($593+) Arlington, VA to St. Petersburg, FL Movers
Moving from Arlington, VA, to St. Petersburg, FL, runs anywhere from $593 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $7,297 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 922 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 2 to 7 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 $1,813, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $7,297 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,086 - $3,696, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $593 - $1,636.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Arlington, VA, to St. Petersburg, FL. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,325 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 St. Petersburg, FL
There are 3 main ways to move from Arlington to St. Petersburg: 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 $2,325 - $5,763. Containers cost roughly 37% less than full-service for the same home size, and rental trucks run about 73% less, though loading is on you with either DIY option. At 922 miles, expect 2 to 7 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 922-mile route from Arlington to St. Petersburg, broken down by home size:
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,813 - $4,183 | $1,086 - $1,990 | $593 - $1,156 | $977 - $1,809 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $2,325 - $5,763 | $1,467 - $2,792 | $634 - $1,292 | $1,094 - $2,346 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $3,769 - $7,297 | $1,974 - $3,696 | $845 - $1,636 | $1,503 - $2,898 |
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated November 2, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Arlington, VA to St. Petersburg, FL
Hiring full-service movers from Arlington, Virginia, to St. Petersburg, Florida, costs between $1,813 and $7,297. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 922-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $419 - $2,792, depending on the size of your home. Your final cost comes down to two things: the total weight of your shipment and the distance between Arlington and St. Petersburg. For a rough baseline, movers based in Arlington tend to start around $200 plus $110/hour per mover on local jobs, before long-distance pricing takes over for a move this size.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Arlington to St. Petersburg:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,813 - $4,183
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,325 - $5,763
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,769 - $7,297
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 Arlington to St. Petersburg.
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 Arlington, VA to St. Petersburg, FL
Specialty needs vary by market: 70% of Arlington movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In St. Petersburg, 57% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing80% of local movers | $698 - $6,980 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready70% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: 495 Movers, Inc | $279 - $1,675/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $419 - $3,350 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage13% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs54% of local movers | $1,396 - $4,188 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $3,490 - $13,960 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $1,046 - $1,987 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items34% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: 495 Movers, Inc | $1,396 - $3,490 |
| Piano | Any piano type42% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: 495 Movers, Inc | $1,117 - $4,886 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling9% of local movers | $419 - $2,094 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect8% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: Olympia Moving & Storage | $907 - $2,792 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $419 - $20,940+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $419 - $4,886+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Arlington to St. Petersburg?
Movers licensed to operate in Florida are typically members of the Professional Movers Association of Florida, worth checking for before you book any of the three below.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 customer support, and 30 days of free storage are included with every move.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list, 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, combining 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 van lines are the smarter financial choice over local movers in Arlington, VA. Local companies can run 30% - 40% more at that range since they don't consolidate shipments the way interstate carriers do. If a direct, dedicated route with an average 2-day delivery appeals to you, a local mover could be worth it, but that convenience comes at a cost.
Moving container costs from Arlington, VA to St. Petersburg, FL
Moving containers from Arlington, Virginia, to St. Petersburg, Florida, cost between $1,086 and $3,696. 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 St. Petersburg:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,086 - $1,990
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,467 - $2,792
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,974 - $3,696
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Moving labor: Containers are self-loaded, so many people hire hourly help for the heavy lifting. moveBuddha data shows two movers for about five hours runs around $977 in Arlington, VA. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: If you want stronger coverage than the default liability, full-value protection is the upgrade to consider. Most providers charge 1% - 2% of your shipment value, roughly $500 - $1,000 for $50,000 in contents.
- Storage: After the first month, rental fees average $105 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $209 per month for a larger 12- to 16-foot unit.
- Access: If you anticipate needing to access items while in storage, confirm there's a facility conveniently located near your St. Petersburg, FL, destination before booking.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Virginia to Florida 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 $1,086. Underestimating how much you have and needing an extra container means paying for another one, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise. For reference, a 2 - 3 bedroom home typically runs $1,467 - $2,792.
What are the best moving containers Arlington to St. Petersburg?
