Moving from Lafayette, LA to Tampa, FL
About 698 miles across a state line, from Louisiana into Florida, so the federal interstate rules apply from the first quote.
Distance estimated from city coordinates; the calculator measures your exact route. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Lafayette, LA to Tampa, FL covers about 698 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $3,141 – $4,188 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 3 to 7 days. About 26 people a year move between the two metro areas (Census).
The route
At 698 miles between Louisiana and Florida, this sits in the range where carriers differ most. Some run it dedicated with a firm date; others consolidate it with other shipments and quote a window of 3 to 7 days. The price gap between those two is real — a two-bedroom home runs $3,141 – $4,188 full-service — so ask which one you are buying.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 2 days on the road (about 13 hours of driving)
- Usually moves on
- either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load
- Book ahead
- 4 to 6 weeks
Cost of moving from Lafayette to Tampa
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,356 – $3,141 | $1,696 – $2,262 | $1,131 – $1,508 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,827 – $3,769 | $2,035 – $2,714 | $1,357 – $1,809 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,141 – $4,188 | $2,262 – $3,015 | $1,508 – $2,010 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,612 – $4,816 | $2,601 – $3,468 | $1,734 – $2,312 |
| 4 bedrooms | $4,083 – $5,444 | $2,940 – $3,920 | $1,960 – $2,613 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $4,712 – $6,282 | $3,392 – $4,523 | $2,262 – $3,015 |
Transport only, for an estimated 698 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.
Worked example: a two-bedroom home, Lafayette to Tampa
698 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $3,490. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $3,141 to $4,188, transport only. Every parameter is on the methodology page; moving cost per mile explains why the rate falls with distance.
How many people move from Lafayette to Tampa
The county-to-county table of the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) has no estimate for Lafayette Parish, LA to Hillsborough County, FL, but the wider metro table does: about 26 people a year (±38) moved from the Lafayette, LA metro area to the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area. The margin of error is as large as the estimate, so read it as a handful of households rather than a count. The other way: about 51 people a year (±97).
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 4,215 people a year (±1,576) moving from Louisiana to Florida and about 4,570 people a year (±1,864) from Florida to Louisiana — a net gain for Louisiana of about 355 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| East Baton Rouge Parish, LA | 689 ±271 |
| Acadia Parish, LA | 683 ±343 |
| Harris County, TX | 667 ±341 |
| St. Martin Parish, LA | 658 ±336 |
| Vermilion Parish, LA | 609 ±261 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Pasco County, FL | 6,065 ±1,092 |
| Pinellas County, FL | 5,974 ±722 |
| Polk County, FL | 4,570 ±719 |
| Miami-Dade County, FL | 3,448 ±888 |
| Orange County, FL | 2,624 ±630 |
Licensed movers at each end
5 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Lafayette (11 counting those licensed only inside Louisiana). 1 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 27.3% of their 11 vehicle inspections ended with a truck put out of service. The largest by registered fleet:
| Carrier | Based in | Size | Inspections, 24 mo | Vehicle out of service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dixie Storage and Transfer CoUSDOT 709375 | Port Barre · 25 mi | 19 trucks | 20 | 27.3% of 11 |
| A-1 Moving & Storage Co IncUSDOT 52766 | Lafayette · 3 mi | 7 trucks | 0 | — |
| Bacio Acadiana Movers LLCUSDOT 4495496 | Lafayette · 3 mi | 4 trucks | 0 | — |
| Clark Moving Specialists LLCUSDOT 3610864 | Lafayette · 3 mi | 4 trucks | 0 | — |
| Acadiana Movers LLCUSDOT 1996186 | Lafayette · 3 mi | 1 truck | 0 | — |
How these figures are calculated
At the Tampa end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Tampa: First Class Moving Systems Inc (Tampa, 50 trucks), Good Greek Moving and Storage (Plant City, 34 trucks), Two Men and A Truck (Oldsmar, 10 trucks), College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (Largo, 10 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Louisiana into Florida, 49 CFR Part 375 applies: a written estimate before loading, no more than 110% of a non-binding estimate collected at delivery, and full-value protection unless you choose released value in writing. See binding vs non-binding estimates and valuation explained.
Before you book Lafayette to Tampa
Ask: dedicated or consolidated?
This is the distance where carriers split. A dedicated truck costs more and delivers on a date; a consolidated load costs less and delivers in a window. Decide which you are buying before you compare prices.
Get it binding or not-to-exceed
A non-binding estimate is a guess with no ceiling. On 698 miles the gap between a guess and a weighed load is measured in four figures.
Arriving in Tampa
A local move inside Tampa later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $455 – $733 for a two-bedroom home and $759 – $1,344 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Tampa are Saint Petersburg (about 20 mi), Orlando (about 90 mi), Cape Coral (about 110 mi).
Other routes from Lafayette
All routes from Lafayette, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Lafayette to Baton Rouge, LA | ~62 mi | $425 – $691 |
| Lafayette to New Orleans, LA | ~138 mi | $621 – $828 |
| Lafayette to Shreveport, LA | ~220 mi | $990 – $1,320 |
| Lafayette to Houston, TX | ~236 mi | $1,062 – $1,416 |
| Lafayette to Little Rock, AR | ~366 mi | $1,647 – $2,196 |
| Lafayette to Dallas, TX | ~388 mi | $1,746 – $2,328 |
| Lafayette to Fort Worth, TX | ~418 mi | $1,881 – $2,508 |
| Lafayette to San Antonio, TX | ~456 mi | $2,052 – $2,736 |
Also moving to Tampa: from Saint Petersburg, FL, from Orlando, FL, from Cape Coral, FL, from Gainesville, FL.
Lafayette to Tampa moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Lafayette to Tampa?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 698 miles cost about $2,356 – $3,141 for a studio, $3,141 – $4,188 for a two-bedroom home and $3,612 – $4,816 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Lafayette to Tampa take?
The drive is 2 days on the road (about 13 hours of driving), but the move usually takes 3 to 7 days because it moves on either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load, depending on the carrier and the season. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from Lafayette to Tampa?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $1,508 – $2,010 for a two-bedroom home, against $3,141 – $4,188 with full-service movers; a moving container is $2,262 – $3,015.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Lafayette to Tampa?
Yes. Lafayette is in Louisiana and Tampa is in Florida, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 5 listed movers within 30 miles of Lafayette hold it.
How many people move from Lafayette to Tampa each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 26 people a year (margin of error ±38) moved from the Lafayette, LA metro area to the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area. Its county table has no estimate for this pair, so the metro figure is the finest available.
Sources for this page
The published cost model; US Census Bureau ACS migration flows (± is the 90% margin of error); the FMCSA Motor Carrier Census and Safety Measurement System; 49 CFR Part 375. Data last refreshed September 24, 2026.