MovingFromMoving navigation
Lake Charles, LA

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

Movers from Santa Monica to Lake Charles

About 1,769 road miles heading east. Typical two-bedroom cost $6,850–$10,200, delivery in 5–10 days, 603 carriers on the Santa Monica side and 25 in Lake Charles.

  • 1,769 miroad distance
  • 31 hours (4 driving days)driving time
  • 5–10 daysdelivery window
  • $6,850–$10,2002-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
Open navigation Google Maps Apple Maps Waze

Route summary

Road distance
≈ 1,769 miles (1,499 straight-line)
Drive time
31 hours (4 driving days)
Delivery window
5–10 days
Move type
Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin
603 (222 interstate)
Movers at destination
25 (18 interstate)

Reverse: Lake Charles → Santa Monica

Moving from Santa Monica to Lake Charles is a cross-country move of roughly 1,769 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 $6,850 to $10,200 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 31 hours (4 driving days).

On the Santa Monica side there are 603 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (222 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 Monica has a population of about 92,000 and Lake Charles about 80,000. Santa Monica is considerably denser (11,069 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 Monica to Lake Charles

Full-service estimate for 1,769 miles, by home size
Home sizeEst. weightLowTypicalHigh
Studio 2,000 lb $2,740 $3,340 $4,080
1 Bedroom 3,000 lb $4,110 $5,010 $6,120
2 Bedrooms 5,000 lb $6,850 $8,360 $10,200
3 Bedrooms 8,000 lb $10,970 $13,370 $16,310
4+ Bedrooms 11,000 lb $15,080 $18,390 $22,430

Rental truck (DIY)

$2,420–$3,410

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

Portable container

$2,600–$3,820

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

Full-service mover

$6,850–$10,200

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

Moving cost calculator

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

Clutter INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
2719785
MC
934868
Based in
Culver City, CA 90230 (6 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
191 trucks, 382 drivers
USDOT registered
2015
Call (877) 626-1887 Route Verify on FMCSA

Arru Group INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
4420956
MC
1738102
Based in
Los Angeles, CA 90029 (13 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
52 trucks, 180 drivers
USDOT registered
2025
Call (424) 335-1991 Route Verify on FMCSA

Ing Logistics

Licensed interstate
USDOT
1778992
MC
648911
Based in
Los Angeles, CA 90037 (12 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
50 trucks, 21 drivers
USDOT registered
2008
Call (213) 944-0878 Route Verify on FMCSA

Dsd Trucking INC

Interstate carrier Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
465743
MC
309255
Based in
Redondo Beach, CA 90278 (12 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
39 trucks, 31 drivers
USDOT registered
1991
Call (310) 725-1999 Route Verify on FMCSA

Grt Logistics LLC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3410979
MC
1099772
Based in
Los Angeles, CA 90008 (9 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
35 trucks, 80 drivers
USDOT registered
2020
Call (310) 508-6676 Route Verify on FMCSA

Harmony Home Remodels

Licensed interstate
USDOT
4468385
MC
1763223
Based in
Van Nuys, CA 91411 (12 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
33 trucks, 45 drivers
USDOT registered
2025
Call (818) 747-3439 Route Verify on FMCSA

Dlvr

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3471374
MC
1136305
Based in
Culver City, CA 90230 (6 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
25 trucks, 55 drivers
USDOT registered
2020
Route Verify on FMCSA

Melogistix INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
3479671
MC
1141564
Based in
LA, CA 90019 (10 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
25 trucks, 48 drivers
USDOT registered
2020
Call (323) 377-8628 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 603 movers in Santa Monica

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 Monica

Other origins to Lake Charles

Frequently asked questions

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

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,740 to $4,080 for a studio, $4,110 to $6,120 for a one-bedroom, $6,850 to $10,200 for a two-bedroom, $10,970 to $16,310 for a three-bedroom and $15,080 to $22,430 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Lake Charles from Santa Monica?

About 1,769 road miles (1,499 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 31 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 Monica to Lake Charles?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $2,420 to $3,410 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,600 to $3,820. 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 Monica–Lake Charles corridor.