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

Movers from Santa Monica to Richmond

About 2,707 road miles heading east. Typical two-bedroom cost $8,930–$13,290, delivery in 7–14 days, 603 carriers on the Santa Monica side and 400 in Richmond.

2,707 miroad distance
47 hours (6 driving days)driving time
7–14 daysdelivery window
$8,930–$13,2902-bedroom estimate

Photo: Bruce Emmerling · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Route summary

From: Santa Monica, California
To: Richmond, Virginia
Road distance: ≈ 2,707 miles (2,294 straight-line)
Drive time: 47 hours (6 driving days)
Delivery window: 7–14 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 603 (222 interstate)
Movers at destination: 400 (215 interstate)

Reverse: Richmond → Santa Monica

Moving from Santa Monica to Richmond is a cross-country move of roughly 2,707 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 $8,930 to $13,290 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 47 hours (6 driving days).

On the Santa Monica side there are 603 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (222 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 Monica has a population of about 92,000 and Richmond about 237,257. Santa Monica is considerably denser (11,069 people per square mile versus 3,783), so expect tighter loading conditions, parking permits or elevator reservations at the origin and easier truck access at the destination. 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 Monica to Richmond

Full-service estimate for 2,707 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$3,570	$4,360	$5,320
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$5,360	$6,540	$7,970
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$8,930	$10,890	$13,290
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$14,290	$17,430	$21,270
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$19,650	$23,970	$29,240

Rental truck (DIY)

$3,830–$5,410

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

Portable container

$3,440–$5,050

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

Full-service mover

$8,930–$13,290

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Santa Monica, CA → Richmond, VA. 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 Santa Monica (origin)

Clutter INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2719785
MC: 934868
Based in: Culver City, CA 90230 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 191 trucks, 382 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (877) 626-1887 Route Verify on FMCSA

Arru Group INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4420956
MC: 1738102
Based in: Los Angeles, CA 90029 (13 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 52 trucks, 180 drivers
USDOT registered: 2025

Call (424) 335-1991 Route Verify on FMCSA

Ing Logistics

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1778992
MC: 648911
Based in: Los Angeles, CA 90037 (12 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 50 trucks, 21 drivers
USDOT registered: 2008

Call (213) 944-0878 Route Verify on FMCSA

Dsd Trucking INC

Interstate carrier Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 465743
MC: 309255
Based in: Redondo Beach, CA 90278 (12 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 39 trucks, 31 drivers
USDOT registered: 1991

Call (310) 725-1999 Route Verify on FMCSA

Grt Logistics LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3410979
MC: 1099772
Based in: Los Angeles, CA 90008 (9 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 35 trucks, 80 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (310) 508-6676 Route Verify on FMCSA

Harmony Home Remodels

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4468385
MC: 1763223
Based in: Van Nuys, CA 91411 (12 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 33 trucks, 45 drivers
USDOT registered: 2025

Call (818) 747-3439 Route Verify on FMCSA

Dlvr

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3471374
MC: 1136305
Based in: Culver City, CA 90230 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 25 trucks, 55 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Route Verify on FMCSA

Melogistix INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3479671
MC: 1141564
Based in: LA, CA 90019 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 25 trucks, 48 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (323) 377-8628 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 603 movers in Santa Monica

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

Confirm which items the mover will not carry (plants, perishables, propane, some batteries).
Expect a delivery spread of one to two weeks; plan temporary housing in Richmond 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.

Near Santa Monica

Near Richmond

Related routes

Other destinations from Santa Monica

Other origins to Richmond

Frequently asked questions

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

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $3,570 to $5,320 for a studio, $5,360 to $7,970 for a one-bedroom, $8,930 to $13,290 for a two-bedroom, $14,290 to $21,270 for a three-bedroom and $19,650 to $29,240 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Richmond from Santa Monica?

About 2,707 road miles (2,294 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 47 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 Monica to Richmond?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $3,830 to $5,410 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $3,440 to $5,050. 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 Monica–Richmond corridor.