles, LA covers roughly 1,904 miles by road, a east-bound trip that falls into the cross-country 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 $7,090 to $10,540 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 33 hours (4 driving days).

On the Santa Maria side there are 42 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.

Santa Maria has a population of about 111,390 and Lake Charles about 80,000. Santa Maria is considerably denser (4,812 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 Maria to Lake Charles

Full-service estimate for 1,904 miles, by home size
Home sizeEst. weightLowTypicalHigh
Studio 2,000 lb $2,830 $3,460 $4,220
1 Bedroom 3,000 lb $4,250 $5,180 $6,330
2 Bedrooms 5,000 lb $7,090 $8,640 $10,540
3 Bedrooms 8,000 lb $11,340 $13,830 $16,870
4+ Bedrooms 11,000 lb $15,590 $19,010 $23,190

Rental truck (DIY)

$2,710–$3,820

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

Portable container

$2,720–$4,000

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

Full-service mover

$7,090–$10,540

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Santa Maria, 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 Maria (origin)

Johnboy'S Towing INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
2383920
MC
818987
Based in
Oceano, CA 93445 (13 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
17 trucks, 8 drivers
USDOT registered
2013
Call (805) 474-4357 Route Verify on FMCSA

International Van Lines INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
153048
MC
11663
Based in
Santa Maria, CA 93454 (11 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
9 trucks, 8 drivers
USDOT registered
1974
Call (805) 925-2912 Route Verify on FMCSA

Sarabia Transports LLC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
2844846
MC
953585
Based in
Santa Maria, CA 93455 (6 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
4 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered
2016
Route Verify on FMCSA

Rivera Logistics LLC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
2807289
MC
1030656
Based in
Santa Maria, CA 93454 (11 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
4 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered
2015
Call (805) 260-9847 Route Verify on FMCSA

Cal Coast Ag Services LLC

Interstate carrier
USDOT
4380715
Based in
Santa Maria, CA 93455 (6 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
3 trucks, 1 drivers
USDOT registered
2025
Call (805) 922-8406 Route Verify on FMCSA

Triple A Express INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
2356410
MC
807169
Based in
Santa Maria, CA 93454 (11 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
3 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered
2012
Call (805) 868-5364 Route Verify on FMCSA

Louie'S Central Coast Movers & Laborers INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
2069509
MC
723441
Based in
Santa Maria, CA 93454 (11 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
2 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered
2010
Call (805) 925-7923 Route Verify on FMCSA

Zarate Trucking

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Francisco Javier Zarate

USDOT
1968090
MC
698504
Based in
Santa Maria, CA 93458 (3 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
1 truck, 1 drivers
USDOT registered
2009
Call (805) 260-9063 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 42 movers in Santa Maria

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 Santa Maria

Other origins to Lake Charles

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Santa Maria to Lake Charles?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,830 to $4,220 for a studio, $4,250 to $6,330 for a one-bedroom, $7,090 to $10,540 for a two-bedroom, $11,340 to $16,870 for a three-bedroom and $15,590 to $23,190 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Lake Charles from Santa Maria?

About 1,904 road miles (1,614 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 33 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 Maria to Lake Charles?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $2,710 to $3,820 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,720 to $4,000. 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 Maria–Lake Charles corridor.