Moving from South Dakota to Montana
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Sioux Falls and Billings 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 miSioux Falls → Billings
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $3,137+2-bedroom, movers
- 4City routes priced
In short
About 672 people moved from South Dakota to Montana in 2024 (Census estimate, ±598), and about 396 went the other way. Between Sioux Falls and Billings 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. 12 movers based in South Dakota hold interstate authority.
Who moves from South Dakota to Montana
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 672 people a year (±598), against about 396 (±254) from Montana to South Dakota, so Montana gains about 276 people a year on this exchange. South Dakota is the 18th-largest of the 45 states sending people to Montana; Montana took in about 35,735 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Stanley County | Liberty County | 79 ±93* |
| Oglala Lakota County | Rosebud County | 48 ±70* |
| Yankton County | Yellowstone County | 31 ±46* |
| Minnehaha County | Yellowstone County | 22 ±34* |
| Brookings County | Missoula County | 18 ±27* |
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 Billings, 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 Montana.
Cost of moving from South Dakota to Montana
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 South Dakota to Montana
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City to Billings | ~330 mi | 1–3 days | $1,485 – $1,980 | $1,708 – $2,277 |
| Rapid City to Missoula | ~648 mi | 3–7 days | $2,916 – $3,888 | $3,353 – $4,471 |
| Sioux Falls to Billings | ~697 mi | 3–7 days | $3,137 – $4,182 | $3,607 – $4,809 |
| Sioux Falls to Missoula | ~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 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 Montana end, 30 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Montana, moving costs in Montana, or the reverse trip, Montana 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 Montana moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from South Dakota to Montana?
Between the two states' main cities, Sioux Falls and Billings, 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 South Dakota and Montana, distances run from 330 to 1,014 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from South Dakota to Montana take?
Sioux Falls to Billings 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 South Dakota to Montana?
Yes. A move from South Dakota into Montana 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 Montana?
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 South Dakota to Montana each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 672 people (±598) moved from South Dakota to Montana that year, against about 396 (±254) from Montana to South Dakota. That makes South Dakota the 18th-largest source of new residents for Montana among the states.