Aquaporin-2 (AQP2) water channels in principal cells of the kidney collecting duct are essential for water reabsorption and the balance of water metabolism of the body. AQP2 is abundant in the apical plasma membrane and intracellular vesicles of collecting duct principal cells. Arginine vasopressin (AVP) can stimulate the translocation of AQP2 from intracellular vesicles into the plasma membrane, which is the so-called short-term regulation or traffic of AQP2. Several molecular mechanisms underlying the traffic of AQP2 have been identified, including phosphorylation of AQP2, a kinase anchoring protein, phosphodiesterase (PDE), cytoskeleton participation, calcium participation, anchoring and endocytosis cell membrane. This review introduced the recent research advances in the mechanisms of the traffic of AQP2.