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

Movers from Santa Maria to Rapid City

About 1,311 road miles heading northeast. Typical two-bedroom cost $5,930–$8,830, delivery in 3–7 days, 42 carriers on the Santa Maria side and 23 in Rapid City.

1,311 miroad distance
23 h 18 mindriving time
3–7 daysdelivery window
$5,930–$8,8302-bedroom estimate

Photo: WeaponizingArchitecture · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Route summary

From: Santa Maria, California
To: Rapid City, South Dakota
Road distance: ≈ 1,311 miles (1,111 straight-line)
Drive time: 23 h 18 min
Delivery window: 3–7 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 42 (23 interstate)
Movers at destination: 23 (17 interstate)

Reverse: Rapid City → Santa Maria

Rapid City sits about 1,311 miles northeast of Santa Maria, which makes this an interstate relocation from California to South Dakota that most movers classify as a long-distance move.

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 $5,930 to $8,830 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 18 min.

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 23 around Rapid City (17 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 Rapid City.

Santa Maria has a population of about 111,390 and Rapid City about 80,000. Santa Maria is considerably denser (4,812 people per square mile versus 1,357), 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 South Dakota than in California, which tends to make destination-side services such as unpacking or storage cheaper than the same services back home. South Dakota levies no state income tax on wages, a frequent reason people make this exact move.

Cost of moving from Santa Maria to Rapid City

Full-service estimate for 1,311 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$2,370	$2,890	$3,530
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$3,560	$4,340	$5,300
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$5,930	$7,240	$8,830
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$9,490	$11,580	$14,120
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$13,050	$15,920	$19,420

Rental truck (DIY)

$1,800–$2,540

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

Portable container

$2,190–$3,220

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

Full-service mover

$5,930–$8,830

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Santa Maria, CA → Rapid City, SD. Adjust the other options to see your range.

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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 Rapid City (destination)

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

Related routes

Other destinations from Santa Maria

Other origins to Rapid City

Frequently asked questions

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

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,370 to $3,530 for a studio, $3,560 to $5,300 for a one-bedroom, $5,930 to $8,830 for a two-bedroom, $9,490 to $14,120 for a three-bedroom and $13,050 to $19,420 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Rapid City from Santa Maria?

About 1,311 road miles (1,111 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 23 h 18 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 California into South Dakota 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 Rapid City?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $1,800 to $2,540 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,190 to $3,220. 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–Rapid City corridor.