One Interstate, Three States
Count on about 1,255 road miles, almost all of them on I-5. The freight leaves San Diego County through Orange County and the rest of Southern California, runs the length of the Central Valley, climbs into Oregon and enters Washington over the Columbia River. Pure driving time, with no stops or rest breaks, is roughly 20 to 24 hours. That is road time, not a delivery estimate.
July Heat in the Upper Sacramento Valley
Where I-5 passes Redding in the upper Sacramento Valley, NOAA normals put the July high at 99.9 F, and July averages 15.7 days at 100 F or above. Seattle’s normal July high is 77.4 F. Ship Smart’s warehouses are climate controlled but the trucks are not, so on a summer move keep candles, vinyl records and other heat-sensitive things in your own car.
Drawbridges at the Washington Line
I-5 enters Washington on the Interstate Bridges, Columbia River drawbridges that open on signal for river traffic except 6:30 to 9 AM and 2:30 to 6 PM on weekdays (federal holidays excepted). A raised span stops traffic; your delivery is still set by appointment.
Pickup Around San Diego
A Dry Season That Helps on Loading Day
NOAA normals for Lindbergh Field put June, July and August together at just 0.14 inches of rain. February is the wettest month at 2.20 inches. A summer load rarely meets a wet sidewalk; in late winter, stage cartons just inside the door. Ship Smart arranges a curb permit if your street needs one.
Leaving Housing on NAS North Island
For a pickup from Navy housing on Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, gate access comes first. The base Visitor Control Center is next to Gate 1 on 4th Avenue (Building 680), open weekdays 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and it only takes access requests started by the sponsor, never by the visitor. Replies can take 24 business hours, and messages sent after noon on Friday wait until Monday, so start the request early. Ship Smart handles the gatehouse registration on its side, moves out of on-base housing, and supplies weight paperwork for a reimbursement claim.
Delivery in Seattle and Around Puget Sound
Plan for a Wet Unload
Seattle-Tacoma airport records 39.34 inches of precipitation in a normal year, roughly four times the 9.79 inches at Lindbergh Field, so wood and upholstered pieces should be wrapped for a wet unload; furniture packing is priced per shipment. On-site packing of loose items is $150 an hour (two-hour minimum) plus materials, or you can box things yourself.
Holding Curb Space in the City
Inside Seattle, SDOT holds curb space for a moving truck through a Temporary No Parking Zone, and the city does no sign work on weekends or holidays. When curb space is reserved, the truck also needs a $16 Restricted Area Parking permit. Ship Smart obtains the permits an address requires and lists their cost with your delivery charges. Where the truck cannot reach the door, curbside is off the table and you book inside delivery, with a crew and a smaller truck.
The Eastside and Joint Base Lewis-McChord
Eastside deliveries ride the general lanes of I-405, since trucks over 10,000 lb may not use its express toll lanes between Lynnwood and Bellevue.
If you are moving onto Joint Base Lewis-McChord, on I-5 about 45 miles south of Seattle, your visitors without a DoD ID need a Visitor Control Center pass: a license, vehicle registration, proof of insurance and a sponsor reachable by phone. Ask about delivery on base when you book, and price the move with the exact address, since distance is factored into each estimate.
How Your Price Is Built
A quote for this lane starts with what you ship: its weight and the space it fills on the truck. Give an accurate inventory and the final bill lands within a couple of percent of the quote. The smallest single item carries a minimum of $600 to $700, and the service covers anything from a single piece up to a load of about 2,000 lb, with no hard limit. There is no deposit, and canceling after the contract is complete costs at least $75.
On top of that, delivery charges apply only where an address calls for them:
- Stairs: in most markets, $100 a flight above the first floor; above the 4th floor an elevator is a flat $100.
- A certificate of insurance for a Seattle or Bellevue tower: $100 per building, written as a $1 million policy.
- Curb permits where the city requires them; the cost varies by city.
- Assembly at $100 an hour (simple bed frames are usually free).
Basic coverage of $0.10 per lb comes with every shipment, and full replacement coverage runs $25 to $35 per $1,000 of value depending on your deductible. Financing is available through Enhancify. The online estimator or (866) 333-8018 gives your exact price.
Who Makes This Move
Traffic between the two counties is close to even. IRS migration data shows 1,128 households (1,591 people) moving from San Diego County to King County in 2022 to 2023, against 1,112 households (1,592 people) heading south. The year before, 1,193 households went north. Northbound households are small, about 1.4 people each (IRS data).
From a review on our San Diego profile, for two pieces shipped from Maine to California: “They immediately got on it, packed and shipped the two items, and the furniture arrived on time, without a scratch.” (Elaine M.)
