Moving cross country or out of state takes a ton of time and effort. Unlike an in-town move, multiple trips back and forth isn’t exactly an option. Whether it’s driving a truck with your items to your new home or shipping your belongings across the country in a moving container, there’s an option for you.
How Do I Prepare to Move Cross Country?
There are a variety of reasons that you could possibly be moving across the country; a new job, a marriage, wanting to try something new are just a few examples. The first step to moving regardless of the reason is understanding your plan or making one.
Whatever the reason may be, there are different aspects to consider. Do you need to be out of your old home in a hurry? Or is that start date for your new position around the corner? Do you even have a place to live in your future town or city? Based upon your situation, these reasons will play into whether you’ll drive your items yourself, store them, or send them to a destination. It’s vital to go by your plan and take what is only necessary to your new home.
Stick to the Schedule
As we mentioned above, your move date might be set for you by outside factors. Nevertheless, force yourself to pick a date to be ready to move and stick to it. Divide the house into sections or the individual rooms. The guest bedroom needs to be packed up by Tuesday and we need to start on the kitchen by Friday for example.
Setting a schedule holds you and the entire family accountable to help in the move. It’s best to write this down or have a shared file online. Organize the daily plans with everyone’s input as communication is key. If there is a day when someone can’t help as much try planning on packing up one of the smaller rooms in the house because it takes less time. If everyone is in the loop there will be less conflicts. It decreases the chances of forgetting items and it’s easier to unpack as well if each room is organized into a specific box. If everyone works together each day, each room can be checked off in an ordinary fashion making the move as easy as possible.
Less is Better When Moving Out of State
What makes moving easier? Moving less stuff. There’s a chance you’ve been holding onto items that you don’t necessarily need but can’t let go of. This should be the time to finally say goodbye to the cute stuff you got for a good deal five years ago. Because as much as you love your dining table or the memories stained into the couch, do they even fit into your new home? Is it worth the price to get them to your new living place? Probably not.
Re-sell apps are high in popularity, making it effortless to rid yourself of these items for a quick buck and make your cross country move smoother. Another option is donating clothes to a variety of places that help people in need. By taking less stuff there’s less items to pack and more time to prepare. If you are able to sell your old stuff it can go toward buying new stuff in your new living space. It’s also cheaper to move less stuff. However, if you do want to keep items that don’t fit into your new home right away, storage is always an option for the time being.
Long-Distance Moving Options
Driving Across the Country
Convincing yourself and the family to hit the road for multiple days is going to be a tough time. On the bright side, reserving a truck and a trailer is a simple process. It seems like a hassle, but by doing it yourself saves money in the long run.
To make the cross-country trek there are a few things to consider, especially if your drive will take a few days.
- Map out your route ahead of time
- Set a number of hours to drive each day
- Find a town or city to make hotel reservations in when you make a stop
- Know about in case it’s needed
- Always have snacks and water and know where to stock back up
When driving across the country, knowing ahead of time where your route is taking you is essential. Everyone uses their phones as their navigation but it’s good to know where you’re driving through for multiple cities. Are there fun things to do on the way? Landmarks to see? Is it a town you want to stay the night in or want to avoid? These are all worth considering because you might have to choose a different route in case you want to go see something or stay in a different place.
Can You Drive a U-Haul Truck Cross Country?
Yes, U-Haul is a great option for a long-distance move. The top choice of do-it-yourself movers offers a variety of trucks sizes that fit a wide range of living spaces from a studio apartment to a four-bedroom. U-Haul trucks are designed to pull trailers and vehicle towing equipment behind them.
For a one-way move, U-Haul makes it easy. Based on a combination of truck size, point of origin, destination, and the date of the move, U-Haul does the estimation for mileage fees for you. The price includes an allowed mileage and a set number of days to complete your move. If more miles and/or days are needed, you can add them for an additional fee.
By driving the truck yourself, you’ll be in control that your belongings arrive safe and secured. If you’re packing the truck yourself, make sure to use these tips to pack it correctly for a painless trip:
- Load largest and heaviest items first (mattresses, tables, couches, appliances)
- Go vertical. Place couches, rolled up rugs, headboards, etc. upright
- Ensure that the weight is distributed evenly
- Use moving straps to secure items
- Keep valuables in the cab of the truck with you
If you don’t mind being a DIY mover, driving is a great option for your cross-country move for many reasons and if you’re going with the kids you can make it quite the adventure.
Cross Country Shipping
Don’t have the time or desire to drive? That’s fine too. Plenty of people ship their items when moving because it’s convenient. That’s why U-Box®moving and storage containers are a great option, especially if you are moving by yourself. With no-contact home delivery, the containers are brought directly to your door. You can pack them yourself or having professionals do it for you. We still recommend organizing and protecting your items in boxes when using a shipping container as well. By entering your original address, your future living location, and the date to load the shipping containers, U-Box ®will provide a rate for you. Your order will also come with certain supplies like free furniture pads to protect your belongings. For all other moving supplies, we suggest using a moving calculator.
If you don’t know how many U-Box ®containers you’ll need, you can get an estimate for by choosing the number of bedrooms in your current house and if you have an average amount of stuff or more than average. We will store your containers at our secure warehouse, or we can ship them anywhere in the world. You will hear from us when the containers are in transit and when they arrive at your destination.
