23 tips for moving across the country.

How to prepare for a cross-country move.

Getting ready for a cross-country move may seem overwhelming. Planning and preparation are both key to making it through the process from start to finish. Take these steps to get your big move underway:

1. Start planning as soon as possible.

Experienced movers recommend you plan your move at least two months (eight weeks) before moving day. Starting eight weeks in advance will give you time to locate all the services you'll need, declutter, gather moving supplies and set a budget.

2. Create a checklist to stay organized.

Whether you're the most organized person in the world or you prefer to leave a few things to chance, getting organized is crucial for a stress-free, cross-country move. First, create a moving checklist. Include all the detailed steps you'll need to follow, such as:

• Locate the right moving company.
• Establish a move plan (when, where, how).
• Establish a week-by-week list of tasks (consider switching to daily for your last two weeks).
• Decide which items you will move.
• Decide which items you will donate.
• Decide which items you will sell.
• Assign tasks and deadlines for yourself, family members and others.

3. Clean, organize and prioritize.

Cleaning your apartment or house is one of the best first steps to take when you're getting ready for a cross-country move. Cleaning will help you visualize how things will fit into your new place. It will also help you to locate and identify items you want to sell or donate before you move. Plus, if you’re renting your current home, hiring a house cleaner for deep cleaning services may help you avoid incurring additional cleaning fees your landlord may charge. 

As you clean, identify items you want to pack. You can even start packing ahead of time, reducing this chore that many people postpone until the last minute. 

4. Choose your moving method.

Are you going to completely DIY your move? If so, you may still need some help in packing or choosing the best vehicle to haul your items,

If you plan to hire some help, then you have a variety of options. For example, you can choose to get help with lifting and moving furniture into your truck rental. You can also hire professionals to move your specialty items like pianos, pool tables or hot tubs. You should also figure out which items may need to be shipped separately (such as your car).

You can also request help with packing and organizing. The number of rooms you're going to move, the number of items you have and the difficulty of moving everything (for example, whether or not you have to navigate stairs) will influence your moving method and the types of services you'll need.

5. Map out your cross-country route.

Figure out which route you’ll take to get to your new home. This is especially important if you plan to drive and transport your own items. When planning your route, keep in mind:

• The weather you’ll encounter. For example, make sure your vehicle can handle ice, snow and any other element that’s common during this time of year.
• Road closures. Keep an eye on major road closures, especially as you get closer to your move-out day.
• Rest stops, gas stations and lodging. Mark down places where you plan to stop to eat, fill up your gas tank and stay overnight. 
• Emergency contacts. If you’re going to be passing through cities where friends and family reside, give them a heads up. That way, they can plan to stay in town and keep their phones on them in case you need to contact them for an emergency (e.g., your car breaks down).

6. Know your moving costs.

Compared to local moves, cross-country moves will almost always cost more because of the distance and mileage. But other factors can also impact your moving costs. These include: 

• Load size and the number of rooms. Moving a 5-bedroom home will cost more than a 1-bedroom apartment due to the size of the load.
• The number of movers needed. The more stuff you have to move, the more movers you’ll need — and the more you’ll pay.
• Weight of the items you’re moving. Weight and volume calculations differ depending on the moving company.
• Services needed. Storage costs, full-service packing, moving special items — all of these extra services may add more to your bill.
• Time of your move. You’ll face different costs if you’re moving during the movers’ busy seasons, weekends and holidays.

Get estimates from several cross-country moving services near you to understand how much you’ll need to budget and save for your move.

Related: How much do long distance movers cost?

Advice to save money and lower your moving costs.

Moving across the country isn’t cheap. Here are some options that can potentially help you save money on your cross-country move:

7. Review all your options.

Even if you choose to do a full-service move with assistance at each step, you can still save money by reviewing several moving companies, getting detailed price quotes and selecting the one that offers you the best value. Make sure you get a full picture of how they calculate their labor and equipment costs. In many cases, the labor needed will represent the largest portion of your moving costs, so you may want to DIY some portions of your move. 

8. Do it yourself.

The least expensive way to move long distances is to do it yourself. You will need to map out your route in advance and determine where you will stay while you’re driving cross-country. That means factoring in costs for gas, food, hotel stays and more. 

9. Try a hybrid move.

With a hybrid move, you can pick and choose which parts of your move you want to do yourself and which parts you'll assign to the professionals. For example, a hybrid move could mean having help with packing and loading while you drive the truck yourself. 

