Moving from South Dakota to Arizona
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Sioux Falls and Phoenix it is about 1,260 miles and 3 days on the road (about 23 hours of driving); the 14 city pairs we price between the two states run from 1,011 to 1,282 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.
- ~1,260 miSioux Falls → Phoenix
- 7–14 daysTypical transit
- $5,670+2-bedroom, movers
- 14City routes priced
In short
About 1,674 people moved from South Dakota to Arizona in 2024 (Census estimate, ±870), and about 329 went the other way. Between Sioux Falls and Phoenix it is about 1,260 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $5,670 – $7,560 in our model, delivered in 7–14 days. 12 movers based in South Dakota hold interstate authority.
Who moves from South Dakota to Arizona
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 1,674 people a year (±870), against about 329 (±296) from Arizona to South Dakota, so Arizona gains about 1,345 people a year on this exchange. South Dakota is the 31st-largest of the 49 states sending people to Arizona; Arizona took in about 234,819 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Pennington County | Maricopa County | 248 ±246 |
| Minnehaha County | Maricopa County | 170 ±122 |
| Pennington County | Pima County | 161 ±181* |
| Hughes County | Yuma County | 106 ±138* |
| Brookings County | Maricopa County | 99 ±64 |
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.
Sioux Falls to Phoenix, 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 South Dakota and Arizona.
Cost of moving from South Dakota to Arizona
At about 1,260 miles, full-service movers should land around $5,670 – $7,560 for a two-bedroom home and $6,521 – $8,694 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $4,082 – $5,443; a freight trailer is $2,722 – $3,629.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $4,253 – $5,670 | $3,062 – $4,082 | $2,041 – $2,722 |
| 1 bedroom | $5,103 – $6,804 | $3,674 – $4,899 | $2,449 – $3,266 |
| 2 bedrooms | $5,670 – $7,560 | $4,082 – $5,443 | $2,722 – $3,629 |
| 3 bedrooms | $6,521 – $8,694 | $4,695 – $6,260 | $3,130 – $4,173 |
| 4 bedrooms | $7,371 – $9,828 | $5,307 – $7,076 | $3,538 – $4,717 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $8,505 – $11,340 | $6,124 – $8,165 | $4,082 – $5,443 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,260 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 South Dakota to Arizona
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 2 have a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City to Scottsdale | ~1,011 mi | 3–7 days | $4,550 – $6,066 | $5,232 – $6,976 |
| Rapid City to Mesa | ~1,014 mi | 3–7 days | $4,563 – $6,084 | $5,247 – $6,997 |
| Rapid City to Gilbert | ~1,018 mi | 3–7 days | $4,581 – $6,108 | $5,268 – $7,024 |
| Rapid City to Tempe | ~1,019 mi | 3–7 days | $4,586 – $6,114 | $5,273 – $7,031 |
| Rapid City to Phoenix | ~1,020 mi | 3–7 days | $4,590 – $6,120 | $5,279 – $7,038 |
| Rapid City to Chandler | ~1,024 mi | 3–7 days | $4,608 – $6,144 | $5,299 – $7,066 |
| Rapid City to Tucson | ~1,073 mi | 3–7 days | $4,829 – $6,438 | $5,553 – $7,404 |
| Sioux Falls to Mesa | ~1,251 mi | 7–14 days | $5,630 – $7,506 | $6,474 – $8,632 |
| Sioux Falls to Scottsdale | ~1,251 mi | 7–14 days | $5,630 – $7,506 | $6,474 – $8,632 |
| Sioux Falls to Gilbert | ~1,253 mi | 7–14 days | $5,639 – $7,518 | $6,484 – $8,646 |
| Sioux Falls to Tempe | ~1,257 mi | 7–14 days | $5,657 – $7,542 | $6,505 – $8,673 |
| Sioux Falls to Chandler | ~1,259 mi | 7–14 days | $5,666 – $7,554 | $6,515 – $8,687 |
| Sioux Falls to Phoenix | ~1,260 mi | 7–14 days | $5,670 – $7,560 | $6,521 – $8,694 |
| Sioux Falls to Tucson | ~1,282 mi | 7–14 days | $5,769 – $7,692 | $6,634 – $8,846 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in South Dakota
11 of the 12 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 27 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 5 of 17 vehicle inspections (29.4%), above the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 3 of 27 driver inspections (11.1%, against 13.0%). With fewer than 30 vehicle inspections, a single out-of-service order moves that rate by several points, so treat it as a small sample. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nationwide Transfer IncSioux Falls, SD · USDOT 1741852 | 8 | 0 of 6 | 0 of 8 |
| Advanced Moving LLCDell Rapids, SD · USDOT 961086 | 4 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 4 |
| Thomas & Sons Moving Company LLCRapid City, SD · USDOT 2997736 | 3 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 3 |
| ParkerSioux Falls, SD · USDOT 945 | 3 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 3 |
| Green's Moving & Storage IncRapid City, SD · USDOT 207599 | 2 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 2 |
| Double Duty Movers & Portable StorageAberdeen, SD · USDOT 2251443 | 2 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 2 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
19 listed household-goods carriers are based in South Dakota, 12 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the South Dakota directory ranks them. At the Arizona end, 366 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Arizona, moving costs in Arizona, or the reverse trip, Arizona to South Dakota. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from South Dakota
South Dakota to Arizona moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from South Dakota to Arizona?
Between the two states' main cities, Sioux Falls and Phoenix, the distance is about 1,260 miles. From our model that is $5,670 – $7,560 for a two-bedroom home and $6,521 – $8,694 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $4,082 – $5,443 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $2,722 – $3,629. Across the 14 city pairs we price between South Dakota and Arizona, distances run from 1,011 to 1,282 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from South Dakota to Arizona take?
Sioux Falls to Phoenix is 3 days on the road (about 23 hours of driving). The move itself typically takes 7 to 14 days, because at this distance it usually travels on a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households. Get the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 6 to 8 weeks, 8 to 12 in summer.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for South Dakota to Arizona?
Yes. A move from South Dakota into Arizona is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 19 listed movers based in South Dakota, 12 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within South Dakota.
What is the cheapest way to move from South Dakota to Arizona?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $2,722 – $3,629 for a two-bedroom home over 1,260 miles against $5,670 – $7,560 with full-service movers. A container, about $4,082 – $5,443, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from South Dakota to Arizona each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 1,674 people (±870) moved from South Dakota to Arizona that year, against about 329 (±296) from Arizona to South Dakota. That makes South Dakota the 31st-largest source of new residents for Arizona among the states.