Moving from Norfolk, VA to Knoxville, TN
About 500 miles across a state line, from Virginia into Tennessee, 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 Norfolk, VA to Knoxville, TN covers about 500 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $2,250 – $3,000 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 3 to 7 days. About 23 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
At 500 miles between Virginia and Tennessee, this sits in the range where carriers differ most. Some run it dedicated with a firm date; others consolidate it with other shipments and quote a window of 3 to 7 days. The price gap between those two is real — a two-bedroom home runs $2,250 – $3,000 full-service — so ask which one you are buying.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- about 9 hours
- Usually moves on
- either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load
- Book ahead
- 4 to 6 weeks
Cost of moving from Norfolk to Knoxville
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,688 – $2,250 | $1,215 – $1,620 | $810 – $1,080 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,025 – $2,700 | $1,458 – $1,944 | $972 – $1,296 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,250 – $3,000 | $1,620 – $2,160 | $1,080 – $1,440 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,588 – $3,450 | $1,863 – $2,484 | $1,242 – $1,656 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,925 – $3,900 | $2,106 – $2,808 | $1,404 – $1,872 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $3,375 – $4,500 | $2,430 – $3,240 | $1,620 – $2,160 |
Transport only, for an estimated 500 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, Norfolk to Knoxville
500 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $2,500. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $2,250 to $3,000, 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 Norfolk to Knoxville
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 23 people a year (±36) moved from Norfolk city, VA, home to Norfolk, to Knox County, TN, home to Knoxville. The margin of error is as large as the estimate, so read it as a handful of households rather than a count. Too few went the other way to estimate. Movers from Norfolk city make up 0.1% of the 31,755 people a year who moved into Knox County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 7,649 people a year (±2,023) moving from Virginia to Tennessee and about 6,232 people a year (±2,345) from Tennessee to Virginia — a net gain for Tennessee of about 1,417 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Virginia Beach City, VA | 4,796 ±895 |
| Chesapeake City, VA | 3,152 ±786 |
| Hampton City, VA | 1,179 ±627 |
| Portsmouth City, VA | 1,102 ±334 |
| San Diego County, CA | 568 ±333 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Blount County, TN | 1,968 ±479 |
| Anderson County, TN | 1,759 ±392 |
| Davidson County, TN | 1,325 ±385 |
| Hamilton County, TN | 1,090 ±304 |
| Sevier County, TN | 926 ±271 |
Licensed movers at each end
37 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Norfolk (57 counting those licensed only inside Virginia). 12 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 22.7% of their 321 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Transfer IncUSDOT 139659 | Chesapeake · 4 mi | 240 trucks | 426 | 20.2% of 247 |
| Apple MovingUSDOT 163678 | Chesapeake · 12 mi | 44 trucks | 40 | 18.2% of 22 |
| Hampton Roads Moving & StorageUSDOT 1581633 | Suffolk · 10 mi | 43 trucks | 46 | 40.0% of 25 |
| Apple MovingUSDOT 795385 | Norfolk · 1 mi | 21 trucks | 12 | 0.0% of 3 |
| Monroe Transfer & Storage Co IncUSDOT 169188 | Norfolk · 5 mi | 18 trucks | 0 | — |
| Brooks Transfer & Storage CoincUSDOT 120995 | Virginia Beach · 13 mi | 17 trucks | 0 | — |
How these figures are calculated
At the Knoxville end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Knoxville: Gouffon Moving & Storage Company Inc (Knoxville, 17 trucks), Rowe Transfer Inc (Knoxville, 17 trucks), Fox Moving and Storage of East Tennessee LLC (Knoxville, 16 trucks), Carey Moving & Storage of Knoxville Inc (Knoxville, 9 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Virginia into Tennessee, 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 Norfolk to Knoxville
Ask: dedicated or consolidated?
This is the distance where carriers split. A dedicated truck costs more and delivers on a date; a consolidated load costs less and delivers in a window. Decide which you are buying before you compare prices.
Get it binding or not-to-exceed
A non-binding estimate is a guess with no ceiling. On 500 miles the gap between a guess and a weighed load is measured in four figures.
Arriving in Knoxville
A local move inside Knoxville later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $455 – $733 for a two-bedroom home and $759 – $1,344 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Knoxville are Chattanooga (about 117 mi), Greenville (about 134 mi), Lexington (about 172 mi).
Other routes from Norfolk
All routes from Norfolk, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Norfolk to Chesapeake, VA | ~14 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Norfolk to Virginia Beach, VA | ~20 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Norfolk to Richmond, VA | ~92 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Norfolk to Arlington, VA | ~171 mi | $770 – $1,026 |
| Norfolk to Washington, DC | ~172 mi | $774 – $1,032 |
| Norfolk to Chapel Hill, NC | ~193 mi | $869 – $1,158 |
| Norfolk to Charlotte, NC | ~324 mi | $1,458 – $1,944 |
| Norfolk to Albany, NY | ~493 mi | $2,219 – $2,958 |
Also moving to Knoxville: from Chattanooga, TN, from Lexington, KY, from Atlanta, GA, from Nashville, TN.
Norfolk to Knoxville moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Norfolk to Knoxville?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 500 miles cost about $1,688 – $2,250 for a studio, $2,250 – $3,000 for a two-bedroom home and $2,588 – $3,450 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Norfolk to Knoxville take?
The drive is about 9 hours, but the move usually takes 3 to 7 days because it moves on either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load, depending on the carrier and the season. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from Norfolk to Knoxville?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $1,080 – $1,440 for a two-bedroom home, against $2,250 – $3,000 with full-service movers; a moving container is $1,620 – $2,160.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Norfolk to Knoxville?
Yes. Norfolk is in Virginia and Knoxville is in Tennessee, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 37 listed movers within 30 miles of Norfolk hold it.
How many people move from Norfolk to Knoxville each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 23 people a year (margin of error ±36) moved from Norfolk city, which contains Norfolk, to Knox County, which contains Knoxville.
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.