Moving from Virginia to Tennessee
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Virginia Beach and Nashville it is about 701 miles and 2 days on the road (about 13 hours of driving); the 20 city pairs we price between the two states run from 437 to 927 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.
- ~701 miVirginia Beach → Nashville
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $3,155+2-bedroom, movers
- 20City routes priced
In short
About 7,649 people moved from Virginia to Tennessee in 2024 (Census estimate, ±2,023), and about 6,232 went the other way. Between Virginia Beach and Nashville it is about 701 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $3,155 – $4,206 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 263 movers based in Virginia hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Virginia to Tennessee
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 7,649 people a year (±2,023), against about 6,232 (±2,345) from Tennessee to Virginia, so Tennessee gains about 1,417 people a year on this exchange. Virginia is the 9th-largest of the 46 states sending people to Tennessee; Tennessee took in about 191,844 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Bristol City | Sullivan County | 448 ±236 |
| Lynchburg City | Sumner County | 256 ±353* |
| Norfolk City | Shelby County | 241 ±238 |
| Wise County | Sullivan County | 225 ±150 |
| Arlington County | Knox County | 195 ±299* |
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 Nashville, 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 Tennessee.
Cost of moving from Virginia to Tennessee
At about 701 miles, full-service movers should land around $3,155 – $4,206 for a two-bedroom home and $3,628 – $4,837 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $2,271 – $3,028; a freight trailer is $1,514 – $2,019.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,366 – $3,155 | $1,703 – $2,271 | $1,136 – $1,514 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,839 – $3,785 | $2,044 – $2,725 | $1,363 – $1,817 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,155 – $4,206 | $2,271 – $3,028 | $1,514 – $2,019 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,628 – $4,837 | $2,612 – $3,483 | $1,741 – $2,322 |
| 4 bedrooms | $4,101 – $5,468 | $2,953 – $3,937 | $1,968 – $2,625 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $4,732 – $6,309 | $3,407 – $4,542 | $2,271 – $3,028 |
Transport only, for an estimated 701 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 Tennessee
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 3 have a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond to Knoxville | ~437 mi | 3–7 days | $1,967 – $2,622 | $2,261 – $3,015 |
| Arlington to Knoxville | ~496 mi | 3–7 days | $2,232 – $2,976 | $2,567 – $3,422 |
| Chesapeake to Knoxville | ~498 mi | 3–7 days | $2,241 – $2,988 | $2,577 – $3,436 |
| Norfolk to Knoxville | ~500 mi | 3–7 days | $2,250 – $3,000 | $2,588 – $3,450 |
| Virginia Beach to Knoxville | ~520 mi | 3–7 days | $2,340 – $3,120 | $2,691 – $3,588 |
| Richmond to Chattanooga | ~549 mi | 3–7 days | $2,471 – $3,294 | $2,841 – $3,788 |
| Chesapeake to Chattanooga | ~602 mi | 3–7 days | $2,709 – $3,612 | $3,115 – $4,154 |
| Norfolk to Chattanooga | ~606 mi | 3–7 days | $2,727 – $3,636 | $3,136 – $4,181 |
| Arlington to Chattanooga | ~612 mi | 3–7 days | $2,754 – $3,672 | $3,167 – $4,223 |
| Richmond to Nashville | ~612 mi | 3–7 days | $2,754 – $3,672 | $3,167 – $4,223 |
| Virginia Beach to Chattanooga | ~626 mi | 3–7 days | $2,817 – $3,756 | $3,240 – $4,319 |
| Arlington to Nashville | ~656 mi | 3–7 days | $2,952 – $3,936 | $3,395 – $4,526 |
| Chesapeake to Nashville | ~680 mi | 3–7 days | $3,060 – $4,080 | $3,519 – $4,692 |
| Norfolk to Nashville | ~681 mi | 3–7 days | $3,065 – $4,086 | $3,524 – $4,699 |
| Virginia Beach to Nashville | ~701 mi | 3–7 days | $3,155 – $4,206 | $3,628 – $4,837 |
| Richmond to Memphis | ~840 mi | 3–7 days | $3,780 – $5,040 | $4,347 – $5,796 |
| Arlington to Memphis | ~885 mi | 3–7 days | $3,983 – $5,310 | $4,580 – $6,106 |
| Chesapeake to Memphis | ~905 mi | 3–7 days | $4,073 – $5,430 | $4,683 – $6,245 |
| Norfolk to Memphis | ~907 mi | 3–7 days | $4,082 – $5,442 | $4,694 – $6,258 |
| Virginia Beach to Memphis | ~927 mi | 3–7 days | $4,172 – $5,562 | $4,797 – $6,396 |
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 Tennessee end, 266 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Tennessee, moving costs in Tennessee, or the reverse trip, Tennessee 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 Tennessee moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Virginia to Tennessee?
Between the two states' main cities, Virginia Beach and Nashville, the distance is about 701 miles. From our model that is $3,155 – $4,206 for a two-bedroom home and $3,628 – $4,837 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $2,271 – $3,028 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $1,514 – $2,019. Across the 20 city pairs we price between Virginia and Tennessee, distances run from 437 to 927 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Virginia to Tennessee take?
Virginia Beach to Nashville is 2 days on the road (about 13 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 Virginia to Tennessee?
Yes. A move from Virginia into Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $1,514 – $2,019 for a two-bedroom home over 701 miles against $3,155 – $4,206 with full-service movers. A container, about $2,271 – $3,028, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Virginia to Tennessee each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 7,649 people (±2,023) moved from Virginia to Tennessee that year, against about 6,232 (±2,345) from Tennessee to Virginia. That makes Virginia the 9th-largest source of new residents for Tennessee among the states.