Moving from Arlington, VA to San Jose, CA
About 2,814 miles across a state line, from Virginia into California, 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 Arlington, VA to San Jose, CA covers about 2,814 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $12,663 – $16,884 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 283 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 2,814 miles from Virginia to California. Almost all of these move as consolidated freight: your goods share a trailer and the carrier quotes 7 to 14 days rather than a date. It is why a two-bedroom home here runs $12,663 – $16,884 instead of scaling straight with distance, and also why there is more handling and a looser schedule.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 6 days on the road (about 51 hours of driving)
- Usually moves on
- a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households
- Book ahead
- 6 to 8 weeks
Cost of moving from Arlington to San Jose
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $9,497 – $12,663 | $6,838 – $9,117 | $4,559 – $6,078 |
| 1 bedroom | $11,397 – $15,196 | $8,206 – $10,941 | $5,470 – $7,294 |
| 2 bedrooms | $12,663 – $16,884 | $9,117 – $12,156 | $6,078 – $8,104 |
| 3 bedrooms | $14,562 – $19,417 | $10,485 – $13,980 | $6,990 – $9,320 |
| 4 bedrooms | $16,462 – $21,949 | $11,853 – $15,803 | $7,902 – $10,536 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $18,995 – $25,326 | $13,676 – $18,235 | $9,117 – $12,156 |
Transport only, for an estimated 2,814 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, Arlington to San Jose
2,814 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $14,070. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $12,663 to $16,884, 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 Arlington to San Jose
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 283 people a year (±181) moved from Arlington County, VA, home to Arlington, to Santa Clara County, CA, home to San Jose. Going the other way: about 125 people a year (±102). Movers from Arlington County make up 0.4% of the 78,912 people a year who moved into Santa Clara County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 18,100 people a year (±4,368) moving from Virginia to California and about 20,180 people a year (±4,162) from California to Virginia — a net gain for Virginia of about 2,080 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Fairfax County, VA | 7,362 ±894 |
| District of Columbia, DC | 2,881 ±512 |
| Alexandria City, VA | 2,663 ±484 |
| Montgomery County, MD | 1,264 ±374 |
| Prince George's County, MD | 916 ±364 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Alameda County, CA | 8,231 ±986 |
| San Mateo County, CA | 6,043 ±854 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | 5,413 ±752 |
| San Francisco County, CA | 3,735 ±605 |
| Santa Cruz County, CA | 2,272 ±673 |
Licensed movers at each end
297 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Arlington (477 counting those licensed only inside Virginia). 165 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 16.8% of their 924 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JK Moving ServicesUSDOT 1065394 | Sterling · 21 mi | 173 trucks | 107 | 12.3% of 57 |
| Eagle Van Lines IncUSDOT 388638 | Temple Hills · 9 mi | 72 trucks | 94 | 37.7% of 53 |
| Town and Country Movers IncUSDOT 418499 | Gaithersburg · 20 mi | 64 trucks | 75 | 18.9% of 53 |
| A&A Transfer LLCUSDOT 503883 | Chantilly · 23 mi | 62 trucks | 9 | 33.3% of 3 |
| MG Moving ServicesUSDOT 2455961 | Sterling · 21 mi | 58 trucks | 38 | 11.1% of 18 |
| Executive Moving Systems IncUSDOT 487595 | Woodbridge · 20 mi | 34 trucks | 20 | 33.3% of 12 |
How these figures are calculated
At the San Jose end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of San Jose: Crown Worldwide Moving and Storage LLC (Union City, 25 trucks), Nor-Cal Moving Services (Hayward, 23 trucks), Ontrack Moving LLC (Hayward, 20 trucks), Moving Solutions Inc (Newark, 18 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Virginia into California, 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 Arlington to San Jose
Insist on a survey
Over 2,814 miles the price is driven almost entirely by weight. A quote given without a video or in-home survey is a guess that gets revised upward on loading day, and at this distance the revision is expensive.
Keep full-value protection
It is the default on an interstate move. Signing it away for released value means 60 cents per pound, about $18 for a 30 lb television, after 2,814 miles of handling.
Arriving in San Jose
A local move inside San Jose later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $515 – $859 for a two-bedroom home and $867 – $1,587 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from San Jose are Fremont (about 13 mi), Oakland (about 45 mi), San Francisco (about 49 mi).
Other routes from Arlington
All routes from Arlington, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Arlington to Washington, DC | ~4 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Arlington to Annapolis, MD | ~38 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Arlington to Baltimore, MD | ~45 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Arlington to Dover, DE | ~101 mi | $455 – $606 |
| Arlington to Richmond, VA | ~110 mi | $495 – $660 |
| Arlington to Harrisburg, PA | ~113 mi | $509 – $678 |
| Arlington to Philadelphia, PA | ~148 mi | $666 – $888 |
| Arlington to Virginia Beach, VA | ~178 mi | $801 – $1,068 |
Also moving to San Jose: from Fremont, CA, from San Francisco, CA, from Modesto, CA, from Stockton, CA.
Arlington to San Jose moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Arlington, VA to San Jose?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 2,814 miles cost about $9,497 – $12,663 for a studio, $12,663 – $16,884 for a two-bedroom home and $14,562 – $19,417 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Arlington, VA to San Jose take?
The drive is 6 days on the road (about 51 hours of driving), but the move usually takes 7 to 14 days because it moves on a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 6 to 8 weeks, 8 to 12 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from Arlington, VA to San Jose?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $6,078 – $8,104 for a two-bedroom home, against $12,663 – $16,884 with full-service movers; a moving container is $9,117 – $12,156.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Arlington, VA to San Jose?
Yes. Arlington is in Virginia and San Jose is in California, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 297 listed movers within 30 miles of Arlington hold it.
How many people move from Arlington, VA to San Jose each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 283 people a year (margin of error ±181) moved from Arlington County, which contains Arlington, to Santa Clara County, which contains San Jose.
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.