- 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:
- College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (4.9/5), 0 years in business
- BoxStar Movers (5.0/5), 5 years in business
- Zip Moving And Storage, Inc. (4.9/5), 11 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Arlington, VA to St. Petersburg, FL
A rental truck is the cheapest way to cover the 922 miles from Arlington, Virginia, to St. Petersburg, Florida, running $593 - $1,636. It's also the most hands-on option, and the base rate doesn't include:
- Fuel for the drive: $410 - $468
- 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 St. Petersburg based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $593 - $1,156
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $634 - $1,292
- 4+ bedrooms: $845 - $1,636
Pro tip: The base rate of $593 - $1,636 is just the starting point for a rental truck move from Arlington to St. Petersburg. Fuel ($410 - $468), lodging at around $209/night, meals, and equipment rentals are all on top of that. Factor in roughly $600 - $1,200 more for meals, equipment, and other extras beyond fuel and lodging to get a realistic picture of what the move will actually cost.
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 $977.
- Gas: Fuel costs total $410 - $468 for the 922-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 $84 and $454, depending on what you need.
- Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
- Lodging: Budget around $209 per night for hotel stops on the 922-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $419 - $628.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Arlington to St. Petersburg?
- 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 St. Petersburg, FL
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 St. Petersburg, Florida.
Because freight companies bill by linear footage, your total is based on how much of the trailer you occupy, not the full length. For a 2 - 3 bedroom move on this route, pricing typically falls between $1,094 and $2,346.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Arlington to St. Petersburg:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $977 - $1,809
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,094 - $2,346
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,503 - $2,898
Pro tip: Freight trailers come with a 4-foot loading ramp, which can be a challenge with bulky furniture. With 8 feet of vertical space available, stacking efficiently often requires a ladder and a plan. Since you're billed per linear foot, packing tight can make a real difference in your final cost.
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 $977.
- More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $105 and $209 per foot.
What are the best freight companies from Arlington to St. Petersburg?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the pick for best for large moves. The company is well-regarded as a top moving container option for its load-it-yourself, we-drive-it model, and that same model makes it a strong freight option for larger homes that benefit from the company's 53-foot trucks and footage-based pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack offers the best value freight trailer on this route. Alongside their flagship container service, U-Pack provides a top-notch freight trailer option that follows the same model: no deposits, no upfront fees, and pricing based on the linear footage you actually use.
Pro tip: If speed matters on your move from Arlington to St. Petersburg, 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: Arlington, VA vs St. Petersburg, FL
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in St. Petersburg, side by side with Arlington on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Arlington, VA | St. Petersburg, FL |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 164 | 103 |
| Average rent | $2,718/mo | $2,075/mo |
| Median home value | $866,334 | $327,967 |
| Average income | $140,160/yr | $73,118/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 4.6% |
| State income tax | Up to 5.75% | None |
| Walkability score | 71/100 | 43/100 |
| Safety index | 79.15/100 | 60.46/100 |
| 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 St. Petersburg, FL to Arlington, VA guide.
Why use moveBuddha to find your mover:
We've processed 10 real quotes from Virginia to Florida 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 304 movers in our Virginia network to compare for this 922-mile move.
Our take
A move from Arlington, VA, to St. Petersburg, FL, gives you several options depending on your budget and how much you want to do yourself. Full-service movers handle everything but cost the most, ranging from $1,813 - $7,297 on the 922-mile route. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack bring that cost down to $1,086 - $3,696, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the most economical at $593 - $1,636. For full-service movers, Safeway Moving, starting around $2,325 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and round-the-clock live support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Jabil and FADV Holdings.
FAQs: Moving from Arlington, VA, to St. Petersburg, FL
How walkable is St. Petersburg?
St. Petersburg has a walkability score of 43 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 59, 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.
Is St. Petersburg a safe place to live?
St. Petersburg has a safety index of 60.46 out of 100 and a crime index of 39.54, compared to 79.15 and 15.67 in Arlington. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
What are some tips for saving money on a move from Arlington, VA to St. Petersburg, FL?
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.
What is the best time of year to move from Arlington, VA to St. Petersburg, FL?
Aim for a move between October and March, when demand drops and rates tend to be lower across all service types. Peak season runs mid-May through mid-September, and weekends and month-end dates are pricier regardless of season. Florida also has a hurricane season running June through November, worth factoring into your timing if you have flexibility. A midweek, mid-month date outside peak season is your best bet for saving money.
How long does a move from Arlington, VA to St. Petersburg, FL take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 2 to 7 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are often one of the faster options outside of driving yourself, 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 percentage of Arlington movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 42% of movers in Arlington handle piano moves, and 34% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.