Moving from Alabama to South Dakota
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Birmingham and Sioux Falls it is about 1,020 miles and 3 days on the road (about 19 hours of driving); the 8 city pairs we price between the two states run from 951 to 1,447 miles.
Prices from our published model (last updated ), not quotes. Distances marked ~ are estimated from city coordinates. Carriers: FMCSA Motor Carrier Census, snapshot 2026-09-24. We do not move anyone.
- ~1,020 miBirmingham → Sioux Falls
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $4,590+2-bedroom, movers
- 8City routes priced
In short
About 612 people moved from Alabama to South Dakota in 2024 (Census estimate, ±839), and about 521 went the other way. Between Birmingham and Sioux Falls it is about 1,020 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $4,590 – $6,120 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 85 movers based in Alabama hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Alabama to South Dakota
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 612 people a year (±839), against about 521 (±401) from South Dakota to Alabama, so South Dakota gains about 91 people a year on this exchange. Alabama is the 13th-largest of the 38 states sending people to South Dakota; South Dakota took in about 22,709 from other states in all. The margin of error is as large as the estimate, so read it as a handful of households rather than a count.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Madison County | Minnehaha County | 78 ±130* |
| Tuscaloosa County | Pennington County | 19 ±34* |
| Colbert County | Hughes County | 10 ±18* |
| DeKalb County | Day County | 9 ±10* |
| Houston County | Meade County | 6 ±13* |
US Census Bureau: ACS 2024 state-to-state migration and ACS 2016–2020 county-to-county flows; people a year with a 90% margin of error. County names link to their cost guides. * Margin as large as the estimate.
Birmingham to Sioux Falls, the representative route
Each state is represented by its largest city we cover. The map shows that corridor; the table further down prices every city pair between Alabama and South Dakota.
Cost of moving from Alabama to South Dakota
At about 1,020 miles, full-service movers should land around $4,590 – $6,120 for a two-bedroom home and $5,279 – $7,038 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $3,305 – $4,406; a freight trailer is $2,203 – $2,938.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,443 – $4,590 | $2,479 – $3,305 | $1,652 – $2,203 |
| 1 bedroom | $4,131 – $5,508 | $2,974 – $3,966 | $1,983 – $2,644 |
| 2 bedrooms | $4,590 – $6,120 | $3,305 – $4,406 | $2,203 – $2,938 |
| 3 bedrooms | $5,279 – $7,038 | $3,801 – $5,067 | $2,534 – $3,378 |
| 4 bedrooms | $5,967 – $7,956 | $4,296 – $5,728 | $2,864 – $3,819 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $6,885 – $9,180 | $4,957 – $6,610 | $3,305 – $4,406 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,020 miles, from our published model: distance × home-size factor × service rate, shown as −10% to +20% around the base figure. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items sit on top. How we price it.
City-to-city routes from Alabama to South Dakota
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. Run any pair through the calculator for a measured distance.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville to Sioux Falls | ~951 mi | 3–7 days | $4,280 – $5,706 | $4,921 – $6,562 |
| Birmingham to Sioux Falls | ~1,020 mi | 3–7 days | $4,590 – $6,120 | $5,279 – $7,038 |
| Montgomery to Sioux Falls | ~1,115 mi | 3–7 days | $5,018 – $6,690 | $5,770 – $7,694 |
| Mobile to Sioux Falls | ~1,175 mi | 3–7 days | $5,288 – $7,050 | $6,081 – $8,108 |
| Huntsville to Rapid City | ~1,277 mi | 7–14 days | $5,747 – $7,662 | $6,608 – $8,811 |
| Birmingham to Rapid City | ~1,333 mi | 7–14 days | $5,999 – $7,998 | $6,898 – $9,198 |
| Montgomery to Rapid City | ~1,422 mi | 7–14 days | $6,399 – $8,532 | $7,359 – $9,812 |
| Mobile to Rapid City | ~1,447 mi | 7–14 days | $6,512 – $8,682 | $7,488 – $9,984 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Alabama
45 of the 85 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 603 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 84 of 349 vehicle inspections (24.1%), above the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 57 of 603 driver inspections (9.5%, against 13.0%). 1 carrier has an acute or critical violation found in an FMCSA investigation in the past 12 months.
| Carrier | Inspections | Vehicle out of service | Driver out of service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covan World-Wide MovingincorporatedMidland City, AL · USDOT 256677 | 138 | 33 of 85 | 6 of 138 |
| Coleman Worldwide Moving LLCMidland City, AL · USDOT 2897746 | 102 | 9 of 68 | 8 of 102 |
| Coleman American Moving Services IncMidland City, AL · USDOT 148986 | 91 | 12 of 41 | 4 of 91 |
| Port City Transfer LLCIrvington, AL · USDOT 3324282 | 41 | 7 of 37 | 1 of 41 |
| E & E Transfer CompanySylacauga, AL · USDOT 3650158 | 37 | 7 of 22 | 3 of 37 |
| McKinney & Sons Transfer LLCLexington, AL · USDOT 1058049 | 28 | 4 of 11 | 3 of 28 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
168 listed household-goods carriers are based in Alabama, 85 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Alabama directory ranks them. At the South Dakota end, 19 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in South Dakota, moving costs in South Dakota, or the reverse trip, South Dakota to Alabama. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Alabama
Alabama to South Dakota moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Alabama to South Dakota?
Between the two states' main cities, Birmingham and Sioux Falls, the distance is about 1,020 miles. From our model that is $4,590 – $6,120 for a two-bedroom home and $5,279 – $7,038 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $3,305 – $4,406 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $2,203 – $2,938. Across the 8 city pairs we price between Alabama and South Dakota, distances run from 951 to 1,447 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Alabama to South Dakota take?
Birmingham to Sioux Falls is 3 days on the road (about 19 hours of driving). The move itself typically takes 3 to 7 days, because at this distance it usually travels on either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load, depending on the carrier and the season. Get the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Alabama to South Dakota?
Yes. A move from Alabama into South Dakota is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 168 listed movers based in Alabama, 85 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Alabama.
What is the cheapest way to move from Alabama to South Dakota?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $2,203 – $2,938 for a two-bedroom home over 1,020 miles against $4,590 – $6,120 with full-service movers. A container, about $3,305 – $4,406, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Alabama to South Dakota each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 612 people (±839) moved from Alabama to South Dakota that year, against about 521 (±401) from South Dakota to Alabama. That makes Alabama the 13th-largest source of new residents for South Dakota among the states.