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If you're planning a move to Florida, you already know the state doesn't need much selling. No income tax, warm weather year-round, and enough housing variety to fit most budgets — at least outside of Miami. What does need explaining is how to actually get there without getting gouged by a carrier who knows demand for this corridor is basically inexhaustible.
This page organizes everything by where you're coming from. Find your origin state, get route-specific cost context, and use the company recommendations below to build a real shortlist — not just whoever shows up first in a search ad.
The distance between "moving to Florida" and "moving to Florida from Sacramento" is enormous, and the price gap reflects that. Before anything else, use our moving cost calculator to get a ballpark tied to your actual origin, home size, and target city.
That said, here are realistic full-service ranges as a starting point:
These are 2–3 bedroom full-service estimates. If you pack yourself and let the carrier handle transport only, you can typically cut 20–35% off those numbers. Moving containers are another option worth pricing out if you have flexibility on delivery timing.
One thing to know going in: non-binding estimates on long hauls can blow up on delivery day when the carrier claims your shipment weighed more than quoted. Ask specifically for a binding estimate or a not-to-exceed guarantee before you sign anything.
Long-distance moves to Florida almost always involve a national carrier or a broker working with one. The corridors are too long for most regional operators to handle reliably. Here's who I'd put on a shortlist:
North American Van Lines — Consistent service across most corridors, good shipment tracking, and a claims process that's more navigable than a lot of competitors. Not always the cheapest, but dependable.
Allied Van Lines — Solid option for larger households and full-service moves. Allied runs through local agents, so quality can vary by market — look at reviews specific to your origin city, not just the brand overall.
Mayflower — Strong track record on Southeast and Midwest-to-Florida routes. I'd pay attention to how they handle their estimate process; read the paperwork carefully before signing.
United Van Lines — Good option for large moves or anything requiring specialty handling. Their binding estimate structure is straightforward once you understand it.
International Van Lines — Worth considering for longer hauls (West Coast, Mountain West) and for anything with specialty items. Competitive pricing on routes where other carriers pad margins.
Safeway Moving — A competitive option on price, especially if you're flexible on your delivery window. Include them in your quote comparison regardless of origin.
Before you commit to anyone, read our guide to choosing a mover. Licensing, how they handle deposits, and whether they own their trucks or broker everything out are the details that separate good moves from expensive headaches.
Where you're landing in Florida matters more than people expect. The state is nearly 450 miles from top to bottom, and each market has its own logistics quirks:
1. Time it around snowbird season. October through February brings an influx of seasonal residents, and moving carrier demand follows. If your timeline has any flexibility, late spring or early fall often yields better pricing and availability.
2. Hurricane season runs June through November. That doesn't mean you can't move during it — most people do — but build schedule flexibility into your plan if you're moving during an active storm period.
3. Florida's tax climate is real, but run the full numbers. No state income tax is genuinely attractive. Homeowners insurance and flood insurance in certain areas are not. Do that math before you pick a specific zip code.
4. Get your vehicle registration handled quickly. Florida requires new residents to register vehicles and obtain a Florida driver's license within 30 days of establishing residency. It's straightforward — just don't let it slip.
5. HOA move-in rules can be surprisingly strict. Many Florida communities require elevator reservations, enforce specific move-in hours, and need a certificate of insurance from your moving company. Call the building or HOA before you finalize any booking.
6. Get at least three binding quotes. This is the single thing I'd push hardest. The spread between what carriers quote on Florida routes can be significant, and the only way to find it is to actually compare. Our moving cost guide walks through how to read quotes side by side.
Below I've organized origin states by region. Each state link goes to route-specific guidance — cost data, carrier coverage, and timing notes relevant to that corridor.
The shortest and generally most affordable hauls. Moving from Georgia is often a one-day drive to North Florida; Alabama and the Carolinas aren't much further. Logistics are simpler, but competition for trucks during peak season is real even on short routes.
This is one of the most traveled corridors in the country. New York, New Jersey, and the New England states feed a steady stream of movers into Florida — which means carrier coverage is good, but so is the competition for scheduling during peak months. The Boston to Florida route has dedicated guidance if that's your situation.
Chicago to Tampa. Columbus to Orlando. Detroit to Jacksonville. These are well-traveled routes with solid national carrier coverage, which works in your favor — though you're still competing with a lot of other shipments for load space, especially in winter months.
Texas to Florida is a busy corridor — most Texas metros are 1,000+ miles from central Florida, which puts it firmly in long-haul territory despite both being southern states. Louisiana and Oklahoma are shorter, but still require full interstate planning.
You're looking at 1,500–2,000 miles from most Mountain West origins. Budget and timeline both need to reflect that. Carriers don't always have dense coverage on these routes, so book further out than you think you need to.
The longest runs in this guide. Seattle to Miami is close to 3,000 miles; Los Angeles to Orlando isn't much shorter. Expect 10–14 days of transit time, higher base costs, and the need to book well in advance — carriers plan these loads carefully and availability fills up faster than on shorter corridors.
Start with the moving cost calculator to get a number tied to your specific route and home size. Then compare at least three binding quotes before you commit to anyone. The more informed you are going in, the less leverage a carrier has to surprise you on the back end.
