Chesapeake, VA → Santa Barbara, CA · Cross-country move

Movers from Chesapeake to Santa Barbara

About 2,861 road miles heading west. Typical two-bedroom cost $9,210–$13,710, delivery in 7–14 days, 321 carriers on the Chesapeake side and 27 in Santa Barbara.

2,861 miroad distance
50 hours (6 driving days)driving time
7–14 daysdelivery window
$9,210–$13,7102-bedroom estimate

Photo: Pierre André · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Route summary

From: Chesapeake, Virginia
To: Santa Barbara, California
Road distance: ≈ 2,861 miles (2,425 straight-line)
Drive time: 50 hours (6 driving days)
Delivery window: 7–14 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 321 (201 interstate)
Movers at destination: 27 (9 interstate)

Reverse: Santa Barbara → Chesapeake

The route from Chesapeake, VA to Santa Barbara, CA covers roughly 2,861 miles by road, a west-bound trip that falls into the cross-country move category for pricing purposes.

At this distance carriers price by shipment weight and mileage rather than by the hour. A two-bedroom home (around 5,000 lb of goods) typically costs $9,210 to $13,710 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 7 to 14 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 50 hours (6 driving days).

On the Chesapeake side there are 321 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (201 of them authorized for interstate work), and 27 around Santa Barbara (9 interstate). For an interstate move you can book from either end; movers near the origin handle loading and are usually the better first call, while a destination-side company can be useful if you need storage or delivery-day help in Santa Barbara.

Chesapeake has a population of about 255,332 and Santa Barbara about 88,000. Santa Barbara is the denser city (4,549 people per square mile versus 737 in Chesapeake), which often means shuttle trucks, parking restrictions or building move-in windows on delivery day. California is a higher-cost state than Virginia, so budget a little more for destination-side help, deposits and first-month expenses.

Cost of moving from Chesapeake to Santa Barbara

Full-service estimate for 2,861 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$3,690	$4,490	$5,480
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$5,530	$6,740	$8,220
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$9,210	$11,240	$13,710
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$14,740	$17,980	$21,930
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$20,270	$24,720	$30,160

Rental truck (DIY)

$3,990–$5,630

One-way truck for the distance, mileage and fuel included; you load and drive.

Portable container

$3,570–$5,260

Container delivered, you load, company transports; transit is slower than a mover.

Full-service mover

$9,210–$13,710

Two-bedroom reference; crew loads, hauls and unloads.

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Chesapeake, VA → Santa Barbara, CA. Adjust the other options to see your range.

—to—

Typical full-service range.

Estimates use market baselines described on the cost guide; your quotes will vary by inventory, access and date.

Moving companies for this route

Near Chesapeake (origin)

Service Transfer INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 139659
MC: 135652
Based in: Chesapeake, VA 23324 (9 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 240 trucks, 217 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (757) 543-7800 Route Verify on FMCSA

Highways & Skyways Of Nc

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Givens Transportation INC

USDOT: 1070890
MC: 446371
Based in: Chesapeake, VA 23320 (7 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 170 trucks, 156 drivers
USDOT registered: 2002

Call (757) 233-4300 Route Verify on FMCSA

Apple Moving

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Harrison'S Moving & Storage Company INC

USDOT: 163678
MC: 143934
Based in: Chesapeake, VA 23323 (5 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 44 trucks, 41 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (757) 397-1248 Route Verify on FMCSA

Hampton Roads Moving & Storage

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Queeney Enterprises INC

USDOT: 1581633
MC: 585658
Based in: Suffolk, VA 23435 (15 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 43 trucks, 30 drivers
USDOT registered: 2006

Call (757) 967-0770 Route Verify on FMCSA

Rail Direct Transportation Company

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 706550
MC: 326565
Based in: Portsmouth, VA 23707 (11 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 38 trucks, 30 drivers
USDOT registered: 1997

Call (757) 398-8600 Route Verify on FMCSA

Leighton Transportation Services INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2139019
MC: 744920
Based in: Portsmouth, VA 23701 (10 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 25 trucks, 19 drivers
USDOT registered: 2011

