National City Movers near the Base and the Bay
Dense blocks, short drives, Navy orders
The short version: One Stop Moving & Storage moves National City apartments, duplexes and Navy families from Sorrento Valley, about 17 miles and 23 minutes away. Two movers and a truck cost $139 an hour with a 4-hour minimum and a written Not-to-Exceed price. On dense blocks with little driveway room, we plan where the truck stands before move day.
- Licensed by California, CAL-190616, moving San Diego County since 2008
- Walk-ups and exterior stairs at $0, any number of flights
- About 17 miles and 23 minutes from our Sorrento Valley base
- Google 4.3 stars from about 269 reviews, BBB A+
Since 2008
Moving San Diego
CAL-190616
California mover license
USDOT 1956864
Interstate, MC 694565
BBB A+
Better Business Bureau
98%
Of our customers come back (company records)
7 days
7 AM–7 PM, phone open 24 hours
Moving in National City
Where in National City do you move people?
All of National City, from the Westside and Kimball Park to Paradise Valley and the Mile of Cars, plus the Lincoln Acres county pocket. Our base is about 17 miles away, roughly 23 minutes without traffic, and crews work 7 days a week from 7 AM to 7 PM. ZIP codes: 91950.
National City is one of the most densely built cities in the county: about 7,700 people per square mile in 2020, against about 4,256 in the City of San Diego. About two in three homes are rented, and households average 3.00 people. Most National City moves are apartments and duplexes, where the question is where the truck can stand, not how big the home is.
National City neighborhoods
National City homes, by the numbers
Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, National City and San Diego.
Local rules
What are the parking, container and HOA rules in National City?
National City is its own city. Anything placed in its public right-of-way goes through the Engineering Division’s encroachment permits, and we found no rule written just for containers. Lincoln Acres, inside the city’s borders, is county land. Base housing follows Navy rules.
Drive time, explained
How is drive time billed on a National City move?
Your written Not-to-Exceed price lists the drive between your two addresses with every other charge before move day. National City moves are short: across town to Paradise Valley is about 7 minutes. National City to Chula Vista is about 6 minutes.
Our crews come from Sorrento Valley, about 17 miles and 23 minutes away without traffic. Your written estimate lists drive time, fuel and labor before move day.
Because the drives are short, most of a National City apartment move is loading and carrying, and the carry depends on where the truck can park. We pick that spot first.
| Route | Drive time |
|---|---|
| Within National City: downtown to Paradise Valley | about 7 min |
| National City to Chula Vista | about 6 min |
| National City to downtown San Diego | about 8 min |
Traffic changes real drive times; your estimate uses your two addresses.
Local know-how
What else should I know before moving in National City?
In National City, plan around Navy dates, where the truck can park and, for businesses, after-hours access.
Naval Base San Diego
Naval Base San Diego runs along the bay on the city’s west side. On PCS orders, send us your dates early. If housing isn’t ready, your things can wait in vault storage, from $245 a month for a 5×10, or in a container at our facility, quoted separately in writing.
Military movesMile of Cars and the waterfront
Dealership offices, shops and warehouses move after hours so you reopen the next morning, with the building’s certificate of insurance sent ahead.
Office movesPacking on a budget
Packing is billed at crew rates, so many families pack themselves: small boxes are $5, medium $6, large $7, and 50 moving boxes come free with the move.
Packing suppliesWhat it costs
How much do movers cost in National City?
The same as anywhere in San Diego County: $139 an hour for two movers and a truck, up to $339 for six, every day of the week. Billing runs in 15-minute increments. Every local move gets a written Not-to-Exceed price before move day.
Included at $0
- Stairs, any number of flights$0
- 50 moving boxes$0
- Blankets, padding and shrink wrap$0
- Floor and door protection$0
- Wardrobe boxes to use on move day$0
Crew rates
By home size
Labor at crew rates from our planning table. Drive time and fuel are added; your estimate gives the exact crew, hours and price.
Fees, in full
Leaving the county
What does a long-distance move from National City cost?
