Moving from Virginia to Pennsylvania
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Virginia Beach and Philadelphia 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 miVirginia Beach → Philadelphia
- 1–3 daysTypical transit
- $1,148+2-bedroom, movers
- 25City routes priced
In short
About 8,597 people moved from Virginia to Pennsylvania in 2024 (Census estimate, ±2,499), and about 15,246 went the other way. Between Virginia Beach and Philadelphia 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. 263 movers based in Virginia hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Virginia to Pennsylvania
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 8,597 people a year (±2,499), against about 15,246 (±3,605) from Pennsylvania to Virginia, so Pennsylvania loses about 6,649 people a year on this exchange. Virginia is the 7th-largest of the 49 states sending people to Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania took in about 234,568 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Prince William County | Philadelphia County | 734 ±919* |
| Fairfax County | Allegheny County | 272 ±110 |
| Accomack County | Philadelphia County | 268 ±412* |
| Fairfax County | Adams County | 253 ±188 |
| Arlington County | Delaware County | 252 ±232 |
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.
Virginia Beach to Philadelphia, 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 Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Cost of moving from Virginia to Pennsylvania
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 Virginia to Pennsylvania
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington to Harrisburg | ~113 mi | 1–3 days | $509 – $678 | $585 – $780 |
| Arlington to Philadelphia | ~148 mi | 1–3 days | $666 – $888 | $766 – $1,021 |
| Arlington to Allentown | ~171 mi | 1–3 days | $770 – $1,026 | $885 – $1,180 |
| Arlington to Pittsburgh | ~220 mi | 1–3 days | $990 – $1,320 | $1,138 – $1,518 |
| Richmond to Harrisburg | ~223 mi | 1–3 days | $1,004 – $1,338 | $1,154 – $1,539 |
| Richmond to Philadelphia | ~241 mi | 1–3 days | $1,085 – $1,446 | $1,247 – $1,663 |
| Virginia Beach to Philadelphia | ~255 mi | 1–3 days | $1,148 – $1,530 | $1,320 – $1,760 |
| Norfolk to Philadelphia | ~260 mi | 1–3 days | $1,170 – $1,560 | $1,346 – $1,794 |
| Chesapeake to Philadelphia | ~273 mi | 1–3 days | $1,229 – $1,638 | $1,413 – $1,884 |
| Richmond to Allentown | ~276 mi | 1–3 days | $1,242 – $1,656 | $1,428 – $1,904 |
| Norfolk to Harrisburg | ~279 mi | 1–3 days | $1,256 – $1,674 | $1,444 – $1,925 |
| Virginia Beach to Harrisburg | ~282 mi | 1–3 days | $1,269 – $1,692 | $1,459 – $1,946 |
| Richmond to Pittsburgh | ~284 mi | 1–3 days | $1,278 – $1,704 | $1,470 – $1,960 |
| Chesapeake to Harrisburg | ~292 mi | 1–3 days | $1,314 – $1,752 | $1,511 – $2,015 |
| Virginia Beach to Allentown | ~304 mi | 1–3 days | $1,368 – $1,824 | $1,573 – $2,098 |
| Norfolk to Allentown | ~307 mi | 1–3 days | $1,382 – $1,842 | $1,589 – $2,118 |
| Arlington to Erie | ~320 mi | 1–3 days | $1,440 – $1,920 | $1,656 – $2,208 |
| Chesapeake to Allentown | ~320 mi | 1–3 days | $1,440 – $1,920 | $1,656 – $2,208 |
| Norfolk to Pittsburgh | ~372 mi | 1–3 days | $1,674 – $2,232 | $1,925 – $2,567 |
| Chesapeake to Pittsburgh | ~382 mi | 1–3 days | $1,719 – $2,292 | $1,977 – $2,636 |
| Virginia Beach to Pittsburgh | ~384 mi | 1–3 days | $1,728 – $2,304 | $1,987 – $2,650 |
| Richmond to Erie | ~405 mi | 3–7 days | $1,823 – $2,430 | $2,096 – $2,794 |
| Norfolk to Erie | ~486 mi | 3–7 days | $2,187 – $2,916 | $2,515 – $3,353 |
| Virginia Beach to Erie | ~496 mi | 3–7 days | $2,232 – $2,976 | $2,567 – $3,422 |
| Chesapeake to Erie | ~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 Virginia
107 of the 263 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 1,338 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 164 of 765 vehicle inspections (21.4%), above the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 163 of 1,338 driver inspections (12.2%, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Transfer IncChesapeake, VA · USDOT 139659 | 426 | 50 of 247 | 3 of 426 |
| JK Moving ServicesSterling, VA · USDOT 1065394 | 107 | 7 of 57 | 8 of 107 |
| Stewart Moving and StorageMidlothian, VA · USDOT 1194537 | 102 | 13 of 50 | 9 of 102 |
| Quality Services MovingLorton, VA · USDOT 819924 | 54 | 16 of 32 | 11 of 54 |
| Hampton Roads Moving & StorageSuffolk, VA · USDOT 1581633 | 46 | 10 of 25 | 2 of 46 |
| Apple MovingChesapeake, VA · USDOT 163678 | 40 | 4 of 22 | 4 of 40 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
411 listed household-goods carriers are based in Virginia, 263 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Virginia directory ranks them. At the Pennsylvania end, 355 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Pennsylvania, moving costs in Pennsylvania, or the reverse trip, Pennsylvania to Virginia. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Virginia
Virginia to Pennsylvania moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Virginia to Pennsylvania?
Between the two states' main cities, Virginia Beach and Philadelphia, 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 Virginia and Pennsylvania, distances run from 113 to 498 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Virginia to Pennsylvania take?
Virginia Beach to Philadelphia 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 Virginia to Pennsylvania?
Yes. A move from Virginia into Pennsylvania is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 411 listed movers based in Virginia, 263 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Virginia.
What is the cheapest way to move from Virginia to Pennsylvania?
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 Virginia to Pennsylvania each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 8,597 people (±2,499) moved from Virginia to Pennsylvania that year, against about 15,246 (±3,605) from Pennsylvania to Virginia. That makes Virginia the 7th-largest source of new residents for Pennsylvania among the states.