Moving from Tennessee to District of Columbia
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Nashville and Washington it is about 660 miles and 2 days on the road (about 12 hours of driving); the 4 city pairs we price between the two states run from 500 to 889 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.
- ~660 miNashville → Washington
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $2,970+2-bedroom, movers
- 4City routes priced
In short
About 936 people moved from Tennessee to District of Columbia in 2024 (Census estimate, ±826), and about 458 went the other way. Between Nashville and Washington it is about 660 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $2,970 – $3,960 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 132 movers based in Tennessee hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Tennessee to District of Columbia
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 936 people a year (±826), against about 458 (±340) from District of Columbia to Tennessee, so District of Columbia gains about 478 people a year on this exchange. Tennessee is the 16th-largest of the 42 states sending people to District of Columbia; District of Columbia took in about 52,701 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Davidson County | District of Columbia | 550 ±331 |
| Knox County | District of Columbia | 120 ±93 |
| Shelby County | District of Columbia | 114 ±78 |
| Montgomery County | District of Columbia | 95 ±137* |
| Williamson County | District of Columbia | 64 ±61 |
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.
Nashville to Washington, 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 Tennessee and District of Columbia.
Cost of moving from Tennessee to District of Columbia
At about 660 miles, full-service movers should land around $2,970 – $3,960 for a two-bedroom home and $3,415 – $4,554 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $2,138 – $2,851; a freight trailer is $1,426 – $1,901.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,228 – $2,970 | $1,604 – $2,138 | $1,069 – $1,426 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,673 – $3,564 | $1,925 – $2,566 | $1,283 – $1,711 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,970 – $3,960 | $2,138 – $2,851 | $1,426 – $1,901 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,415 – $4,554 | $2,459 – $3,279 | $1,639 – $2,186 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,861 – $5,148 | $2,780 – $3,707 | $1,853 – $2,471 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $4,455 – $5,940 | $3,208 – $4,277 | $2,138 – $2,851 |
Transport only, for an estimated 660 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 Tennessee to District of Columbia
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 4 have a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville to Washington | ~500 mi | 3–7 days | $2,250 – $3,000 | $2,588 – $3,450 |
| Chattanooga to Washington | 598 mi | 3–7 days | $2,691 – $3,588 | $3,095 – $4,126 |
| Nashville to Washington | ~660 mi | 3–7 days | $2,970 – $3,960 | $3,415 – $4,554 |
| Memphis to Washington | ~889 mi | 3–7 days | $4,001 – $5,334 | $4,601 – $6,134 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Tennessee
70 of the 132 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 480 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 50 of 273 vehicle inspections (18.3%), about the same as the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 105 of 479 driver inspections (21.9%, against 13.0%). None has an acute or critical violation from an FMCSA investigation in the past 12 months.
| Carrier | Inspections | Vehicle out of service | Driver out of service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talent's Moving & Storage IncChattanooga, TN · USDOT 3854391 | 52 | 9 of 34 | 10 of 52 |
| Colonial Van Lines IncClarkrange, TN · USDOT 4071435 | 33 | 4 of 16 | 1 of 33 |
| Big League Movers IncMemphis, TN · USDOT 1999318 | 31 | 3 of 20 | 12 of 31 |
| Boundless Moving and StorageCleveland, TN · USDOT 2798532 | 27 | 1 of 16 | 6 of 27 |
| Rowe Transfer IncKnoxville, TN · USDOT 1079919 | 25 | 3 of 13 | 0 of 25 |
| Justpro Moving LLCSpring Hill, TN · USDOT 3925031 | 20 | 1 of 10 | 3 of 20 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
266 listed household-goods carriers are based in Tennessee, 132 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Tennessee directory ranks them. At the District of Columbia end, 6 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in District of Columbia, moving costs in District of Columbia, or the reverse trip, District of Columbia to Tennessee. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Tennessee
Tennessee to District of Columbia moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Tennessee to District of Columbia?
Between the two states' main cities, Nashville and Washington, the distance is about 660 miles. From our model that is $2,970 – $3,960 for a two-bedroom home and $3,415 – $4,554 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $2,138 – $2,851 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $1,426 – $1,901. Across the 4 city pairs we price between Tennessee and District of Columbia, distances run from 500 to 889 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Tennessee to District of Columbia take?
Nashville to Washington is 2 days on the road (about 12 hours of driving). The move itself typically takes 3 to 7 days, because at this distance it usually travels on either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load, depending on the carrier and the season. Get the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Tennessee to District of Columbia?
Yes. A move from Tennessee into District of Columbia is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 266 listed movers based in Tennessee, 132 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Tennessee.
What is the cheapest way to move from Tennessee to District of Columbia?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $1,426 – $1,901 for a two-bedroom home over 660 miles against $2,970 – $3,960 with full-service movers. A container, about $2,138 – $2,851, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Tennessee to District of Columbia each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 936 people (±826) moved from Tennessee to District of Columbia that year, against about 458 (±340) from District of Columbia to Tennessee. That makes Tennessee the 16th-largest source of new residents for District of Columbia among the states.