Moving from Pennsylvania to Virginia
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Philadelphia and Virginia Beach it is about 255 miles and about 5 hours; the 25 city pairs we price between the two states run from 113 to 498 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.
- ~255 miPhiladelphia → Virginia Beach
- 1–3 daysTypical transit
- $1,148+2-bedroom, movers
- 25City routes priced
In short
About 15,246 people moved from Pennsylvania to Virginia in 2024 (Census estimate, ±3,605), and about 8,597 went the other way. Between Philadelphia and Virginia Beach it is about 255 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $1,148 – $1,530 in our model, delivered in 1–3 days. 223 movers based in Pennsylvania hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Pennsylvania to Virginia
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 15,246 people a year (±3,605), against about 8,597 (±2,499) from Virginia to Pennsylvania, so Virginia gains about 6,649 people a year on this exchange. Pennsylvania is the 7th-largest of the 49 states sending people to Virginia; Virginia took in about 265,444 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | Fairfax County | 325 ±198 |
| Delaware County | Virginia Beach City | 308 ±334* |
| Philadelphia County | Chesterfield County | 261 ±416* |
| Allegheny County | Fairfax County | 245 ±169 |
| Allegheny County | Suffolk City | 225 ±291* |
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.
Philadelphia to Virginia Beach, 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 Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Cost of moving from Pennsylvania to Virginia
At about 255 miles, full-service movers should land around $1,148 – $1,530 for a two-bedroom home and $1,320 – $1,760 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $826 – $1,102; a freight trailer is $551 – $734.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $861 – $1,148 | $620 – $826 | $413 – $551 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,033 – $1,377 | $744 – $991 | $496 – $661 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,148 – $1,530 | $826 – $1,102 | $551 – $734 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,320 – $1,760 | $950 – $1,267 | $633 – $845 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,492 – $1,989 | $1,074 – $1,432 | $716 – $955 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,721 – $2,295 | $1,239 – $1,652 | $826 – $1,102 |
Transport only, for an estimated 255 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 Pennsylvania to Virginia
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 6 have a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg to Arlington | ~113 mi | 1–3 days | $509 – $678 | $585 – $780 |
| Philadelphia to Arlington | ~148 mi | 1–3 days | $666 – $888 | $766 – $1,021 |
| Allentown to Arlington | ~171 mi | 1–3 days | $770 – $1,026 | $885 – $1,180 |
| Pittsburgh to Arlington | ~220 mi | 1–3 days | $990 – $1,320 | $1,138 – $1,518 |
| Harrisburg to Richmond | ~223 mi | 1–3 days | $1,004 – $1,338 | $1,154 – $1,539 |
| Philadelphia to Richmond | ~241 mi | 1–3 days | $1,085 – $1,446 | $1,247 – $1,663 |
| Philadelphia to Virginia Beach | ~255 mi | 1–3 days | $1,148 – $1,530 | $1,320 – $1,760 |
| Philadelphia to Norfolk | ~260 mi | 1–3 days | $1,170 – $1,560 | $1,346 – $1,794 |
| Philadelphia to Chesapeake | ~273 mi | 1–3 days | $1,229 – $1,638 | $1,413 – $1,884 |
| Allentown to Richmond | ~276 mi | 1–3 days | $1,242 – $1,656 | $1,428 – $1,904 |
| Harrisburg to Norfolk | ~279 mi | 1–3 days | $1,256 – $1,674 | $1,444 – $1,925 |
| Harrisburg to Virginia Beach | ~282 mi | 1–3 days | $1,269 – $1,692 | $1,459 – $1,946 |
| Pittsburgh to Richmond | ~284 mi | 1–3 days | $1,278 – $1,704 | $1,470 – $1,960 |
| Harrisburg to Chesapeake | ~292 mi | 1–3 days | $1,314 – $1,752 | $1,511 – $2,015 |
| Allentown to Virginia Beach | ~304 mi | 1–3 days | $1,368 – $1,824 | $1,573 – $2,098 |
| Allentown to Norfolk | ~307 mi | 1–3 days | $1,382 – $1,842 | $1,589 – $2,118 |
