Moving From Guide

Moving From New Orleans, LA

Everything you need to know about leaving New Orleans — from top destinations and moving tips to your farewell checklist.

Population: 383,997COL Index: 97Median Home: $250,000Avg Winter: 42°F

Why People Leave New Orleans

Every city has its trade-offs. Here are the most common reasons residents decide it's time to move on from New Orleans.

1

Career opportunities elsewhere attract ambitious professionals looking for growth in emerging job markets.

2

Many residents seek a change of pace — whether it's a smaller community, different climate, or closer proximity to family.

3

Rising housing costs and increasing population density lead some long-time residents to look for more space and quieter surroundings.

Top Destinations From New Orleans

Explore the most popular places people move to when leaving New Orleans, with distance, drive time, and cost comparisons.

Houston, TX

350 miles
5 hour drive
via I-10 West

Atlanta, GA

470 miles
7 hour drive
via I-59 North / I-20 East

Dallas, TX

510 miles
7.5 hour drive
via I-20 West

Nashville, TN

530 miles
8 hour drive
via I-59 North / I-65 North

Austin, TX

510 miles
7.5 hour drive
via I-10 West

New York, NY

1,519 miles
27.6 hour drive
via I-65 North / I-10 East

Los Angeles, CA

2,170 miles
39.5 hour drive
via I-10 West

Chicago, IL

1,086 miles
19.7 hour drive
via I-35 North

Phoenix, AZ

1,707 miles
31 hour drive
via I-10 West

Philadelphia, PA

1,415 miles
25.7 hour drive
via I-65 North / I-10 East

San Antonio, TX

659 miles
12 hour drive
via I-10 West

San Diego, CA

2,088 miles
38 hour drive
via I-10 West

San Jose, CA

2,457 miles
44.7 hour drive
via I-10 West

Jacksonville, FL

654 miles
11.9 hour drive
via I-10 East

Fort Worth, TX

611 miles
11.1 hour drive
via I-10 West

Columbus, OH

1,038 miles
18.9 hour drive
via I-65 North / I-10 East

Charlotte, NC

843 miles
15.3 hour drive
via I-65 North / I-10 East

Indianapolis, IN

928 miles
16.9 hour drive
via I-35 North

San Francisco, CA

2,499 miles
45.4 hour drive
via I-10 West

Seattle, WA

2,729 miles
49.6 hour drive
via I-65 North / I-10 West

Denver, CO

1,405 miles
25.5 hour drive
via I-65 North / I-10 West

Oklahoma City, OK

749 miles
13.6 hour drive
via I-65 North / I-10 West

El Paso, TX

1,275 miles
23.2 hour drive
via I-10 West

Washington, DC

1,255 miles
22.8 hour drive
via I-65 North / I-10 East

Las Vegas, NV

1,962 miles
35.7 hour drive
via I-10 West

Louisville, KY

812 miles
14.8 hour drive
via I-65 North / I-10 East

Memphis, TN

467 miles
8.5 hour drive
via I-35 North

Portland, OR

2,678 miles
48.7 hour drive
via I-10 West

Baltimore, MD

1,299 miles
23.6 hour drive
via I-65 North / I-10 East

Milwaukee, WI

1,186 miles
21.6 hour drive
via I-35 North

Albuquerque, NM

1,336 miles
24.3 hour drive
via I-10 West

Tucson, AZ

1,618 miles
29.4 hour drive
via I-10 West

Fresno, CA

2,301 miles
41.8 hour drive
via I-10 West

Sacramento, CA

2,444 miles
44.4 hour drive
via I-10 West

Mesa, AZ

1,689 miles
30.7 hour drive
via I-10 West

Kansas City, MO

887 miles
16.1 hour drive
via I-35 North

Omaha, NE

1,101 miles
20 hour drive
via I-65 North / I-10 West

Colorado Springs, CO

1,351 miles
24.6 hour drive
via I-65 North / I-10 West

Raleigh, NC

1,008 miles
18.3 hour drive
via I-65 North / I-10 East

Miami, FL

870 miles
15.8 hour drive
via I-10 East

Tampa, FL

625 miles
11.4 hour drive
via I-10 East

Orlando, FL

693 miles
12.6 hour drive
via I-10 East

St. Louis, MO

779 miles
14.2 hour drive
via I-35 North

Pittsburgh, PA

1,196 miles
21.7 hour drive
via I-65 North / I-10 East

Cincinnati, OH

919 miles
16.7 hour drive
via I-65 North / I-10 East

Boise, ID

2,230 miles
40.5 hour drive
via I-65 North / I-10 West

Richmond, VA

1,162 miles
21.1 hour drive
via I-65 North / I-10 East

Salt Lake City, UT

1,862 miles
33.9 hour drive
via I-10 West

Minneapolis, MN

1,369 miles
24.9 hour drive
