($1,545+) Bakersfield, CA to Norfolk, VA Movers
The cost to move from Bakersfield, CA to Norfolk, VA ranges from $1,313 to $12,297, with an average cost of $4,650. Moves can be as low as $1,545 if you're wanting to DIY it.
This move covers about 2,724 miles and usually takes 7 to 21 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.
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Compare moving options from Bakersfield, CA to Norfolk, VA
Moving options from Bakersfield to Norfolk fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service costs run $1,313 - $12,297 on this route depending on how much you're moving, with an average cost of $4,650, and movers handle all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 30% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 60% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This particular route covers 2,724 miles and typically takes 7 to 21 days depending on the service you pick.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 2,724-mile route from Bakersfield to Norfolk, broken down by home size:
- A studio or 1-bedroom move runs $1,313 - $6,202 with full-service movers, $1,967 - $3,938 with a container, $1,639 - $3,176 with a rental truck, or $1,788 - $3,441 by freight.
- A 2 - 3 bedroom home costs $4,054 - $7,855 full-service, $2,525 - $5,430 by container, $1,740 - $3,818 by rental truck, or $1,979 - $4,387 by freight.
- A larger 4+ bedroom household runs $7,855 - $12,297 full-service, $3,624 - $7,106 by container, $2,092 - $4,418 by rental truck, or $2,756 - $6,095 by freight.
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 Bakersfield, CA to Norfolk, VA
A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 2,724-mile move from Bakersfield, California, to Norfolk, Virginia, with prices running from $1,313 - $12,297. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $289 - $1,928 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Bakersfield and Norfolk are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, Bakersfield movers tend to run around $420 as a base rate plus $116/hour per mover, for comparison.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Bakersfield to Norfolk:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,313 - $6,202
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $4,054 - $7,855
- 4+ bedrooms: $7,855 - $12,297
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 Bakersfield to Norfolk.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from California to Virginia. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
Pro tip: The summer months (May - September) are the busiest time of year for movers during peak moving season, which drives up prices and limits scheduling options. If you can move in the fall or winter, you'll likely find better rates and more flexibility.
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Specialty moving services from Bakersfield, CA to Norfolk, VA
Specialty needs vary by market — 80% of Bakersfield movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Norfolk, 100% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing100% of local movers | $482 - $4,820 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready80% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: Meathead Movers | $193 - $1,157/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $289 - $2,314 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage20% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs | $964 - $2,892 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,410 - $9,640 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $722 - $1,372 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items20% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: Mentors Moving & Storage | $964 - $2,410 |
| Piano | Any piano type40% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: Mentors Moving & Storage | $771 - $3,374 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling20% of local movers | $289 - $1,446 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect20% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Mentors Moving & Storage | $627 - $1,928 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $289 - $14,460+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $289 - $3,374+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Bakersfield to Norfolk?
Virginia Movers & Warehousemen’s Association membership is a quick way to confirm a mover is legitimate in Virginia, on top of the picks below.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing means no surprise charges on moving day, and their support team is consistently rated among the most responsive in the industry.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here, with 30+ years in business since 1995. AVL is one of the few national carriers that uses full-time in-house crews instead of contracted labor.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan that covers damage, loss, and breakage.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Bakersfield, CA. 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 Bakersfield, CA to Norfolk, VA
Moving containers from Bakersfield, California, to Norfolk, Virginia, cost between $1,967 and $7,106. The container gets dropped at your door and you load it at your own pace. U-Haul gives you 3 days to load and PODS gives you up to 30. Once you're done, the company handles all the transportation. If you need extra time, storage in Bakersfield runs about $90/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Bakersfield to Norfolk:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,967 - $3,938
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,525 - $5,430
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,624 - $7,106
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $72 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $145 per month.
- Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Norfolk, VA, 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 $675 in Bakersfield, CA. 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.
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 $1,967. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $2,525 - $5,430, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Bakersfield to Norfolk?