| Allentown to Chesapeake | ~320 mi | 1–3 days | $1,440 – $1,920 | $1,656 – $2,208 |
| Erie to Arlington | ~320 mi | 1–3 days | $1,440 – $1,920 | $1,656 – $2,208 |
| Pittsburgh to Norfolk | ~372 mi | 1–3 days | $1,674 – $2,232 | $1,925 – $2,567 |
| Pittsburgh to Chesapeake | ~382 mi | 1–3 days | $1,719 – $2,292 | $1,977 – $2,636 |
| Pittsburgh to Virginia Beach | ~384 mi | 1–3 days | $1,728 – $2,304 | $1,987 – $2,650 |
| Erie to Richmond | ~405 mi | 3–7 days | $1,823 – $2,430 | $2,096 – $2,794 |
| Erie to Norfolk | ~486 mi | 3–7 days | $2,187 – $2,916 | $2,515 – $3,353 |
| Erie to Virginia Beach | ~496 mi | 3–7 days | $2,232 – $2,976 | $2,567 – $3,422 |
| Erie to Chesapeake | ~498 mi | 3–7 days | $2,241 – $2,988 | $2,577 – $3,436 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Pennsylvania
139 of the 223 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 783 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 63 of 422 vehicle inspections (14.9%), below the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 130 of 783 driver inspections (16.6%, against 13.0%). 1 carrier has an acute or critical violation found in an FMCSA investigation in the past 12 months.
| Carrier | Inspections | Vehicle out of service | Driver out of service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Hills Transfer & Storage IncGreensburg, PA · USDOT 85531 | 35 | 3 of 20 | 0 of 35 |
| J Cawley Moving LLCHanover Township, PA · USDOT 2117707 | 28 | 0 of 21 | 1 of 28 |
| Bright Eye Movers and Cleaners LLCCamp Hill, PA · USDOT 3597545 | 27 | 5 of 15 | 17 of 27 |
| Superior Moving & Storage IncPhiladelphia, PA · USDOT 390115 | 26 | 2 of 14 | 4 of 26 |
| South Hills Movers IncBethel Park, PA · USDOT 98045 | 26 | 0 of 4 | 1 of 26 |
| We-Haul Moving LLCBethlehem, PA · USDOT 967376 | 25 | 2 of 12 | 2 of 25 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
355 listed household-goods carriers are based in Pennsylvania, 223 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Pennsylvania directory ranks them. At the Virginia end, 411 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Virginia, moving costs in Virginia, or the reverse trip, Virginia to Pennsylvania. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania to Virginia moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Pennsylvania to Virginia?
Between the two states' main cities, Philadelphia and Virginia Beach, the distance is about 255 miles. From our model that is $1,148 – $1,530 for a two-bedroom home and $1,320 – $1,760 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $826 – $1,102 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $551 – $734. Across the 25 city pairs we price between Pennsylvania and Virginia, distances run from 113 to 498 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Pennsylvania to Virginia take?
Philadelphia to Virginia Beach is about 5 hours. The move itself typically takes 1 to 3 days, because at this distance it usually travels on a dedicated truck, because the corridor is too short to be worth consolidating. Get the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 2 to 4 weeks, 4 to 6 in summer.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Pennsylvania to Virginia?
Yes. A move from Pennsylvania into Virginia is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 355 listed movers based in Pennsylvania, 223 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Pennsylvania.
What is the cheapest way to move from Pennsylvania to Virginia?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $551 – $734 for a two-bedroom home over 255 miles against $1,148 – $1,530 with full-service movers. A container, about $826 – $1,102, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Pennsylvania to Virginia each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 15,246 people (±3,605) moved from Pennsylvania to Virginia that year, against about 8,597 (±2,499) from Virginia to Pennsylvania. That makes Pennsylvania the 7th-largest source of new residents for Virginia among the states.