Lancaster, PA → Washington, DC · Short-haul move

Movers from Lancaster to Washington

About 103 road miles heading southwest. Typical two-bedroom cost $2,160–$3,220, delivery in 1–2 days, 260 carriers on the Lancaster side and 1,904 in Washington.

103 miroad distance
2 h 29 mindriving time
1–2 daysdelivery window
$2,160–$3,2202-bedroom estimate

Photo: Ralf Roletschek (talk) - Infos über Fahrräder auf fahrradmonteur.de Wikis in der Ausbildung · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Route summary

From: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
To: Washington, District of Columbia
Road distance: ≈ 103 miles (87 straight-line)
Drive time: 2 h 29 min
Delivery window: 1–2 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 260 (171 interstate)
Movers at destination: 1,904 (1,206 interstate)

Reverse: Washington → Lancaster

The route from Lancaster, PA to Washington, DC covers roughly 103 miles by road, a southwest-bound trip that falls into the short-haul move category for pricing purposes.

Because the two cities are close together, most companies quote this move by the hour: a crew of two to four movers plus a truck, with the drive of about 2 h 29 min counted as billable travel time. A typical two-bedroom household lands between $2,160 and $3,220, before packing or storage.

On the Lancaster side there are 260 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (171 of them authorized for interstate work), and 1,904 around Washington (1,206 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 Washington.

Lancaster has a population of about 58,000 and Washington about 693,645. Washington is the denser city (11,286 people per square mile versus 8,031 in Lancaster), which often means shuttle trucks, parking restrictions or building move-in windows on delivery day. District of Columbia is a higher-cost state than Pennsylvania, so budget a little more for destination-side help, deposits and first-month expenses.

Cost of moving from Lancaster to Washington

Full-service estimate for 103 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$1,370	$1,660	$2,030
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$1,370	$1,660	$2,030
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$2,160	$2,640	$3,220
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$3,460	$4,220	$5,150
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$4,760	$5,810	$7,090

Rental truck (DIY)

$260–$360

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

Portable container

$1,110–$1,640

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

Full-service mover

$2,160–$3,220

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Lancaster, PA → Washington, DC. Adjust the other options to see your range.

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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 Lancaster (origin)

Miller Dedicated Services LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2562869
MC: 894481
Based in: Lancaster, PA 17601 (2 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 200 trucks, 200 drivers
USDOT registered: 2014

Call (609) 265-2511 Route Verify on FMCSA

Sunrise Transport INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 276388
MC: 290856
Based in: Ephrata, PA 17522 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 128 trucks, 152 drivers
USDOT registered: 1986

Call (717) 721-2803 Route Verify on FMCSA

Falcon Transport INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 168358
MC: 145282
Based in: Lancaster, PA 17601 (2 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 120 trucks, 110 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (717) 735-0560 Route Verify on FMCSA

Pioneer Transport INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 514795
MC: 197249
Based in: Lancaster, PA 17601 (2 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 115 trucks, 100 drivers
USDOT registered: 1993

Call (717) 735-0560 Route Verify on FMCSA

Quaker Transport INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 619559
MC: 287214
Based in: Lancaster, PA 17601 (2 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 66 trucks, 60 drivers
USDOT registered: 1995

Call (717) 735-0560 Route Verify on FMCSA

Snavely'S Mill INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 377174
MC: 302885
Based in: Lititz, PA 17543 (10 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 39 trucks, 40 drivers
USDOT registered: 1990

Call (717) 626-6256 Route Verify on FMCSA

Clark Transport LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2040512
MC: 720073
Based in: Quarryville, PA 17566 (15 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 30 trucks, 30 drivers
USDOT registered: 2010

Call (717) 471-8623 Route Verify on FMCSA

Shawnee Trucking Pa INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1342517
MC: 515012
Based in: Lancaster, PA 17601 (2 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 25 trucks, 63 drivers
USDOT registered: 2005

Call (717) 684-6100 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 260 movers in Lancaster

Near Washington (destination)

Evo Transportation

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Ritter Transport INC

USDOT: 436004
MC: 239770
Based in: Capital Heights, MD 20743 (7 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 75 trucks, 151 drivers
USDOT registered: 1991

Call (480) 485-5862 Route Verify on FMCSA

Eagle Van Lines INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 388638
MC: 208997
Based in: Temple Hills, MD 20748 (8 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 72 trucks, 59 drivers
USDOT registered: 1990

Call (301) 899-2022 Route Verify on FMCSA

Global Solutions Services LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3308320
MC: 1053236
Based in: Beltsville, MD 20705 (12 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 46 trucks, 75 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (240) 805-4447 Route Verify on FMCSA

Primus Trans LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2442344
MC: 44829
Based in: Vienna, VA 22182 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 40 trucks, 40 drivers
USDOT registered: 2013

Call (571) 386-9178 Route Verify on FMCSA

John W Ritter Trucking INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 6903
MC: 1664339
Based in: Capital Heights, MD 20743 (7 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 38 trucks, 107 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (480) 582-2760 Route Verify on FMCSA

Geva Transportationgeva Logisticsgeva Freight Forwarding S

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Geva Transportation LLC

USDOT: 2845842
MC: 954130
Based in: Clinton, MD 20735 (12 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 35 trucks, 33 drivers
USDOT registered: 2016

Call (240) 284-3828 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mike Dancy

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Michael Dancy

USDOT: 4231672
MC: 1637268
Based in: Clinton, MD 20735 (12 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 26 trucks, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2024

Call (301) 643-4471 Route Verify on FMCSA

F4l Trans LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3268506
MC: 1031430
Based in: Hyattsville, MD 20785 (7 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 25 trucks, 50 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (702) 366-6000 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 1,904 movers in Washington

Tips for this move

A single-day move is realistic here; schedule loading in the morning so the crew arrives in Washington with daylight to spare.
Check Pennsylvania intrastate mover rules; many states require a state permit in addition to a USDOT number.
Group fragile items and tell the crew which boxes go in the cab or on top.
For a move under about 150 miles you can often choose between an hourly and a flat rate—ask for both.

Near Lancaster

Near Washington

Related routes

Other destinations from Lancaster

Other origins to Washington

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Lancaster to Washington?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $1,370 to $2,030 for a studio, $1,370 to $2,030 for a one-bedroom, $2,160 to $3,220 for a two-bedroom, $3,460 to $5,150 for a three-bedroom and $4,760 to $7,090 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Washington from Lancaster?

About 103 road miles (87 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 2 h 29 min.

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 1 to 2 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 Pennsylvania into District of Columbia 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 Lancaster to Washington?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $260 to $360 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,110 to $1,640. 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 Lancaster–Washington corridor.