Palo Alto, CA → Richmond, VA · Cross-country move

Movers from Palo Alto to Richmond

About 2,863 road miles heading east. Typical two-bedroom cost $9,220–$13,710, delivery in 7–14 days, 233 carriers on the Palo Alto side and 400 in Richmond.

2,863 miroad distance
50 hours (6 driving days)driving time
7–14 daysdelivery window
$9,220–$13,7102-bedroom estimate

Photo: Bruce Emmerling · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Route summary

From: Palo Alto, California
To: Richmond, Virginia
Road distance: ≈ 2,863 miles (2,426 straight-line)
Drive time: 50 hours (6 driving days)
Delivery window: 7–14 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 233 (62 interstate)
Movers at destination: 400 (215 interstate)

Reverse: Richmond → Palo Alto

Moving from Palo Alto to Richmond is a cross-country move of roughly 2,863 road miles, heading east from California to Virginia.

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 $9,220 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 Palo Alto side there are 233 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (62 of them authorized for interstate work), and 400 around Richmond (215 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 Richmond.

Palo Alto has a population of about 67,000 and Richmond about 237,257. Richmond is the denser city (3,783 people per square mile versus 2,851 in Palo Alto), which often means shuttle trucks, parking restrictions or building move-in windows on delivery day. Labor and living costs run lower in Virginia than in California, which tends to make destination-side services such as unpacking or storage cheaper than the same services back home.

Cost of moving from Palo Alto to Richmond

Full-service estimate for 2,863 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$3,690	$4,500	$5,490
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$5,530	$6,740	$8,230
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$9,220	$11,240	$13,710
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$14,750	$17,980	$21,940
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$20,280	$24,730	$30,170

Rental truck (DIY)

$3,990–$5,640

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

Portable container

$3,580–$5,260

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

Full-service mover

$9,220–$13,710

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Palo Alto, CA → Richmond, VA. 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 Palo Alto (origin)

Piranha Ops LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3389468
MC: 1089109
Based in: San Jose, CA 95126 (13 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 49 trucks, 100 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (510) 798-4604 Route Verify on FMCSA

Kilam INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3251388
MC: 1023623
Based in: Fremont, CA 94538 (13 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 30 trucks, 68 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (415) 740-2340 Route Verify on FMCSA

Crown Worldwide Moving And Storage LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 2970
MC: 138953
Based in: Union City, CA 94587 (14 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 25 trucks, 18 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (510) 614-4105 Route Verify on FMCSA

Lucid USA INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3488549
MC: 1147342
Based in: Newark, CA 94560 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 22 trucks, 38 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (341) 236-1056 Route Verify on FMCSA

Managed Facility Solutions

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Managed Facilities Solutions LLC

USDOT: 2974713
MC: 10809
Based in: San Jose, CA 95131 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 22 trucks, 43 drivers
USDOT registered: 2017

Call (408) 920-0110 Route Verify on FMCSA

Careful Movers

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Careful Movers INC

USDOT: 1464935
MC: 553377
Based in: Union City, CA 94587 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 14 trucks, 14 drivers
USDOT registered: 2006

Call (650) 595-8400 Route Verify on FMCSA

Arjak&agnes Sons Trucking

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3247717
MC: 1021407
Based in: Santa Clara, CA 95050 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 7 trucks, 6 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (510) 359-9498 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mav Moving LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4340425
MC: 77787146
Based in: Newark, CA 94560 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 6 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2024

Call (510) 456-5745 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 233 movers in Palo Alto

Near Richmond (destination)

Tforce Freight

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Tforce Freight INC

USDOT: 121058
MC: 109533
Based in: Henrico, VA 23233 (11 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 4,155 trucks, 4,379 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (800) 333-7400 Route Verify on FMCSA

Stewart Moving And Storage

Licensed interstate

Legal name: The Wes Stewart Corporation

USDOT: 1194537
MC: 531584
Based in: Midlothian, VA 23113 (11 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 95 trucks, 71 drivers
USDOT registered: 2003

Call (910) 435-3161 Route Verify on FMCSA

Lion Bg INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 1054563
MC: 510871
Based in: Chesterfield, VA 23832 (12 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 58 trucks, 54 drivers
USDOT registered: 2002

Call (630) 655-5212 Route Verify on FMCSA

Rcs Moving

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Rcs Moving LLC

USDOT: 805773
MC: 376501
Based in: Richmond, VA 23230 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 31 trucks, 58 drivers
USDOT registered: 1999

Call (804) 358-4035 Route Verify on FMCSA

Evolution Express LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2109946
MC: 735649
Based in: Richmond, VA 23224 (2 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 25 trucks, 25 drivers
USDOT registered: 2011

Call (804) 638-9093 Route Verify on FMCSA

D1 Moving

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: D1 Moving LLC

USDOT: 3013397
MC: 30349
Based in: Richmond, VA 23230 (4 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 22 trucks, 31 drivers
USDOT registered: 2017

Route Verify on FMCSA

Dunmar Moving System

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Centre Carriers Corp

USDOT: 392896
MC: 137503
Based in: Richmond, VA 23237 (9 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 20 trucks, 20 drivers
USDOT registered: 1990

Call (804) 271-0500 Route Verify on FMCSA

Orbit Freight Line INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3760361
MC: 1338456
Based in: Chester, VA 23836 (15 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 18 trucks, 9 drivers
USDOT registered: 2021

Call (804) 404-9301 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 400 movers in Richmond

Tips for this move

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.
Ship the car separately if you plan to fly; auto transport is priced by the mile like household goods.
Confirm which items the mover will not carry (plants, perishables, propane, some batteries).

Near Palo Alto

Near Richmond

Related routes

Other destinations from Palo Alto

Other origins to Richmond

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Palo Alto to Richmond?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $3,690 to $5,490 for a studio, $5,530 to $8,230 for a one-bedroom, $9,220 to $13,710 for a two-bedroom, $14,750 to $21,940 for a three-bedroom and $20,280 to $30,170 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Richmond from Palo Alto?

About 2,863 road miles (2,426 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 California into Virginia 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 Palo Alto to Richmond?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $3,990 to $5,640 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $3,580 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 Palo Alto–Richmond corridor.