Hiring Cross-Country Moving Services
At the end of the day, moving across the country is hard work. To make moving easier, U-Haul offers you help, Moving Help®! Moving Help connects you with local movers both in the location you’re moving from and where you’re moving to. The search for movers in those areas gives you a selection of movers sorted by price, overall reviews, or services offered to find your perfect service provider. When booking your moving helpers, you start by putting your current and future addresses, and what time of day you’d like to start moving between morning, afternoon, and evening. You can also filter the number of crew members you want and the number of hours you may need help. There are also filters for packing/unpacking and cleaning services as well as specialty services like piano and gun safe moving. If you are shipping your belongings in a U-Box, you can even pair Moving Help and U-Box to make this a completely “hands free” moving experience. Find out more about
More Moving Across Country Tips
The checklist for moving cross country can feel endless. Outside of deciding which way you’re going to get your belongings to your new residence, there are a few other factors that go into your decisions when moving cross country:
- Moving cross country with children
- Moving cross country with pets
- What to do with the car
- Where to get moving boxes and moving supplies
- Don’t forget the essentials
Moving with a baby or toddler can be challenging but plenty of done it before and so can you. If you choose to drive cross country with your small child, there will be more to deal with because if you ship your items there’s a good chance you’re flying to your new home. When moving cross country with a child it’s important to not pack anything away that they might need during the trip. The easiest way to make sure that doesn’t happen is by making them their own essential box like you should make their own. This will keep the most important items for your kids in reach when needed. This is also the part where planning your trip ahead is important. You’ll want to make a lot of stops with your child and stay in places you feel comfortable with them because kids always need to eat, go to the bathroom, and feel safe. Another good tip is to have your child see the family pediatrician for a checkup before the trip as they can be stressful for everyone, and you want them feeling their best for the journey.
Most people that are moving with a pet either have a cat or dog as they are the most popular household pets. But even if its fish, birds, reptiles, rabbits, or any other animal friends, driving will likely be the safest and best option to transporting your animal. If you’re driving, it’s best to keep the animal in a separate car with another driver than the rental moving truck you have because the animal may not be allowed in the truck and there isn’t much room in the cab for them. Each animal is going to be different, fish and reptiles are going to need heaters for the drive and their living space is typically glass, you’ll want to protect that with bubble wrap. Research before hand the best way to transport that animal. A few universal things to live by though is to ensure you have enough water, food, have a visit with your vet before your trip, and make sure the hotels you are staying at are pet friendly. Flying with your pet or shipping (fish can be sent to a local store and held for you for instance) is also an option but you’ll need to also look into it before making any decisions about your move.
If you are planning are bringing your car with you to your new home, it’s possible to ship it, drive it, or tow it. If you’re shipping the rest of your belongings, it does make sense to ship your vehicle, however, it can be very expensive. Of course, you can always drive behind another person that might be driving a moving truck. Another option, one that many people pick that have multiple vehicles, is to tow your vehicle on your drive cross country. If you decide to tow your vehicle with another person vehicle be sure you have a hitch that will allow you to do so. For those that need a , U-Haul is North America's #1 hitch installer. With over 1,500 install locations, we can guarantee you'll find a location near you. Tell us your vehicle year, make, and model and we will show you available trailer hitches and related towing components. You get to choose a hitch from leading brands like: Curt, Draw-Tite, B&W, REESE, and Hidden Hitch.
The next step is figuring out whether the vehicle you’re towing is best suited for a tow dolly or an auto transport. In short, a tow dolly is designed for more lightweight cars that use front-wheel drive transmissions and an auto transport puts the entire vehicle on the trailer, permitting the car trailer to handle a larger vehicle. You can also tow a car with a moving truck if need a trailer.
Whether you’re moving down the street or across the country you’ll need moving boxes and supplies. The best place to fill your moving needs is U-Haul. With a complete guide to buying moving boxes and countless other moving products, we can ensure you are equipped for your move. There are also four ways to get your moving supplies from U-Haul. You can order online at uhaul.com for pickup or delivery. When you order online, you can choose from Same-Delivery and FREE in-store pickup to ensure you get the moving supplies you need, when you need them. The other option is to find your nearest U-Haul location to buy boxes at the counter or use our .
Lastly, when moving cross country be sure to keep all your important documents. Make an important folder or box of birth certificates, passports, medical records, insurance forms, checks, vehicle registrations, and other items that come to mind. Check for these before packing because you don’t want them stuck in a drawer of a dresser. It’s also a lot easier to get a new copy of these items before you move than after. Don’t forget to forward your mail to your new address, cancel your local memberships or subscriptions, and ask your medical professionals for possible recommendations in your new area.
A moving cross country checklist can be very long. However, preparation and planning ahead is the best way to conquer it. U-Haul has served the do-it-yourself mover since 1945 and we are continuing to make moving easier.Whether you need a truck, trailer, U-Box Containers, Moving Help, moving supplies or anything else, we are here to help you make it across the country.
More Articles About Moving:
- How to Cancel or Edit Your U-Haul Reservation
- How to Estimate the Mileage Fees for Your Move
