Moving from Montana to South Dakota
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Billings and Sioux Falls it is about 697 miles and 2 days on the road (about 13 hours of driving); the 4 city pairs we price between the two states run from 330 to 1,014 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.
- ~697 miBillings → Sioux Falls
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $3,137+2-bedroom, movers
- 4City routes priced
In short
About 396 people moved from Montana to South Dakota in 2024 (Census estimate, ±254), and about 672 went the other way. Between Billings and Sioux Falls it is about 697 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $3,137 – $4,182 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 23 movers based in Montana hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Montana to South Dakota
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 396 people a year (±254), against about 672 (±598) from South Dakota to Montana, so South Dakota loses about 276 people a year on this exchange. Montana is the 16th-largest of the 38 states sending people to South Dakota; South Dakota took in about 22,709 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Powder River County | Lawrence County | 111 ±115* |
| Yellowstone County | Lawrence County | 81 ±97* |
| Park County | Pennington County | 74 ±116* |
| Cascade County | Meade County | 62 ±82* |
| Yellowstone County | Pennington County | 53 ±46 |
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.
Billings 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 Montana and South Dakota.
Cost of moving from Montana to South Dakota
At about 697 miles, full-service movers should land around $3,137 – $4,182 for a two-bedroom home and $3,607 – $4,809 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $2,258 – $3,011; a freight trailer is $1,506 – $2,007.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,352 – $3,137 | $1,694 – $2,258 | $1,129 – $1,506 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,823 – $3,764 | $2,032 – $2,710 | $1,355 – $1,807 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,137 – $4,182 | $2,258 – $3,011 | $1,506 – $2,007 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,607 – $4,809 | $2,597 – $3,463 | $1,731 – $2,308 |
| 4 bedrooms | $4,077 – $5,437 | $2,936 – $3,914 | $1,957 – $2,610 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $4,705 – $6,273 | $3,387 – $4,517 | $2,258 – $3,011 |
Transport only, for an estimated 697 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 Montana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings to Rapid City | ~330 mi | 1–3 days | $1,485 – $1,980 | $1,708 – $2,277 |
| Missoula to Rapid City | ~648 mi | 3–7 days | $2,916 – $3,888 | $3,353 – $4,471 |
| Billings to Sioux Falls | ~697 mi | 3–7 days | $3,137 – $4,182 | $3,607 – $4,809 |
| Missoula to Sioux Falls | ~1,014 mi | 3–7 days | $4,563 – $6,084 | $5,247 – $6,997 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Montana
6 of the 23 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 108 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 9 of 59 vehicle inspections (15.3%), below the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 11 of 106 driver inspections (10.4%, against 13.0%). None has an acute or critical violation from an FMCSA investigation in the past 12 months.
| Carrier | Inspections | Vehicle out of service | Driver out of service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hi-Line Moving Services IncGreat Falls, MT · USDOT 877828 | 59 | 5 of 33 | 3 of 59 |
| A Team Moving and StorageMarion, MT · USDOT 2376754 | 36 | 2 of 20 | 5 of 36 |
| All Lanes Moving & Storage IncMissoula, MT · USDOT 917105 | 9 | 1 of 4 | 3 of 9 |
| Merchants Moving & StorageHamilton, MT · USDOT 1124148 | 2 | 1 of 2 | none inspected |
| Two Men and A Truck KalispellColumbia Falls, MT · USDOT 2965219 | 1 | none inspected | 0 of 1 |
| Service Long Distance Moving LLCMissoula, MT · USDOT 4461286 | 1 | none inspected | 0 of 1 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
30 listed household-goods carriers are based in Montana, 23 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Montana 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 Montana. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Montana
Montana to South Dakota moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Montana to South Dakota?
Between the two states' main cities, Billings and Sioux Falls, the distance is about 697 miles. From our model that is $3,137 – $4,182 for a two-bedroom home and $3,607 – $4,809 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $2,258 – $3,011 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $1,506 – $2,007. Across the 4 city pairs we price between Montana and South Dakota, distances run from 330 to 1,014 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Montana to South Dakota take?
Billings to Sioux Falls is 2 days on the road (about 13 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 Montana to South Dakota?
Yes. A move from Montana into South Dakota is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 30 listed movers based in Montana, 23 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Montana.
What is the cheapest way to move from Montana to South Dakota?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $1,506 – $2,007 for a two-bedroom home over 697 miles against $3,137 – $4,182 with full-service movers. A container, about $2,258 – $3,011, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Montana to South Dakota each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 396 people (±254) moved from Montana to South Dakota that year, against about 672 (±598) from South Dakota to Montana. That makes Montana the 16th-largest source of new residents for South Dakota among the states.