Moving from Tennessee to South Dakota
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Nashville and Sioux Falls it is about 855 miles and 2 days on the road (about 16 hours of driving); the 8 city pairs we price between the two states run from 794 to 1,354 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.
- ~855 miNashville → Sioux Falls
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $3,848+2-bedroom, movers
- 8City routes priced
In short
About 175 people moved from Tennessee to South Dakota in 2024 (Census estimate, ±154), and about 0 went the other way. Between Nashville and Sioux Falls it is about 855 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $3,848 – $5,130 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 132 movers based in Tennessee hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Tennessee to South Dakota
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 175 people a year (±154), against about 0 (±230) from South Dakota to Tennessee, so South Dakota gains about 175 people a year on this exchange. Tennessee is the 23rd-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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sevier County | Pennington County | 190 ±231* |
| Roane County | Lake County | 40 ±61* |
| Montgomery County | Minnehaha County | 32 ±38* |
| Rutherford County | Minnehaha County | 25 ±28* |
| Morgan County | Minnehaha County | 17 ±30* |
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.
Nashville 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 Tennessee and South Dakota.
Cost of moving from Tennessee to South Dakota
At about 855 miles, full-service movers should land around $3,848 – $5,130 for a two-bedroom home and $4,425 – $5,899 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $2,770 – $3,694; a freight trailer is $1,847 – $2,462.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,886 – $3,848 | $2,078 – $2,770 | $1,385 – $1,847 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,463 – $4,617 | $2,493 – $3,324 | $1,662 – $2,216 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,848 – $5,130 | $2,770 – $3,694 | $1,847 – $2,462 |
| 3 bedrooms | $4,425 – $5,899 | $3,186 – $4,248 | $2,124 – $2,832 |
| 4 bedrooms | $5,002 – $6,669 | $3,601 – $4,802 | $2,401 – $3,201 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $5,771 – $7,695 | $4,155 – $5,540 | $2,770 – $3,694 |
Transport only, for an estimated 855 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 Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis to Sioux Falls | ~794 mi | 3–7 days | $3,573 – $4,764 | $4,109 – $5,479 |
| Nashville to Sioux Falls | ~855 mi | 3–7 days | $3,848 – $5,130 | $4,425 – $5,899 |
| Chattanooga to Sioux Falls | ~986 mi | 3–7 days | $4,437 – $5,916 | $5,103 – $6,803 |
| Knoxville to Sioux Falls | ~1,000 mi | 3–7 days | $4,500 – $6,000 | $5,175 – $6,900 |
| Memphis to Rapid City | ~1,087 mi | 3–7 days | $4,892 – $6,522 | $5,625 – $7,500 |
| Nashville to Rapid City | ~1,194 mi | 3–7 days | $5,373 – $7,164 | $6,179 – $8,239 |
| Chattanooga to Rapid City | ~1,325 mi | 7–14 days | $5,963 – $7,950 | $6,857 – $9,142 |
| Knoxville to Rapid City | ~1,354 mi | 7–14 days | $6,093 – $8,124 | $7,007 – $9,343 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Tennessee
70 of the 132 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 480 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 50 of 273 vehicle inspections (18.3%), about the same as the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 105 of 479 driver inspections (21.9%, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talent's Moving & Storage IncChattanooga, TN · USDOT 3854391 | 52 | 9 of 34 | 10 of 52 |
| Colonial Van Lines IncClarkrange, TN · USDOT 4071435 | 33 | 4 of 16 | 1 of 33 |
| Big League Movers IncMemphis, TN · USDOT 1999318 | 31 | 3 of 20 | 12 of 31 |
| Boundless Moving and StorageCleveland, TN · USDOT 2798532 | 27 | 1 of 16 | 6 of 27 |
| Rowe Transfer IncKnoxville, TN · USDOT 1079919 | 25 | 3 of 13 | 0 of 25 |
| Justpro Moving LLCSpring Hill, TN · USDOT 3925031 | 20 | 1 of 10 | 3 of 20 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
266 listed household-goods carriers are based in Tennessee, 132 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Tennessee 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 Tennessee. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Tennessee
Tennessee to South Dakota moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Tennessee to South Dakota?
Between the two states' main cities, Nashville and Sioux Falls, the distance is about 855 miles. From our model that is $3,848 – $5,130 for a two-bedroom home and $4,425 – $5,899 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $2,770 – $3,694 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $1,847 – $2,462. Across the 8 city pairs we price between Tennessee and South Dakota, distances run from 794 to 1,354 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Tennessee to South Dakota take?
Nashville to Sioux Falls is 2 days on the road (about 16 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 Tennessee to South Dakota?
Yes. A move from Tennessee into South Dakota is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 266 listed movers based in Tennessee, 132 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Tennessee.
What is the cheapest way to move from Tennessee to South Dakota?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $1,847 – $2,462 for a two-bedroom home over 855 miles against $3,848 – $5,130 with full-service movers. A container, about $2,770 – $3,694, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Tennessee to South Dakota each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 175 people (±154) moved from Tennessee to South Dakota that year, against about 0 (±230) from South Dakota to Tennessee. That makes Tennessee the 23rd-largest source of new residents for South Dakota among the states.