Moving from Arlington, VA to Virginia Beach, VA
About 178 miles inside Virginia. Past the 100-mile local band movers price on distance and weight, but because the truck never crosses a state line the move is regulated by Virginia, not by the federal FMCSA. That changes which licence to check and which estimate rules protect you.
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 Virginia Beach, VA covers about 178 miles and is a move within Virginia. Full-service movers cost $801 – $1,068 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 162 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 178 miles, about 3 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 $801 – $1,068. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Within Virginia
- Driving
- about 3 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Arlington to Virginia Beach
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $601 – $801 | $433 – $577 | $288 – $384 |
| 1 bedroom | $721 – $961 | $519 – $692 | $346 – $461 |
| 2 bedrooms | $801 – $1,068 | $577 – $769 | $384 – $513 |
| 3 bedrooms | $921 – $1,228 | $663 – $884 | $442 – $590 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,041 – $1,388 | $750 – $1,000 | $500 – $666 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,202 – $1,602 | $865 – $1,153 | $577 – $769 |
Transport only, for an estimated 178 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 Virginia Beach
178 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $890. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $801 to $1,068, 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 Virginia Beach
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 162 people a year (±149) moved from Arlington County, VA, home to Arlington, to Virginia Beach city, VA, home to Virginia Beach. Going the other way: about 126 people a year (±128). Movers from Arlington County make up 0.5% of the 35,589 people a year who moved into Virginia Beach city from another county or state.
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Norfolk City, VA | 4,796 ±895 |
| Chesapeake City, VA | 3,754 ±803 |
| San Diego County, CA | 1,215 ±416 |
| Tulare County, CA | 1,160 ±1,069 |
| Portsmouth City, VA | 813 ±312 |
Licensed movers at each end
477 household-goods carriers are based within 30 miles of Arlington. 190 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 17.9% of their 957 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 Virginia Beach end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Virginia Beach: Service Transfer Inc (Chesapeake, 240 trucks), Apple Moving (Chesapeake, 44 trucks), Hampton Roads Moving & Storage (Suffolk, 43 trucks), Apple Moving (Norfolk, 21 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Both ends are in Virginia, so Virginia rather than the FMCSA regulates the move: ask the mover which Virginia licence or registration it holds and check it with the state. The federal 110% cap on non-binding estimates does not reach a move inside Virginia, so your protection on this 178-mile job is the estimate you sign; ask for it binding or not-to-exceed. More in binding vs non-binding estimates.
Before you book Arlington to Virginia Beach
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 178 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 Virginia Beach
A local move inside Virginia Beach later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $465 – $761 for a two-bedroom home and $777 – $1,398 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Virginia Beach are Norfolk (about 20 mi), Chesapeake (about 25 mi), Richmond (about 109 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 New York City, NY | ~241 mi | $1,085 – $1,446 |
Also moving to Virginia Beach: from Norfolk, VA, from Chesapeake, VA, from Richmond, VA, from Raleigh, NC.
Arlington to Virginia Beach moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Arlington, VA to Virginia Beach?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 178 miles cost about $601 – $801 for a studio, $801 – $1,068 for a two-bedroom home and $921 – $1,228 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Arlington, VA to Virginia Beach take?
The drive is about 3 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 Arlington, VA to Virginia Beach?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $384 – $513 for a two-bedroom home, against $801 – $1,068 with full-service movers; a moving container is $577 – $769.
Is Arlington, VA to Virginia Beach an interstate move?
No. Both cities are in Virginia, so the move is regulated by Virginia rather than by the federal FMCSA. The carrier needs a USDOT number and whatever Virginia requires of household-goods movers; interstate authority (an MC number) is not required for this job. The federal 110% rule on non-binding estimates does not apply either, which is a good reason to ask for a binding estimate.
How many people move from Arlington, VA to Virginia Beach each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 162 people a year (margin of error ±149) moved from Arlington County, which contains Arlington, to Virginia Beach city, which contains Virginia Beach.
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.