- 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 Bakersfield 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 Bakersfield:
- Mentors Moving & Storage (4.8/5), 20 years in business
- US Pro Logistics (4.8/5), 4 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Bakersfield, CA to Norfolk, VA
Renting a moving truck for the 2,724-mile move from Bakersfield, California, to Norfolk, Virginia, costs between $1,639 and $4,418, before these typical add-ons:
- Fuel for the drive: $836 - $955
- Daily insurance: $29/day
- Equipment rentals: $7 - $19
- Bakersfield daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.99
| 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 Bakersfield to Norfolk based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,639 - $3,176
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,740 - $3,818
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,092 - $4,418
Pro tip: The advertised base rate of $1,639 - $4,418 does not include fuel ($836 - $955) , lodging ($145/night for overnight stops), meals, or equipment rentals. When you add those up, the true cost of your move from Bakersfield to Norfolk typically runs $600 - $1,200 more than the base rate alone.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
- Lodging: Budget around $145 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 Bakersfield, California, usually costs about $675 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
- Gas: Fuel for the 2,724-mile drive falls between $836 and $955, 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 $48 and $289 to your total.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Bakersfield to Norfolk?
- 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 Bakersfield, CA to Norfolk, VA
Freight trailers are well suited for larger moves from Bakersfield, California, to Norfolk, Virginia, when you want to do the loading yourself without having to drive a massive vehicle. The trailer is delivered, you pack it up, and the carrier handles the long haul.
What sets freight trailers apart is the pay-for-what-you-use pricing model. Each additional foot of trailer space you occupy adds to the cost. Overall pricing for a move of this size and distance typically lands around $1,979 and $4,387.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Bakersfield to Norfolk:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,788 - $3,441
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,979 - $4,387
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,756 - $6,095
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 $72 - $145 more per foot.
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Bakersfield, California, for about five hours typically runs $675.
What are the best freight companies from Bakersfield to Norfolk?
- 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.
- Sidhu Truck Line, Inc. (4.58/5 stars): Sidhu Truck Line, Inc. 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: If speed matters on your move from Bakersfield to Norfolk, freight trailers are one of the fastest interstate options available, second only to renting a truck and driving it yourself. The tradeoff is that freight works best when you're ready to receive your belongings on the other end. If your timeline is tight on the receiving side or you need a short storage buffer, a moving container might be a better fit.
Cost of living: Bakersfield, CA vs Norfolk, VA
Good news for your budget: Norfolk isn't meaningfully more or less expensive to live in than Bakersfield. Cost of living index runs 91 there against 100 here, and rent, income, and tax rates all fall in a comparable band. Focus your planning on the move itself rather than a change in monthly expenses. Walkability and safety scores land in a similar range too - 37/100 and 41.51/100 here versus 46/100 and 41.9/100 there.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Norfolk, VA to Bakersfield, CA guide.
Why you should use moveBuddha to find a mover:
In the past 3 months, we've processed 10 real quotes from California to Virginia, so our pricing data stays current. Use our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and spot bad actors early. We track 374 movers licensed in California, useful context for sizing up this 2,724-mile move.
Our take
Full-service movers on the 2,724-mile route from Bakersfield, CA, to Norfolk, VA, run $1,313 - $12,297 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $1,967 - $7,106, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $1,639 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $4,054, 30 days of free storage, and a 24/7 support team you can actually reach.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include CMA CGM and Norfolk Southern Railway.
FAQs: Moving from Bakersfield, CA, to Norfolk, VA
What size moving truck do I need for this route?
Rental trucks generally range from 10 to 26 feet. A 15- to 17-foot truck covers most 2-bedroom moves, while a smaller 10- to 12-foot truck works for a studio or 1-bedroom. Homes with 3 or more bedrooms usually need a 20- to 26-foot truck, and anything that size typically runs on diesel rather than gas.
What do local movers charge in Bakersfield?
Local movers based in Bakersfield typically start around $420 as a base rate, plus $116/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 Norfolk run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
How do I know a mover is licensed in Virginia?
In addition to filing tariffs and complying with insurance, bond, and highway safety requirements, all intrastate moving companies in Virginia must have a certificate from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (VaDMV).
What are the best neighborhoods in Norfolk?
For families, North Ghent, Ghent, and Virginia Beach are worth a look in Norfolk. If you're moving solo or without kids, East Ghent, North Ghent, and Ghent tend to be popular picks instead.
How walkable is Norfolk?
Norfolk has a walkability score of 46 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 47, compared to 37 and 44 in Bakersfield. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
What percentage of Bakersfield movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 40% of movers in Bakersfield handle piano moves, and 20% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
