Santa Cruz, CA → Washington, DC · Cross-country move

Movers from Santa Cruz to Washington

About 2,869 road miles heading east. Typical two-bedroom cost $9,910–$14,740, delivery in 7–14 days, 27 carriers on the Santa Cruz side and 1,904 in Washington.

2,869 miroad distance
50 hours (6 driving days)driving time
7–14 daysdelivery window
$9,910–$14,7402-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: Santa Cruz, California
To: Washington, District of Columbia
Road distance: ≈ 2,869 miles (2,432 straight-line)
Drive time: 50 hours (6 driving days)
Delivery window: 7–14 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 27 (6 interstate)
Movers at destination: 1,904 (1,206 interstate)

Reverse: Washington → Santa Cruz

The route from Santa Cruz, CA to Washington, DC covers roughly 2,869 miles by road, a east-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 $9,910 to $14,740 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 Santa Cruz side there are 27 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (6 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.

Santa Cruz has a population of about 62,000 and Washington about 693,645. Washington is the denser city (11,286 people per square mile versus 4,942 in Santa Cruz), which often means shuttle trucks, parking restrictions or building move-in windows on delivery day.

Cost of moving from Santa Cruz to Washington

Full-service estimate for 2,869 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$3,960	$4,830	$5,900
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$5,950	$7,250	$8,850
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$9,910	$12,080	$14,740
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$15,860	$19,340	$23,590
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$21,800	$26,590	$32,440

Rental truck (DIY)

$4,000–$5,640

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

Portable container

$3,580–$5,270

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

Full-service mover

$9,910–$14,740

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Santa Cruz, CA → Washington, DC. 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 Cruz (origin)

Lambert And Son Moving

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Bill Lambert

USDOT: 3528657
MC: 1220611
Based in: Santa Cruz, CA 95065 (5 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 4 trucks, 7 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (831) 777-4265 Route Verify on FMCSA

Edward W Grace

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1559365
MC: 643222
Based in: Santa Cruz, CA 95062 (3 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 1 truck, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2006

Call (831) 465-6865 Route Verify on FMCSA

Denise Hoselton Living Tr

Interstate carrier

USDOT: 4197804
MC: 1618833
Based in: Brookdale, CA 95007 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 1 truck, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2024

Call (831) 704-6804 Route Verify on FMCSA

Delivertron

Interstate carrier

Legal name: Delivertron LLC

USDOT: 3592367
Based in: Boulder Creek, CA 95006 (15 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 1 truck, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2021

Call (831) 293-4823 Route Verify on FMCSA

Locatelli Moving And Storage INC

Intrastate carrier

USDOT: 1891836
Based in: Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 7 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered: 2009

Call (831) 425-7775 Route Verify on FMCSA

Coast Paper & Supply

Intrastate carrier

USDOT: 2666577
Based in: Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (4 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 4 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (831) 423-3350 Route Verify on FMCSA

Rational Moving INC

Intrastate carrier

USDOT: 3393511
MC: 1565780
Based in: Scotts Valley, CA 95066 (7 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (831) 425-1448 Route Verify on FMCSA

Full Load

Intrastate carrier

Legal name: Robert D Joseph

USDOT: 2773290
Based in: Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (4 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 2 trucks, 2 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (831) 419-5395 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 27 movers in Santa Cruz

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

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 Cruz

Near Washington

Related routes

Other destinations from Santa Cruz

Other origins to Washington

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Santa Cruz to Washington?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $3,960 to $5,900 for a studio, $5,950 to $8,850 for a one-bedroom, $9,910 to $14,740 for a two-bedroom, $15,860 to $23,590 for a three-bedroom and $21,800 to $32,440 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Washington from Santa Cruz?

About 2,869 road miles (2,432 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 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 Santa Cruz to Washington?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $4,000 to $5,640 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $3,580 to $5,270. 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 Cruz–Washington corridor.