($1,562+) Arlington, VA to Bakersfield, CA Movers
Moving from Arlington, VA, to Bakersfield, CA, runs anywhere from $1,624 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $11,429 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 2,679 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 7 to 21 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.
- Full-service moves for smaller spaces (studio apartments and 1-bedrooms) start around $2,503, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $11,429 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,936 - $7,642, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $1,624 - $4,513.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Arlington, VA, to Bakersfield, CA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,797 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
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Compare moving options from Arlington, VA to Bakersfield, CA
Moving options from Arlington to Bakersfield fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move on this route costs $3,797 - $7,608 and includes all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 30% less for the same home size, while rental trucks land about 60% less, though both require you to load the truck or container yourself. This route spans 2,679 miles and typically takes 7 to 21 days.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 2,679-mile route from Arlington to Bakersfield, broken down by home size:
- Studio / 1 bedroom: full-service $2,503 - $5,880, container $1,936 - $3,837, rental truck $1,624 - $3,029, freight trailer $1,778 - $3,488.
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: full-service $3,797 - $7,608, container $2,562 - $5,556, rental truck $1,676 - $3,497, freight trailer $1,987 - $4,060.
- 4+ bedrooms: full-service $7,500 - $11,429, container $3,567 - $7,642, rental truck $2,203 - $4,513, freight trailer $2,939 - $5,589.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated September 16, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Arlington, VA to Bakersfield, CA
Full-service movers handle loading, transportation, and unloading on the 2,679-mile move from Arlington, Virginia, to Bakersfield, California, with costs ranging from $2,503 - $11,429. You can have movers pack your boxes for an additional $415 - $2,768. Like most long-distance moves, your price is determined by the total weight of your belongings and the distance between Arlington and Bakersfield. Local movers in Arlington typically start around $200 as a base rate plus $110/hour per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Arlington to Bakersfield:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,503 - $5,880
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,797 - $7,608
- 4+ bedrooms: $7,500 - $11,429
Packing, storage, shuttle fees, and added coverage can stack on top of the base price. See the full add-ons and specialty services table below for what each runs from Arlington to Bakersfield.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Virginia to California. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
Pro tip: Moving company rates climb during peak moving season (May –-September) when demand peaks. Scheduling your move outside of that window can lead to noticeably lower costs and better availability.
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Specialty moving services from Arlington, VA to Bakersfield, CA
Specialty needs vary by market — 94% of Arlington movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Bakersfield, 80% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing100% of local movers | $692 - $6,920 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready94% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: BoxStar Movers | $277 - $1,661/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $415 - $3,322 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage30% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs58% of local movers | $1,384 - $4,152 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $3,460 - $13,840 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $1,037 - $1,969 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items56% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: BoxStar Movers | $1,384 - $3,460 |
| Piano | Any piano type71% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: BoxStar Movers | $1,107 - $4,844 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling39% of local movers | $415 - $2,076 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect28% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: BoxStar Movers | $900 - $2,768 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $415 - $20,760+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $415 - $4,844+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Arlington to Bakersfield?
If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in California Moving & Storage Association is a good first thing to confirm.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving offers the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing locks in your cost upfront, and 24/7 customer support is available throughout the move.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. Operating since 1995, AVL staffs every move with full-time in-house crews trained on antiques, art, and other high-value items.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. As one of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, real-time shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Arlington, VA. At that distance, local movers often charge 30% - 40% more because they don't spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments the way national carriers do. If a direct route and faster delivery (averaging 2 days) are priorities, a local mover may be worth considering, but that service comes at a higher price.
Moving container costs from Arlington, VA to Bakersfield, CA
Moving containers from Arlington, Virginia, to Bakersfield, California, cost between $1,936 and $7,642. You load everything on your own schedule (U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30). When you're ready, the company takes care of getting the container from point A to point B. Need more time than that? Extra storage in Arlington typically runs around $100/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Arlington to Bakersfield:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,936 - $3,837
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,562 - $5,556
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,567 - $7,642
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $104 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $208 per month.
- Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Bakersfield, CA, if you need to retrieve anything while items are still in storage.
- Moving labor: Since you're responsible for loading the container yourself, many customers bring in hourly help. Based on moveBuddha data, hiring 2 movers for approximately 5 hours costs about $969 in Arlington, VA. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: Full-value protection goes beyond the standard minimum and covers repair, replacement, or reimbursement at declared value. Pricing is typically 1% - 2% of your total shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 move.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Virginia to California move in the past 90 days. Our pricing data is drawn from 1,500+ monthly data points across our vetted mover network and refreshed every month.
Pro tip: Before ordering moving containers, take a careful inventory of everything you're moving. A typical 1-bedroom home weighs around 3,000 pounds and fits in a single container starting at $1,936. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $2,562 - $5,556, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Arlington to Bakersfield?
- Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
- U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
- MovingYourself (5.0/5 stars)
Want a hand without paying for full service? A container or truck move does not mean doing all the heavy lifting yourself. You can hire a labor-only crew in Arlington to load and unload while you handle the drive, then book full help later if you change your mind. Three top-rated local crews for labor-only help in Arlington:
- BoxStar Movers (5.0/5), 5 years in business
- Zip Moving And Storage, Inc. (4.9/5), 10 years in business
- My Pro Movers (5.0/5), 9 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Arlington, VA to Bakersfield, CA
Renting a moving truck for the 2,679-mile move from Arlington, Virginia, to Bakersfield, California, costs between $1,624 and $4,513, before these typical add-ons:
- Fuel for the drive: $1,180 - $1,348
- Daily insurance: $42/day
- Equipment rentals: $10 - $28
- Arlington daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.99 - $1.19
| Home size | Typical truck size |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | 10 - 12 ft |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | 15 - 17 ft |
| 4+ bedrooms | 20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel) |
These are typical moving truck rental costs from Arlington to Bakersfield based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,624 - $3,029
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,676 - $3,497
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,203 - $4,513
Pro tip: A rental truck from Arlington to Bakersfield looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $1,624 - $4,513. But once you factor in fuel ($1,180 - $1,348) , overnight lodging ($208/night), meals, and equipment rentals, most people end up spending $600 - $1,200 more than the base rate suggests. Building that into your budget upfront saves you from sticker shock at the end of the move.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
- Lodging: Budget around $208 per night if your drive requires an overnight stop. Typically, you'll make 1 - 3 overnight stops, depending on move distance.
- Moving labor: Bringing in professional loading help in Arlington, Virginia, usually costs about $969 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
- Gas: Fuel for the 2,679-mile drive falls between $1,180 and $1,348, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
- Equipment: Appliance dollies, moving pads, and vehicle trailers are easy to overlook but can add between $69 and $415 to your total.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Arlington to Bakersfield?
- Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
- Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
- U-Haul Truck Rental (4.2/5 stars)
The best truck rental companies for this route, based on moveBuddha's ratings.
Freight trailer costs from Arlington, VA to Bakersfield, CA
For larger DIY moves from Arlington, Virginia, freight trailers give you plenty of room without putting you behind the wheel. Standard trailers are 28 feet long. You load the section you need, and the carrier transports everything to Bakersfield, California.
Because freight companies bill by linear footage, your total is based on how much of the trailer you occupy, not the full length. For most medium-to-large moves on this route, pricing typically falls between $1,987 and $4,060.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Arlington to Bakersfield:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,778 - $3,488
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,987 - $4,060
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,939 - $5,589
Pro tip: A 4-foot ramp sounds simple, but heavy or awkward furniture can make the climb tricky. With 8 feet of height to work with, smart vertical stacking is key. Since freight companies charge by the linear foot, every extra foot you use adds to the bill.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Seasonal demand: Pricing tends to rise during peak moving season, particularly between mid-May and mid-September.
