Moving from Raleigh, NC to Washington, DC
About 271 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 Raleigh, NC to Washington, DC covers about 271 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $1,220 – $1,626 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 257 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 271 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 $1,220 – $1,626. 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 Raleigh to Washington
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $915 – $1,220 | $659 – $878 | $439 – $585 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,098 – $1,463 | $790 – $1,054 | $527 – $702 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,220 – $1,626 | $878 – $1,171 | $585 – $780 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,402 – $1,870 | $1,010 – $1,346 | $673 – $898 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,585 – $2,114 | $1,141 – $1,522 | $761 – $1,015 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,829 – $2,439 | $1,317 – $1,756 | $878 – $1,171 |
Transport only, for an estimated 271 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, Raleigh to Washington
271 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $1,355. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $1,220 to $1,626, 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 Raleigh to Washington
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 257 people a year (±192) moved from Wake County, NC, home to Raleigh, to District of Columbia, DC, home to Washington. Going the other way: about 237 people a year (±148). Movers from Wake County make up 0.5% 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 |
|---|---|
| Durham County, NC | 4,673 ±905 |
| Johnston County, NC | 4,404 ±1,159 |
| Orange County, NC | 1,930 ±364 |
| Mecklenburg County, NC | 1,862 ±413 |
| Pitt County, NC | 1,860 ±427 |
| 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
56 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Raleigh (110 counting those licensed only inside North Carolina). 26 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 28.8% of their 66 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 · 6 mi | 41 trucks | 4 | 33.3% of 3 |
| Zippy ShellUSDOT 2574332 | Wake Forest · 15 mi | 35 trucks | 4 | 33.3% of 3 |
| Trosa MovingUSDOT 675014 | Durham · 21 mi | 32 trucks | 11 | 0.0% of 5 |
| Miracle Movers RaleighUSDOT 3139734 | Durham · 16 mi | 20 trucks | 2 | — |
| Movin on MoversUSDOT 4017538 | Fuquay-Varina · 20 mi | 19 trucks | 0 | — |
| All My Sons Moving & Storage of RaleighUSDOT 906054 | Raleigh · 12 mi | 16 trucks | 1 | 100.0% of 1 |
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 Raleigh to Washington
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 271 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 Raleigh
All routes from Raleigh, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh to Durham, NC | ~24 mi | $455 – $733 |
| Raleigh to Chapel Hill, NC | ~29 mi | $455 – $733 |
| Raleigh to Fayetteville, NC | ~60 mi | $455 – $733 |
| Raleigh to Greensboro, NC | ~79 mi | $455 – $733 |
| Raleigh to Winston-Salem, NC | ~109 mi | $491 – $654 |
| Raleigh to Charlotte, NC | ~151 mi | $680 – $906 |
| Raleigh to Myrtle Beach, SC | ~168 mi | $756 – $1,008 |
| Raleigh to Virginia Beach, VA | ~193 mi | $869 – $1,158 |
Also moving to Washington: from Arlington, VA, from Annapolis, MD, from Baltimore, MD, from Richmond, VA.
Raleigh to Washington moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Raleigh to Washington?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 271 miles cost about $915 – $1,220 for a studio, $1,220 – $1,626 for a two-bedroom home and $1,402 – $1,870 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Raleigh 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 Raleigh to Washington?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $585 – $780 for a two-bedroom home, against $1,220 – $1,626 with full-service movers; a moving container is $878 – $1,171.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Raleigh to Washington?
Yes. Raleigh 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. 56 listed movers within 30 miles of Raleigh hold it.
How many people move from Raleigh to Washington each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 257 people a year (margin of error ±192) moved from Wake County, which contains Raleigh, 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.