Santa Monica, CA → Lakeland, FL · Cross-country move

Movers from Santa Monica to Lakeland

About 2,585 road miles heading east. Typical two-bedroom cost $8,600–$12,790, delivery in 7–14 days, 603 carriers on the Santa Monica side and 509 in Lakeland.

2,585 miroad distance
45 hours (6 driving days)driving time
7–14 daysdelivery window
$8,600–$12,7902-bedroom estimate

Photo: Connor J. Williams · CC BY 3.0

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Route summary

From: Santa Monica, California
To: Lakeland, Florida
Road distance: ≈ 2,585 miles (2,190 straight-line)
Drive time: 45 hours (6 driving days)
Delivery window: 7–14 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 603 (222 interstate)
Movers at destination: 509 (177 interstate)

Reverse: Lakeland → Santa Monica

Moving from Santa Monica to Lakeland is a cross-country move of roughly 2,585 road miles, heading east from California to Florida.

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 $8,600 to $12,790 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 7 to 14 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 45 hours (6 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 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.

Santa Monica has a population of about 92,000 and Lakeland about 125,520. Santa Monica is considerably denser (11,069 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 California, 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 Santa Monica to Lakeland

Full-service estimate for 2,585 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$3,440	$4,190	$5,120
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$5,160	$6,290	$7,680
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$8,600	$10,490	$12,790
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$13,760	$16,780	$20,470
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$18,920	$23,070	$28,140

Rental truck (DIY)

$3,560–$5,020

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

Portable container

$3,330–$4,890

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

Full-service mover

$8,600–$12,790

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Santa Monica, CA → Lakeland, FL. 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 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 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

Tips for this move

Confirm which items the mover will not carry (plants, perishables, propane, some batteries).
Expect a delivery spread of one to two weeks; plan temporary housing in Lakeland accordingly.
Compare a full-service van line against a container service; for a small household the container often wins.
Ask about consolidated versus dedicated truck options—dedicated is faster but costs more.

Near Santa Monica

Near Lakeland

Related routes

Other destinations from Santa Monica

Other origins to Lakeland

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Santa Monica to Lakeland?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $3,440 to $5,120 for a studio, $5,160 to $7,680 for a one-bedroom, $8,600 to $12,790 for a two-bedroom, $13,760 to $20,470 for a three-bedroom and $18,920 to $28,140 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Lakeland from Santa Monica?

About 2,585 road miles (2,190 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 45 hours (6 driving days).

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 7 to 14 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 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 Santa Monica to Lakeland?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $3,560 to $5,020 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $3,330 to $4,890. 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–Lakeland corridor.