- Moving labor: Most customers hire loading help since freight is self-loaded. Two movers in Arlington, Virginia, for roughly 5 hours typically costs $969.
- More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $104 and $208 per foot.
What are the best freight companies from Arlington to Bakersfield?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the best for large moves pick. While it's a top moving container option for the DIY hybrid setup (you handle the loading, they handle the driving), the same approach makes it a strong freight choice for 3 to 5+ bedroom homes that need 53 feet of trailer capacity with pay-as-you-go pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer here. In addition to their popular container service, U-Pack delivers a top-tier freight trailer option that uses the same pay-by-the-foot pricing model and skips deposits and upfront fees entirely.
- Terminal Transportation Services (4.7/5 stars): Terminal Transportation Services is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Local ownership translates to accessible support staff and facilities based in the communities they serve, giving customers more direct communication than they'd typically get from a national-only freight network.
Pro tip: Freight trailers move fast, making them one of the quickest ways to get your belongings from Arlington to Bakersfield. If you have a hard move-in date and want your stuff there as soon as possible, freight is hard to beat. It's worth noting that freight works best when you're ready to receive your delivery, so if your move-in date is still up in the air or you'll need short-term storage, a moving container is likely the more practical choice.
Cost of living: Arlington, VA vs Bakersfield, CA
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Bakersfield, side by side with Arlington on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Arlington, VA | Bakersfield, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 164 | 100 |
| Average rent | $2,718/mo | $1,695/mo |
| Median home value | $866,334 | $345,317 |
| Average income | $140,160/yr | $77,397/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 5.9% |
| State income tax | Up to 5.75% | Up to 13.3% |
| Walkability score | 71/100 | 37/100 |
| Safety index | 79.15/100 | 41.51/100 |
| Air quality | Good | Good |
Cost of living index is relative to the U.S. average of 100. Figures reflect the latest available city and state data.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Bakersfield, CA to Arlington, VA guide.
Why use moveBuddha to find your mover:
We've processed 10 real quotes from Virginia to California over the past 3 months, giving us some of the most up-to-date pricing data around. Running your move through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers helps you avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors. There are 104 movers in our Virginia network to compare for this 2,679-mile move.
Our take
How you handle your interstate move from Arlington, VA, to Bakersfield, CA, comes down to your budget and how much time and work you're able to put into it. Hands-off relocations handled by full-service movers range from $2,503 - $11,429 on the 2,679-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,936 - $7,642 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $1,624 - $4,513 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $3,797 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and 24/7 live support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Bakersfield City School District and Clinica Sierra Vista.
FAQs: Moving from Arlington, VA, to Bakersfield, CA
How long does a move from Arlington, VA to Bakersfield, CA take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 5 - 7 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are usually the fastest option outside of driving yourself, with deliveries in 3 - 5 days, though you'll need to be ready to receive your shipment on arrival. Driving a rental truck yourself puts the schedule entirely in your hands.
What do local movers charge in Arlington?
Local movers based in Arlington typically start around $200 as a base rate, plus $110/hour per mover. That's a useful baseline if you're hiring help just to load a rental truck or container rather than booking a full long-distance move. Rates in Bakersfield run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
What are some tips for saving money on a move from Arlington, VA to Bakersfield, CA?
Cutting 500 pounds from your shipment, roughly one bedroom's worth of items, saves approximately $200 - $400 on a full-service move on this route. Beyond that, staying organized matters just as much. A solid moving checklist keeps you on schedule and helps you avoid costly last-minute mistakes.
How much does it cost to move from Arlington, VA to Bakersfield, CA?
Costs on this route range from around $2,503 to $11,429, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $2,503 and $11,429, while DIY options like rental trucks and containers come in lower. Moving during peak season (May - September) tends to push prices higher across the board.
How walkable is Bakersfield?
Bakersfield has a walkability score of 37 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 44, compared to 71 and 72 in Arlington. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
What percentage of Arlington movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 71% of movers in Arlington handle piano moves, and 56% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
