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

Movers from Santa Barbara to Richmond

About 2,775 road miles heading east. Typical two-bedroom cost $9,060–$13,470, delivery in 7–14 days, 27 carriers on the Santa Barbara side and 400 in Richmond.

2,775 miroad distance
48 hours (6 driving days)driving time
7–14 daysdelivery window
$9,060–$13,4702-bedroom estimate

Photo: Bruce Emmerling · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Route summary

From: Santa Barbara, California
To: Richmond, Virginia
Road distance: ≈ 2,775 miles (2,352 straight-line)
Drive time: 48 hours (6 driving days)
Delivery window: 7–14 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 27 (9 interstate)
Movers at destination: 400 (215 interstate)

Reverse: Richmond → Santa Barbara

Moving from Santa Barbara to Richmond is a cross-country move of roughly 2,775 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 $9,060 to $13,470 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 48 hours (6 driving days).

On the Santa Barbara side there are 27 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (9 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.

Santa Barbara has a population of about 88,000 and Richmond about 237,257. The two cities have comparable density (4,549 and 3,783 people per square mile), so loading and unloading conditions are usually similar at both ends. 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 Santa Barbara to Richmond

Full-service estimate for 2,775 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$3,620	$4,420	$5,390
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$5,430	$6,630	$8,080
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$9,060	$11,050	$13,470
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$14,490	$17,670	$21,560
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$19,930	$24,300	$29,640

Rental truck (DIY)

$3,900–$5,510

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

Portable container

$3,500–$5,140

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

Full-service mover

$9,060–$13,470

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Santa Barbara, 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 Santa Barbara (origin)

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

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

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.
Ship the car separately if you plan to fly; auto transport is priced by the mile like household goods.

Near Santa Barbara

Near Richmond

Related routes

Other destinations from Santa Barbara

Other origins to Richmond

Frequently asked questions

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

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $3,620 to $5,390 for a studio, $5,430 to $8,080 for a one-bedroom, $9,060 to $13,470 for a two-bedroom, $14,490 to $21,560 for a three-bedroom and $19,930 to $29,640 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Richmond from Santa Barbara?

About 2,775 road miles (2,352 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 48 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 Santa Barbara to Richmond?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $3,900 to $5,510 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $3,500 to $5,140. 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 Santa Barbara–Richmond corridor.