How to Move Cross Country
Moving cross-country (or even out of state) takes a lot of time, effort, and planning. And unlike an in-town move, you don’t have the option to make a bunch of trips back and forth.
Luckily, U-Haul can help you put together the perfect move! 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, or just wanting to try something new! No matter why you’re moving, there’s one thing you can’t start without: a plan.
Everyone has different circumstances that could impact their move, like:
- Do you need to be out of your old home in a hurry?
- Do you have a hard start-date at a new job?
- Do you need to find a place to live in your future town or city?
Your current situation will directly impact whether you’ll drive your items yourself, store them, or ship them directly to your destination.
How to Pack for a Cross-Country Move
Divide and Conquer
A great way to help plan out the work is by dividing the house into sections or individual rooms. For example, you can plan for the guest bedroom to be packed up by Tuesday so you can start packing the kitchen by Wednesday.
Packing room by room helps decrease the chances of forgetting items and makes it easier to unpack (especially if each room is organized into a specific box). Do your best to keep everyone in the loop so you can avoid conflicts down the road.
Less is Better
Hey, we’re all human! We’re all probably guilty of holding onto things we should probably let go of. But do you know what makes moving easier? Moving less stuff. This is a good time to finally say goodbye to the furniture or other items that might not be worth the journey.
Think about it this way: As much as you love your old dining table or the memories stained onto the couch, would they even fit into your new home? Or is it worth the price to ship them to your new home? Probably not.
Re-selling apps are high in popularity right now, and they’re available across multiple platforms. This makes it almost effortless to get rid of your things while also making a quick buck. Talk about a win-win! But if you just want to declutter as fast as possible, you can always donate unwanted clothes or furniture to your nearest charity shop or donation center.
By taking less stuff there are fewer items to pack and more time to prepare. The best part? It’s cheaper, too! But if there are certain items you just can’t get rid of just yet, you can always store it for the time being.
Options for Moving Cross-Country
Driving Across the Country
We won’t lie, driving a moving truck across the country requires a major time commitment. On the bright side, reserving a truck and a trailer is a quick and simple process. And think about how much money you’ll save!
If you don’t mind being a DIY mover, driving is a great option for your cross-country move—and you can even make moving an adventure.
If you’re planning to drive across the country, here are some things to do first:
- Map out and study your route ahead of time
- Set a number of hours to drive each day
- Find a town or city to make hotel reservations for rest stops
- Pack plenty of snacks and water for the journey
Can You Drive a U-Haul Truck Cross-Country?
Yes, U-Haul is one of the best options for cross-country moving truck rentals! We’re the top choice of do-it-yourself movers and offer a variety of trucks sizes that fit a wide range of living spaces. From a studio apartment to a four-bedroom home, we have a truck size that can fit your space!
U-Haul trucks are the only trucks designed to tow trailers and vehicle towing equipment behind them. This means you can either maximize your storage space or even tow your car along. Towing your car for a long-distance journey is a great way to save on gas, especially if you’re already riding in a U-Haul truck.
For a cross-country 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 estimates for mileage fees for you. The price includes the 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.
If you’re renting a moving truck for your cross-country move, you’ll be in total control of your belongings. If you’re packing the truck yourself, make sure to use these tips to pack it correctly to make sure that everything makes it in one piece:
- Load largest and heaviest items first (mattresses, tables, couches, appliances)
- Stack vertically. Place couches, rolled up rugs, headboards, etc. upright
- Ensure that the weight is distributed evenly
- Use moving straps to secure items
- Keep valuables with you
Shipping Your Stuff to Another State
Don’t have the time or desire to drive? We don’t blame you! Plenty of people ship their items when moving because of how convenient it is. That’s why U-Box® moving and storage containers are a great option, especially if you are moving by yourself.
We have a tool to help you decide how many U-Box® containers you’ll need. We create the estimate by having you select the number of bedrooms in your current house and note if you have an average amount of stuff or more than average.
With no-contact home delivery, U-Box containers can be dropped off directly to your door. From there, you can pack them yourself or have professionals do it for you. We still recommend organizing and protecting your items in boxes when using a shipping container as well.