via I-35 North

Honolulu, HI

5,469 miles
99.4 hour drive
via I-10 West

Charleston, SC

818 miles
14.9 hour drive
via I-10 East

Savannah, GA

717 miles
13 hour drive
via I-10 East

Knoxville, TN

711 miles
12.9 hour drive
via I-65 North / I-10 East

Fort Lauderdale, FL

859 miles
15.6 hour drive
via I-10 East

Chattanooga, TN

583 miles
10.6 hour drive
via I-65 North / I-10 East

Madison, WI

1,180 miles
21.5 hour drive
via I-35 North

Grand Rapids, MI

1,211 miles
22 hour drive
via I-35 North

Huntsville, AL

504 miles
9.2 hour drive
via I-65 North / I-10 East

Greenville, SC

730 miles
13.3 hour drive
via I-65 North / I-10 East

Asheville, NC

761 miles
13.8 hour drive
via I-65 North / I-10 East

Des Moines, IA

1,077 miles
19.6 hour drive
via I-35 North

Spokane, WA

2,466 miles
44.8 hour drive
via I-65 North / I-10 West

Birmingham, AL

406 miles
7.4 hour drive
via I-65 North / I-10 East

Sioux Falls, SD

1,311 miles
23.8 hour drive
via I-35 North

Fargo, ND

1,591 miles
28.9 hour drive
via I-35 North

Scottsdale, AZ

1,697 miles
30.9 hour drive
via I-10 West

Arlington, TX

595 miles
10.8 hour drive
via I-10 West

Aurora, CO

1,395 miles
25.4 hour drive
via I-65 North / I-10 West

Bakersfield, CA

2,234 miles
40.6 hour drive
via I-10 West

Anaheim, CA

2,145 miles
39 hour drive
via I-10 West

Santa Ana, CA

2,142 miles
38.9 hour drive
via I-10 West

Long Beach, CA

2,166 miles
39.4 hour drive
via I-10 West

Virginia Beach, VA

1,223 miles
22.2 hour drive
via I-10 East

Rochester, NY

1,485 miles
27 hour drive
via I-65 North / I-10 East

Finding Movers in New Orleans

Navigating the moving company landscape can be overwhelming. Here's what to keep in mind when hiring movers in New Orleans.

Get Multiple Quotes

Always get at least 3 in-home or virtual estimates. Prices in New Orleans can vary by 30-50% between companies for the same move.

Verify Licenses

Check USDOT numbers for interstate moves and state licensing for local moves. Avoid movers who only accept cash or won't provide written estimates.

Time It Right

Moving during off-peak months (October–April) can save 20-30%. Midweek moves are also typically cheaper than weekend slots in New Orleans.

Packing Up in New Orleans

Packing up a house in New Orleans? These tips will save you time, money, and headaches on moving day.

Start with the Garage

Homes in New Orleans often accumulate years of garage clutter. Start there — you'll free up staging space and reduce your load.

Protect Your Floors

Use furniture sliders on hardwood and carpet protectors on stairs. Moving heavy furniture can cause costly damage to your home.

Label by Room and Priority

Color-code boxes by destination room and mark 'open first' essentials. You'll thank yourself on unpacking day.

Handle Yard Equipment Early

Drain fuel from mowers, blowers, and trimmers. These items need special handling and should be prepped days before the move.

Photograph Your Setup

Take photos of how electronics, shelving, and wall art are arranged. It makes recreating your space in your new home much easier.

Your New Orleans Farewell Checklist

Don't leave anything behind (except the memories). Complete these 10 essential tasks before your last day in New Orleans.

Cancel or transfer utilities (electric, gas, water, internet)
Forward your mail through USPS (set up at least 2 weeks early)
Update your address with banks, insurance, and subscriptions
Transfer or obtain new vehicle registration and driver's license
Notify your employer and update payroll records
Say goodbye to neighbors, friends, and colleagues
Get copies of medical and dental records
Close or transfer local gym memberships and services
Return library books, rented equipment, and borrowed items
Do a final walkthrough and document the condition of your home

Ready to Leave New Orleans?

Get free, no-obligation moving quotes from top-rated movers experienced with New Orleans relocations.