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Lake Charles, LA

Tampa, FL → Lake Charles, LA · Long-distance move

Movers from Tampa to Lake Charles

About 786 road miles heading west. Typical two-bedroom cost $3,990–$5,940, delivery in 2–5 days, 1,059 carriers on the Tampa side and 25 in Lake Charles.

  • 786 miroad distance
  • 14 h 15 mindriving time
  • 2–5 daysdelivery window
  • $3,990–$5,9402-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
≈ 786 miles (666 straight-line)
Drive time
14 h 15 min
Delivery window
2–5 days
Move type
Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin
1,059 (368 interstate)
Movers at destination
25 (18 interstate)

Reverse: Lake Charles → Tampa

The route from Tampa, FL to Lake Charles, LA covers roughly 786 miles by road, a west-bound trip that falls into the long-distance 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 $3,990 to $5,940 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 2 to 5 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 14 h 15 min.

On the Tampa side there are 1,059 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (368 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.

Tampa has a population of about 413,554 and Lake Charles about 80,000. Tampa is considerably denser (3,377 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 Florida, which tends to make destination-side services such as unpacking or storage cheaper than the same services back home. Note that Louisiana does collect a state income tax, unlike Florida, so factor that into the cost-of-living comparison.

Cost of moving from Tampa to Lake Charles

Full-service estimate for 786 miles, by home size
Home sizeEst. weightLowTypicalHigh
Studio 2,000 lb $1,600 $1,950 $2,370
1 Bedroom 3,000 lb $2,390 $2,920 $3,560
2 Bedrooms 5,000 lb $3,990 $4,870 $5,940
3 Bedrooms 8,000 lb $6,380 $7,780 $9,500
4+ Bedrooms 11,000 lb $8,780 $10,700 $13,060

Rental truck (DIY)

$1,110–$1,560

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

Portable container

$1,720–$2,530

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

Full-service mover

$3,990–$5,940

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Tampa, FL → 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 Tampa (origin)

Pods

Interstate carrier

Legal name: Pods Enterprises LLC

USDOT
1397252
Based in
Clearwater, FL 33762 (13 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
1,324 trucks, 1,100 drivers
USDOT registered
2005
Call (727) 509-6895 Route Verify on FMCSA

Countrywide Logistics

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Countrywide Trucking Corp

USDOT
1073995
MC
447175
Based in
Tampa, FL 33610 (7 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
154 trucks, 300 drivers
USDOT registered
2002
Call (813) 944-7775 Route Verify on FMCSA

Ltl

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Lightning Transport And Logistics LLC

USDOT
2519126
MC
885234
Based in
Tampa, FL 33602 (2 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
150 trucks, 212 drivers
USDOT registered
2014
Call (813) 444-5144 Route Verify on FMCSA

Smith-Cargo Transportation LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory
USDOT
929285
MC
400706
Based in
Riverview, FL 33578 (10 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
77 trucks, 75 drivers
USDOT registered
2001
Call (954) 718-5766 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mtc Freight LLC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
2979890
MC
15958
Based in
Clearwater, FL 33759 (14 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
60 trucks, 65 drivers
USDOT registered
2017
Call (727) 202-9293 Route Verify on FMCSA

First Class Moving Systems INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
944759
MC
405647
Based in
Tampa, FL 33619 (6 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
50 trucks, 50 drivers
USDOT registered
2001
Call (813) 889-0308 Route Verify on FMCSA

Keynnect Logistics INC

Licensed interstate
USDOT
2845444
MC
717403
Based in
Tampa, FL 33609 (3 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
40 trucks, 40 drivers
USDOT registered
2016
Call (813) 900-9758 Route Verify on FMCSA

Xpoint Transportation

Licensed interstate
USDOT
4336828
MC
1693955
Based in
Tampa, FL 33612 (6 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
33 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered
2024
Call (813) 291-8758 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 1,059 movers in Tampa

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 Tampa

Other origins to Lake Charles

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Tampa to Lake Charles?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $1,600 to $2,370 for a studio, $2,390 to $3,560 for a one-bedroom, $3,990 to $5,940 for a two-bedroom, $6,380 to $9,500 for a three-bedroom and $8,780 to $13,060 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Lake Charles from Tampa?

About 786 road miles (666 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 14 h 15 min.

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 2 to 5 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 Florida 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 Tampa to Lake Charles?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $1,110 to $1,560 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,720 to $2,530. 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 Tampa–Lake Charles corridor.