Call (757) 689-7820 Route Verify on FMCSA

Apple Moving

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Accent Relocation Services INC

USDOT: 795385
MC: 354379
Based in: Norfolk, VA 23504 (13 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 21 trucks, 13 drivers
USDOT registered: 1999

Call (757) 625-7631 Route Verify on FMCSA

Integrated Global Logistics

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Integrated Global Logistics INC

USDOT: 1531539
MC: 570802
Based in: Portsmouth, VA 23704 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 20 trucks, 20 drivers
USDOT registered: 2006

Call (757) 466-3676 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 321 movers in Chesapeake

Near Santa Barbara (destination)

Aussie Moving

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Aussie Moving INC

USDOT: 2424966
MC: 876037
Based in: Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 2 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2013

Call (805) 456-6498 Route Verify on FMCSA

Twentyfour7 Msi

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Twenty Four 7 Moving Specialists INC

USDOT: 1821147
MC: 661157
Based in: Carpinteria, CA 93013 (12 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 2 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered: 2008

Call (805) 696-9247 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mammoth Van Lines

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Mammoth Moving Holding Corporation

USDOT: 374567
MC: 225136
Based in: Santa Barbara, CA 93111 (6 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 1 truck, 2 drivers
USDOT registered: 1989

Call (805) 968-8643 Route Verify on FMCSA

All Things Home Services LLC

Interstate carrier

USDOT: 8395520
Based in: Santa Barbara, CA 93111 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 1 truck, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 2026

Call (805) 245-3822 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bushnell Moving

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Kenneth Lee Bushnell

USDOT: 1355626
MC: 608117
Based in: Santa Barbara, CA 93105 (9 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 1 truck, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2005

Call (805) 682-5454 Route Verify on FMCSA

Santa Barbara Home Improvement Center

Intrastate carrier

Legal name: Santa Barbara Home Improvement Center INC

USDOT: 2735884
Based in: Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (805) 963-7825 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mike'S Deliveries

Intrastate carrier

Legal name: Miguel A Barrios

USDOT: 3008579
Based in: Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2017

Call (805) 331-0318 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bright Delivery And Install INC

Intrastate carrier

USDOT: 3544323
Based in: Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2021

Call (805) 679-1020 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 27 movers in Santa Barbara

Tips for this move

Expect a delivery spread of one to two weeks; plan temporary housing in Santa Barbara accordingly.
Compare a full-service van line against a container service; for a small household the container often wins.
Ask about consolidated versus dedicated truck options—dedicated is faster but costs more.
Read the FMCSA 'Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move' booklet the carrier must provide.

Near Chesapeake

Near Santa Barbara

Related routes

Other destinations from Chesapeake

Other origins to Santa Barbara

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Chesapeake to Santa Barbara?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $3,690 to $5,480 for a studio, $5,530 to $8,220 for a one-bedroom, $9,210 to $13,710 for a two-bedroom, $14,740 to $21,930 for a three-bedroom and $20,270 to $30,160 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Santa Barbara from Chesapeake?

About 2,861 road miles (2,425 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 50 hours (6 driving days).

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 7 to 14 days after pickup. Carriers give a spread rather than a fixed date because long-distance trucks carry several shipments; a dedicated truck or expedited service shortens the window for an extra fee.

Does my mover need interstate authority for this move?

Yes. Crossing from Virginia into California makes this an interstate move, so the carrier must hold active FMCSA operating authority (an MC number) in addition to its USDOT number. The company cards on this page flag which carriers are authorized for interstate work.

Is it cheaper to rent a truck or use a container for Chesapeake to Santa Barbara?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $3,990 to $5,630 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $3,570 to $5,260. Both save money versus a full-service crew but you do the loading, and container transit can take longer than a mover's delivery window.

When is the least expensive time to book this move?

Rates are highest in summer and around the last days of any month, when demand peaks. Mid-month, mid-week and winter dates are usually quoted below the standard rate. Booking four to eight weeks ahead gives you the widest choice of carriers on the Chesapeake–Santa Barbara corridor.