($1,612+) Arlington, VA to Anaheim, CA Movers
Moving from Arlington, VA, to Anaheim, CA, runs anywhere from $1,503 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $12,353 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 2,657 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 $2,453, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $12,353 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,926 - $7,086, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $1,503 - $4,606.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Arlington, VA, to Anaheim, CA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,968 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 Anaheim, CA
There are 3 main ways to move from Arlington to Anaheim: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service is the most expensive but covers everything from labor to transportation, with a 2-3 bedroom move on this route averaging $3,968 - $8,052. Containers cost roughly 30% less than full-service for the same home size, and rental trucks run about 60% less, though loading is on you with either DIY option. At 2,657 miles, expect 7 to 21 days in transit no matter which service you choose.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 2,657-mile route from Arlington to Anaheim, broken down by home size:
- Full-service movers: $2,453 for a studio up to $12,353 for a 4+ bedroom home.
- Moving containers: $1,926 - $7,086 depending on home size.
- Rental trucks: $1,503 - $4,606, the lowest-cost option across the board.
- Freight trailers: $1,715 - $5,842, billed by the space you actually use.
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 Anaheim, CA
For the 2,657-mile move from Arlington, Virginia, to Anaheim, California, full-service movers cost between $2,453 and $12,353. A long-distance moving company takes care of loading, hauling, and unloading. For an added cost of $493 - $3,288 (1 - 5+ bedrooms), crews will pack your boxes. The weight of your shipment and the mileage between the two cities are what drive your final cost. For scale, local movers in Arlington generally start around $200 plus $110 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Arlington to Anaheim:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,453 - $5,516
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,968 - $8,052
- 4+ bedrooms: $7,107 - $12,353
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 Anaheim.
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: Peak moving season (May - September) limits truck availability and pushes up full-service moving costs. Booking during slower months can give you more scheduling room and a lower final price.
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Specialty moving services from Arlington, VA to Anaheim, CA
Specialty needs vary by market — 94% of Arlington movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Anaheim, 84% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing100% of local movers | $822 - $8,220 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready94% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: BoxStar Movers | $329 - $1,973/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $493 - $3,946 |
| 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 | $1,644 - $4,932 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $4,110 - $16,440 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $1,231 - $2,339 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items56% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: BoxStar Movers | $1,644 - $4,110 |
| Piano | Any piano type71% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: BoxStar Movers | $1,315 - $5,754 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling39% of local movers | $493 - $2,466 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect28% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: BoxStar Movers | $1,069 - $3,288 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $493 - $24,660+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $493 - $5,754+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Arlington to Anaheim?
All three below meet the standards set by the California Moving & Storage Association, the group most California movers are affiliated with.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list, with flat-rate pricing that holds firm on moving day and a customer support team available around the clock.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here. With 30+ years of interstate moves behind them, AVL uses full-time in-house crews instead of the contracted labor most national carriers rely on.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan available on every long-distance move.
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 Anaheim, CA
Moving containers from Arlington, Virginia, to Anaheim, California, cost between $1,926 and $7,086. 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 Anaheim:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,926 - $3,776
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,445 - $5,044
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,616 - $7,086
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Access: Most major container brands operate in both Arlington, VA and Anaheim, CA. Still, double-check that a nearby facility is available if you need to access your belongings before delivery.
- Moving labor: Because containers are self-loaded, many customers hire hourly help. Two movers for about 5 hours typically cost around $1,151 in Arlington, VA, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Storage: Monthly container rental after the first 30 days averages $123 for small units (7 - 8 feet) and about $247 for larger ones (12 - 16 feet).
- Added contents protection: For more coverage beyond the standard minimum, full-value protection is the typical upgrade, generally 1% - 2% of your declared shipment value. On a $50,000 household, that's roughly $500 - $1,000 as a one-time fee.
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 $1,926. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $2,445 - $5,044, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Arlington to Anaheim?
