Moving from Phoenix, AZ, to Richmond, VA

Making a cross-country move to Richmond

Moving across the country nearly 2,300 miles from Phoenix to Richmond, VA, puts you in a smaller city closer to the coast.

Like Phoenix, Richmond is the capital city of its state. It has around 227,000 residents and 1.3 million in the metro, making it the fourth-most populous city in Virginia.

In contrast, Phoenix is nearly double the size of Richmond, with 642,000 residents and 2.2 million in the metro. Keep reading to learn more about life in “River City.”

Adjust to a cooler climate

Richmond has a humid subtropical climate that’s quite different from the hot and dry desert climate in Phoenix. Average temperatures range between 28 and 90 degrees, much cooler than Phoenix's average range of 43 to 105 degrees.

You’ll get much more precipitation in Richmond, with an average of 44 inches of rain and 11 inches of snow annually. Rainfall only averages 9 inches in Phoenix, and snowfall is rare.

Find your place in “River City”

Located near the banks of the James River, one of the state's longest rivers, Richmond is known to many as “River City.” The river provides fun outdoor recreation, with kayaking, fishing, paddleboarding and whitewater rafting among the favorite activities. Others enjoy the scenic bridges, parks and overlooks located near the river. 

Find more outdoor adventure at Belle Isle for hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing, and don’t miss the Maymont Estate & Park and Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.

For indoor fun, visit the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA), the State Capitol and Executive Mansion, the Tredegar Iron Works and the American Civil War Center. 

Making a living in Richmond

Richmond's unemployment rate is low; the area has added over 6,000 jobs since 2019. Tech and life sciences jobs have been on the rise in recent years.

Other top job industries include business services, construction, education, finance, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing and trade. Richmond is the state capital, so there are also multiple job opportunities in state and local government.

Move to Virginia with U-Pack

With our service centers near Phoenix and Richmond, U-Pack® can help with your long-distance move to Virginia. We’re a self-moving service, so you can save money by handling the packing, loading and unloading, and then we handle transporting your things. Find out your costs with a free online quote today or call us at 844-362-5303844-594-3077. We’re here to help!