Moving from Durham, NC to Washington, DC
About 262 miles across a state line, from North Carolina into District of Columbia, so the federal interstate rules apply from the first quote.
Distance estimated from city coordinates; the calculator measures your exact route. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Durham, NC to Washington, DC covers about 262 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $1,179 – $1,572 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 453 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 262 miles, about 5 hours of driving. Long enough to be priced on weight, short enough that most carriers run it on a dedicated truck rather than pooling your goods with other shipments — a two-bedroom home typically runs $1,179 – $1,572. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- about 5 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Durham to Washington
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $884 – $1,179 | $637 – $849 | $424 – $566 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,061 – $1,415 | $764 – $1,019 | $509 – $679 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,179 – $1,572 | $849 – $1,132 | $566 – $755 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,356 – $1,808 | $976 – $1,302 | $651 – $868 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,533 – $2,044 | $1,104 – $1,471 | $736 – $981 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,769 – $2,358 | $1,273 – $1,698 | $849 – $1,132 |
Transport only, for an estimated 262 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.
Worked example: a two-bedroom home, Durham to Washington
262 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $1,310. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $1,179 to $1,572, transport only. Every parameter is on the methodology page; moving cost per mile explains why the rate falls with distance.
How many people move from Durham to Washington
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 453 people a year (±153) moved from Durham County, NC, home to Durham, to District of Columbia, DC, home to Washington. Going the other way: about 172 people a year (±116). Movers from Durham County make up 0.8% of the 56,680 people a year who moved into District of Columbia from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 1,392 people a year (±689) moving from North Carolina to District of Columbia and about 2,078 people a year (±1,773) from District of Columbia to North Carolina — a net gain for North Carolina of about 686 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Wake County, NC | 6,396 ±1,096 |
| Orange County, NC | 2,251 ±561 |
| Guilford County, NC | 1,001 ±369 |
| Forsyth County, NC | 801 ±322 |
| Alamance County, NC | 792 ±501 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Prince George's County, MD | 5,604 ±979 |
| Montgomery County, MD | 4,380 ±582 |
| Arlington County, VA | 2,881 ±512 |
| Fairfax County, VA | 2,217 ±690 |
| Middlesex County, MA | 1,538 ±527 |
Licensed movers at each end
51 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Durham (99 counting those licensed only inside North Carolina). 24 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 27.4% of their 62 vehicle inspections ended with a truck put out of service. The largest by registered fleet:
| Carrier | Based in | Size | Inspections, 24 mo | Vehicle out of service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All American RelocationUSDOT 917428 | Raleigh · 26 mi | 41 trucks | 4 | 33.3% of 3 |
| Zippy ShellUSDOT 2574332 | Wake Forest · 20 mi | 35 trucks | 4 | 33.3% of 3 |
| Trosa MovingUSDOT 675014 | Durham · 0 mi | 32 trucks | 11 | 0.0% of 5 |
| Miracle Movers RaleighUSDOT 3139734 | Durham · 6 mi | 20 trucks | 2 | — |
| All My Sons Moving & Storage of RaleighUSDOT 906054 | Raleigh · 9 mi | 16 trucks | 1 | 100.0% of 1 |
| Dba Armstrong Relocation Co Inc Raleigh NCUSDOT 1071807 | Durham · 6 mi | 15 trucks | 10 | 40.0% of 5 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Washington end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Washington: JK Moving Services (Sterling, 173 trucks), Eagle Van Lines Inc (Temple Hills, 72 trucks), Town and Country Movers Inc (Gaithersburg, 64 trucks), A&A Transfer LLC (Chantilly, 62 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from North Carolina into District of Columbia, 49 CFR Part 375 applies: a written estimate before loading, no more than 110% of a non-binding estimate collected at delivery, and full-value protection unless you choose released value in writing. See binding vs non-binding estimates and valuation explained.
Before you book Durham to Washington
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 262 miles some carriers still quote hourly plus mileage rather than by weight. Get both numbers so you can compare like with like — hourly can win on a short haul with easy access at both ends.
Confirm it is a one-day run
Most carriers cover this distance in a single day, which avoids an overnight charge and a second crew. If a quote assumes two days, ask why.
Arriving in Washington
A local move inside Washington later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $525 – $873 for a two-bedroom home and $885 – $1,614 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Washington are Arlington (about 4 mi), Annapolis (about 35 mi), Baltimore (about 42 mi).
Other routes from Durham
All routes from Durham, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Durham to Chapel Hill, NC | ~11 mi | $455 – $733 |
| Durham to Raleigh, NC | ~24 mi | $455 – $733 |
| Durham to Greensboro, NC | ~58 mi | $455 – $733 |
| Durham to Fayetteville, NC | ~74 mi | $455 – $733 |
| Durham to Winston-Salem, NC | ~89 mi | $455 – $733 |
| Durham to Charlotte, NC | ~141 mi | $635 – $846 |
| Durham to Richmond, VA | ~156 mi | $702 – $936 |
| Durham to Philadelphia, PA | ~397 mi | $1,787 – $2,382 |
Also moving to Washington: from Arlington, VA, from Annapolis, MD, from Baltimore, MD, from Richmond, VA.
Durham to Washington moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Durham to Washington?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 262 miles cost about $884 – $1,179 for a studio, $1,179 – $1,572 for a two-bedroom home and $1,356 – $1,808 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Durham to Washington take?
The drive is about 5 hours, but the move usually takes 1 to 3 days because it moves on a dedicated truck, because the corridor is too short to be worth consolidating. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 2 to 4 weeks, 4 to 6 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from Durham to Washington?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $566 – $755 for a two-bedroom home, against $1,179 – $1,572 with full-service movers; a moving container is $849 – $1,132.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Durham to Washington?
Yes. Durham is in North Carolina and Washington is in District of Columbia, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 51 listed movers within 30 miles of Durham hold it.
How many people move from Durham to Washington each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 453 people a year (margin of error ±153) moved from Durham County, which contains Durham, to District of Columbia, which contains Washington.
Sources for this page
The published cost model; US Census Bureau ACS migration flows (± is the 90% margin of error); the FMCSA Motor Carrier Census and Safety Measurement System; 49 CFR Part 375. Data last refreshed September 24, 2026.