- 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 Anaheim, CA
Renting a moving truck for the 2,657-mile move from Arlington, Virginia, to Anaheim, California, costs between $1,503 and $4,606, before these typical add-ons:
- Fuel for the drive: $1,390 - $1,588
- Daily insurance: $49/day
- Equipment rentals: $12 - $33
- 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 Anaheim based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,503 - $3,094
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,678 - $3,397
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,184 - $4,606
Pro tip: The advertised base rate of $1,503 - $4,606 does not include fuel ($1,390 - $1,588) , lodging ($247/night for overnight stops), meals, or equipment rentals. When you add those up, the true cost of your move from Arlington to Anaheim typically runs $600 - $1,200 more than the base rate alone.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Arlington, Virginia, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $1,151.
- Gas: Fuel costs total $1,390 - $1,588 for the 2,657-mile drive, depending on whether your truck takes gas or diesel.
- Equipment: Appliance dollies, auto transport trailers, and furniture pads are separate rentals. Expect to spend between $99 and $534, depending on what you need.
- Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
- Lodging: Budget around $247 per night for hotel stops on the 2,657-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $493 - $740.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Arlington to Anaheim?
- 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 Anaheim, 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 Anaheim, 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 $2,038 and $4,248.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Arlington to Anaheim:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,715 - $3,535
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,038 - $4,248
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,780 - $5,842
Pro tip: Freight trailers offer generous space but reward good packing strategy. The 4-foot ramp can be challenging for large or heavy pieces, and using the full 8-foot height takes careful stacking. Because you're billed by the linear foot, maximizing vertical space keeps your costs lower.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Demand cycles: Trailer costs climb during peak moving season, especially from mid-May through mid-September when demand is at its highest.
- More space: You're billed only for the linear feet you use, but underestimating your inventory means paying for extra space, typically around $123 - $247 more per foot.
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Arlington, Virginia, for about five hours typically runs $1,151.
What are the best freight companies from Arlington to Anaheim?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Primarily known as a top moving container option for its DIY hybrid model where customers load and the company drives, MovingYourself also functions as a strong freight option thanks to its 53-foot trucks and pay-only-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. Best known for its container service, U-Pack also runs a top-notch freight trailer operation with the same no-deposit, pay-by-the-foot approach that keeps overall costs lower than most freight competitors.
- Terminal Transportation Services (4.7/5 stars): Terminal Transportation Services is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned facilities and accessible live support staff make scheduling and route coordination easier on local-area routes than what most national freight providers can offer.
Pro tip: One of the biggest advantages of freight trailers is speed. For an interstate move, freight delivery is one of the fastest options you have short of driving a rental truck yourself. It's a smart choice when your timeline is firm and you'll be ready to receive your shipment. If there's any chance your new place won't be ready or you need a few weeks of storage, a moving container with built-in storage may serve you better.
Cost of living: Arlington, VA vs Anaheim, CA
There's not a big cost-of-living gap between Arlington and Anaheim to plan around. Cost of living index: 164 vs. 165. Average rent: $2,718/mo vs. $2,550/mo. The bigger factor in your budget is the one-time cost of the move itself, covered above. Walkability: 71 vs. 56. Safety index: 79.15 vs. 46.82.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Anaheim, CA to Arlington, VA guide.
Why book your mover through moveBuddha:
moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Virginia to California in the past 3 months alone, keeping our pricing data current. Run your numbers through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors. For context, we track 104 movers based in Virginia, handy for sizing up options on this 2,657-mile route.
Our take
How you handle your interstate move from Arlington, VA, to Anaheim, 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 $2,453 - $12,353 on the 2,657-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,926 - $7,086 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $1,503 - $4,606 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $3,968 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 PacSun and Firmenich.
FAQs: Moving from Arlington, VA, to Anaheim, CA
What are some tips for saving money on a move from Arlington, VA to Anaheim, 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 Anaheim, CA?
Costs on this route range from around $2,453 to $12,353, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $2,453 and $12,353, 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 Anaheim?
Anaheim has a walkability score of 56 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 52, 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 extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($1,390 - $1,588), daily insurance ($49/day), and equipment rentals ($12 - $33) on top. Overnight stops can add another $247/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
How do I know a mover is licensed in California?
When contacting a local moving company for an estimate in California, make sure each has a “T Number” issued by the California Public Utilities Commission (CAPUC). Moving companies with valid T Numbers have met state requirements for insurance, safety, and financial stability and have passed criminal clearance checks conducted by the California Department of Justice.
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.