Long-distance moves go on a dedicated truck at one price per city: Las Vegas $4,000, Phoenix $4,200, Salt Lake City $6,500, Dallas $10,600. Any other city: call (858) 633-8600 for today’s price. A shared truck costs $11 per cubic foot, 400 cubic feet minimum.
Dedicated truck, one price per city
Transit: Phoenix, Mesa and Prescott 1–2 days; Las Vegas, Henderson and Carson City 1–2; St. George and Salt Lake City 2–3; Austin, Dallas and Houston 3–4. Los Angeles is priced by the hour, from $139 an hour for 2 movers and a truck, plus fuel; Bay Area moves run $4,800–$5,200 on a dedicated truck. Shared truck: delivery within 21 days.
Dates don’t line up?
Can I store my things during a National City move?
Yes. A One Stop container on your property is $99 a month (Standard, 8×8×5 ft) or $150 (Large, 8×8×7 ft), with 25 free boxes. Delivery, pickup and storage at our facility are quoted separately, in writing. Storage units in San Diego County start at $245 a month.
Many National City homes have little or no driveway, and the street is right-of-way that needs an Engineering Division permit. If there’s no spot, a container can stay at our facility instead.
Storage rates
Containers are steel and weather-sealed, not climate-controlled, rented month to month. Vault storage is kept at 68–72°F.
Your rights
What protects me on a California move?
California movers are licensed by the Bureau of Household Goods and Services (BHGS), which took over on July 1, 2018. A mover may give a written estimate only after a visual inspection. Basic protection pays 60¢ per pound per article.
Check any mover’s permit on the state license search. Ours is CAL-190616.
Sources
City of National City Engineering Division, permits; U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, National City; Lincoln Acres (unincorporated CDP); NAVSUP Household Goods, Navy audit documents; Military OneSource, Naval Base San Diego; Drive times: OSRM routing from 92121; BHGS, California movers and the Max 4 tariff. Checked 14 Oct 2026. Drive times are estimates without traffic.
Questions
National City moving questions
Short answers. Prices, booking, packing, storage and your rights are covered in full in our FAQ.
All moving questionsDo you move Naval Base San Diego families on short PCS notice?
Often, depending on the calendar. Send us your report date as soon as you have orders. From May through September we book about 3 weeks out, so earlier is better, and storage can bridge a gap.
What’s the minimum for an apartment move in National City?
4 hours, then 15-minute billing. Two movers and a truck cost $139 an hour. Your written Not-to-Exceed price lists every charge before move day.
Do I need a permit to put a container on a National City street?
The street is public right-of-way, which goes through the Engineering Division’s encroachment permits. We found no rule written just for containers, so check with the division first, or keep the container at our facility.
Is Lincoln Acres part of National City?
No. Lincoln Acres is an unincorporated county area surrounded by National City, so its streets are County of San Diego roads.
How is drive time billed from National City to Chula Vista?
Your written Not-to-Exceed price lists the drive between your two addresses with every other charge before move day. The drive takes about 6 minutes.
Do you charge for stairs in walk-up apartments?
No. Stairs cost $0, any number of flights. We size the crew for the climb instead.
How much does a 2-bedroom apartment move in National City cost?
Usually 2 to 3 movers for 4 to 7 hours, $556 to $1,323 in labor, plus drive time between addresses and fuel. You get a written Not-to-Exceed price before move day.
Do you move businesses on the Mile of Cars?
Yes, after hours when the business needs it, with the building’s certificate of insurance sent ahead.
Can we store furniture after a PCS move until housing opens?
Yes. Container storage at our facility is quoted separately, in writing; storage units in San Diego County start at $245 a month. Containers rent month to month.
How far is National City from your base?
About 17 miles, roughly 23 minutes without traffic, from our only office at 6260 Marindustry Dr in Sorrento Valley.
Talk to a person
Get a free, written National City quote
Tell us what’s moving and where. You get the crew size, the hours and a Not-to-Exceed price in writing, free, usually within hours. The phone line is open 24 hours.