Moving to or from Virginia?
Where America began — and where Washington's government still spills into the Northern Virginia suburbs. Blue Ridge mountains, horse country, the Chesapeake Bay, and the world's largest naval base in Norfolk.
- #12 Population rank
- 8,700,000 Residents
- Virginia Beach Largest city
- Richmond State capital
Why people move to Virginia.
- Northern Virginia — DC's affluent, dense suburbs, home to the Pentagon, CIA, and most of the federal contracting industry
- Colonial history — Jamestown, Williamsburg, Yorktown, and the homes of Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe
- Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway
- Norfolk — the world's largest naval base
- Virginia Beach, Chesapeake Bay, and the Outer Banks bridge-tunnel
- Horse country — Middleburg, Loudoun County, and the Shenandoah Valley
Where people spend their time.
- Colonial Williamsburg Williamsburg
- Monticello (Jefferson's home) Charlottesville
- Mount Vernon (Washington's home) Fairfax County
- Shenandoah National Park Blue Ridge Mountains
- Arlington National Cemetery Arlington
- Virginia Beach Boardwalk Virginia Beach
- Jamestown Settlement Historic Triangle
- Blue Ridge Parkway Western VA
Biggest cities in Virginia.
Where most of Virginia's moves originate and terminate.
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Virginia Beach Pop. 460,000
Largest VA city; Atlantic coast resort town with a major military footprint
Explore Virginia Beach guide -
Chesapeake Pop. 260,000
Hampton Roads; large city by area, mix of suburban and rural
Explore Chesapeake guide -
Arlington Pop. 240,000
Federal employees' home base; DC's closest Metro-accessible suburb
Explore Arlington guide -
Norfolk Pop. 235,000
Home of the world's largest naval base; historic downtown
Explore Norfolk guide -
Richmond Pop. 230,000
State capital; growing food scene and young-professional influx
Explore Richmond guide -
Newport News Pop. 180,000
Hampton Roads; shipbuilding and aerospace industry
Explore Newport News guide -
Alexandria Pop. 155,000
Historic Old Town on the Potomac; DC commuter favorite
Explore Alexandria guide -
Hampton Pop. 135,000
Hampton Roads; NASA Langley and military presence
Explore Hampton guide
Where Virginia movers come from and go to.
Most common moves to Virginia from:
Most common moves out of Virginia to:
Planning a Virginia move.
Humid subtropical across most of the state. Hot, humid summers; mild winters on the coast, colder in the mountains. Blue Ridge and Shenandoah Valley can see 20+ inches of annual snow; Tidewater rarely sees more than a dusting. Atlantic hurricane season affects the coast and can drive remnant flooding into Richmond and NoVA.
- Northern Virginia (Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Loudoun) is the third-most-congested metro in the US. The I-495 Beltway, I-66, and I-395 all see 2–3 hour rush-hour delays. Movers bill hourly, so weekday afternoon moves often cost 20–30% more than early-morning weekend moves.
- Active-duty military moves (PCS) are a huge part of Virginia's moving market — Norfolk, Hampton Roads, Quantico, Fort Belvoir, and the Pentagon generate thousands of PCS moves per year. Most are covered by a Personal Property Shipment Office (PPSO), but household-goods movers need to be approved GSA contractors for those moves.
- Shenandoah and Blue Ridge cabins often sit on winding mountain roads with steep driveways. Many standard moving trucks can't reach mountain properties — ask your mover about shuttle-truck service before booking.
- DC high-rise condos and NoVA luxury buildings (especially along the Silver Line corridor) require COIs from movers and scheduled elevator windows similar to NYC. Request requirements from your HOA 2–3 weeks ahead.
Intrastate household-goods movers in Virginia must be licensed by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Motor Carrier Division, and carry a valid HHG certificate. Verify any VA mover's license at the VA DMV public lookup before signing. Interstate movers need a USDOT number from the FMCSA.
Moving in Virginia: FAQ.
How much does it cost to move within Virginia?
NoVA local moves run $1,100–$3,500 for a 1–2 bedroom and $3,500–$8,000 for a 3–4 bedroom — some of the highest pricing in the South, driven by NoVA's traffic and labor-cost structure. Hampton Roads and Richmond are 15–25% cheaper. Mountain and rural VA moves are cheaper still.
What's special about moving in Northern Virginia?
Two things. One, traffic — NoVA has some of the worst rush-hour congestion in the country, and movers bill by the hour. Schedule early-morning starts. Two, federal and corporate relocations drive a huge portion of the market, with peak demand June through September. Book 6–8 weeks ahead during those months or pricing spikes 20–30%.
Do Virginia movers need a state license?
Yes. Household-goods movers operating within Virginia must be licensed by the Virginia DMV Motor Carrier Division and carry a valid HHG certificate. Verify any VA mover's license at the VA DMV website. Unlicensed movers are most common in the DC-adjacent market — always check first.
How does a military PCS move work in Virginia?
If you're active-duty military relocating to/from Norfolk, Hampton Roads, Quantico, Belvoir, or the Pentagon, your PCS is handled through your base's Personal Property Shipment Office (PPSO). They'll assign a government-approved mover. If you're doing a Personally Procured Move (PPM, formerly DITY), you can hire any licensed Virginia mover and get reimbursed at the government rate — just make sure they're FMCSA and VA DMV registered.
When's the best time to move in Virginia?
October–November and April–May. Fall avoids peak summer heat and military PCS season; spring hits before summer pricing spikes. Avoid June–August if possible — both peak PCS moves and peak summer rates.
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