Once your containers are all packed up, you decide what happens next! We can store your containers at one of our secure warehouse locations, or we can ship them anywhere in the world. We’ll keep you in the loop 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. But you don’t have to handle it alone. To make moving easier, U-Haul offers you help, Moving Help®! The Moving Help Marketplace connects you with local movers both in the location you’re moving from and where you’re moving to.
60% of our surveyed customers reported saving over 4 hours of time thanks to our moving helpers!
When booking your moving helpers, you start by entering 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.
You can find your perfect moving helper by filtering your selection by:
- Price
- Overall reviews
- Services offered (packing, loading, specialty moves)
You can pair Moving Help and U-Box to make your move a completely hands-free experience? Let’s DIY a full-service move today! Find out more about U-Box Delivery Method: Moving Help Full Service Delivery & Load.
More Moving Cross-Country Tips
Moving Cross-Country with Children
Moving with a baby, toddler, or child can be challenging but we know you can do this!
It’s important not to pack anything away that your children might need during the trip. The easiest way to make sure that doesn’t happen is by making them their own essential box that can stay in reach during your journey.
You’ll also want to make a lot of stops with your child and stay in places you feel safe and comfortable in.
Another good tip is to have your child see the family pediatrician for a checkup before the trip. This way you can get updated medical or vaccination records for their new school and double-check that they’re feeling their best for the journey.
Moving Cross-Country with Pets
If you’re moving with a cat or dog (or both!), you’re not alone. 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. There isn’t enough room in the cab to house a pet, and they should never go in the back of your moving truck.
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 beforehand the best way to transport your specific animal.
A few universal things to live by:
- Ensure you have enough water and food
- Have a visit with your vet before your trip
- 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 further before making any decisions about your move.
What’s the Cheapest Way to Move Your Family Cross-Country?
If you can fit everyone safely in the car, driving long-distance may be the cheapest option for your family. But if you have a lot of people moving, or if you’re moving to the other side of the country, shipping might just be the easiest thing to do. Here’s an example using real U-Haul data:
Renting a one-way moving truck from Liverpool, NY to Phoenix, AZ with a 26ft truck on average costs about $3341.59 for the rental. Our total doesn’t include the price of gas, or hotel/motel stays during the journey, which could tack on a few hundred additional dollars. And don’t forget, this is over 34 hours of driving over 8 days!
On the other hand, you can also ship 6 U-Box Containers (about the same cubic area of a 26ft truck) from Liverpool, NY to Phoenix, AZ for $6,485.7. But instead of having to spend an additional 8 days on the road, you could just meet your belongings at your new home after a 7-hour flight. Be sure to save some money for those plane tickets!
So, it’s pretty clear that driving is going to be the most affordable option for families but like we mentioned before, be sure to make a strong game plan for your journey. If you have the extra room in your budget, shipping can be the more flexible and convenient option.
Do I Ship, Drive, or Tow My Car?
If you are planning to bring 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 more 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 has 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 hitch, 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.
Basically, a tow dolly is designed for more lightweight cars that use front-wheel drive transmissions while an auto transport puts the entire vehicle on the trailer, permitting the car trailer to handle a larger vehicle.
Find Moving Boxes and Other Supplies
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. You can order online at uhaul.com or on the U-Haul app for pickup or delivery.
When you order online, you can choose same-delivery and free in-store pickup to ensure you get the moving supplies you need exactly when you need them.
Find Free Moving Boxes Near You
Save a tree (and a few bucks) by reusing older boxes! Many U-Haul locations have a Take a Box, Leave a Box program where your community can leave gently used moving boxes for the next mover to use.
Did you know that at U-Haul, we'll refund the full purchase price of any unused box you return to us. We guarantee 100% buy-back of any unused U-Haul boxes, with receipt, at any U-Haul center location nationwide!
Don’t Forget the Essentials!
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 to get lost in the fray.
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 (and pretty overwhelming). However, preparation and planning are 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.