Here are a few specific tasks you can hire a professional to do (or ask friends and family members for help):

• Pack and unpack your household items, but you load and unload all the boxes yourself. 
• Load and unload your moving truck after you’ve packed all your items yourself.
• Disassemble furniture so you can have an easier time loading the pieces into the truck by yourself.
• Lift heavier items (beds, couches, tables, piano, hot tub, mirrors, artwork and more) while you handle all of the lighter items.
• Assemble furniture when unpacking to help you organize and settle into your home faster.

10. Opt for a moving container.

Moving containers can be a good choice for a convenient DIY cross-country move, especially if you're not on a tight schedule and don’t want to spend money on a full-service move. You can also use the container as temporary storage, but be sure to ask if this requires an additional fee or if it’s already included in the costs.

You can request the container to be dropped off at your home. Then, you’ll pack and fill it according to your moving schedule. When you're done, you just need to schedule a pickup. The moving container company will deliver it to your new destination for a fee. 

Moving container prices will vary depending on the company, so be sure to review all your options (and compare those costs to how much you’d pay for a full-service mover.)

11. Consider a freight trailer.

Freight trailers work similarly to moving containers, but they typically have more room for your belongings (most freight trailers are 28 feet long).

The freight company will drop the trailer off at your current home. You’ll fill it up, and the company will then deliver it to your new home. You’ll need to stick to their schedule and have it ready for pickup. 

If you can’t decide between choosing a moving container and a freight trailer, be sure to: 

• Compare prices, which will vary by company.
• Compare schedules and availability.
• Compare the container and trailer sizes (estimate your load size).

12. Move when demand is low. 

Ask the moving companies you’re researching when their busy season is. For some companies, moving times are in the summer and before the school year begins (generally, from May through September). And weekends are often busier than weekdays.

The bottom line: try to schedule your move when the moving companies in your area are seeing less customer demand.

13. Negotiate and ask for discounts.

Moving companies near you may offer discounts at different times of the year. It's worth your time to check out discounts that could be available if you're a member of the military, fall in a certain age bracket or fit other criteria. It never hurts to ask about deals and negotiate prices before you sign anything. 

14. Sell items you don’t need.

As part of your planning process, you’ll be cleaning and organizing your home. Before throwing everything away and donating it, consider selling a few items and using the money you make to help supplement your moving costs. Have a garage or yard sale, post your items online via your favorite social media app, or let your friends and neighbors know you’re looking to sell a few things.

Reducing the number of items you have (and the space they take) can also help you save money on moving costs by lightening your load.

15. Find cheap or free moving supplies. 

Do a bit of research to find out if any home improvement and office supply stores nearby are offering sales on moving supplies you need. Scour your home — from your garage to your attic — for extra boxes you can reuse. And ask around (chat with neighbors, co-workers, friends and family) if they have any extra boxes and moving supplies you can pick up from their homes. 

Every little bit helps when it comes to saving money on your cross-country move. And moving supplies can take a sizable chunk out of your budget.

Related: Where to get moving boxes near you for cheap (or possibly free).

Ideas to reduce stress during cross-country moves.

Few things are more stressful than packing up your entire life and driving across the country to a completely new city and state. Planning, creating a checklist and starting the process early can help you feel less stressed — but there are a few other things you can do to make this process a little bit more fun and manageable. 

16. Get familiar with your new community.

Not everyone is lucky enough to be able to visit their new town when they're making a cross-country move. But having some touchstones to count on may help you reduce the stress and anxiety you may feel when thinking of the unknown. 

Before your cross-country move, try to plan a visit and spend enough time there so you can enjoy and explore your new city. Familiarize yourself with local grocery stores, restaurants and exciting things to do (museums, farmers markets, upcoming shows, etc.).

17. Make the move easier on children and pets.

Sitting in a car, truck or plane for hours at a time is stressful for everyone — including your children or pets. Make sure your kids have enough games to keep them occupied on the move (consider buying toys and games for your pets, too!). Pack healthy snacks, and plan for rest stops along the way. 

18. Fly instead of drive.

If possible, consider flying to your new home instead of driving. Let’s be real: driving across the country can be a nightmare. A few things can go wrong: flat tires, extreme weather, terrible traffic, road closures and the list goes on. 

Of course, flights can also be unpredictable, but flying may be less stressful for you and your family. Weigh the pros and cons of driving vs. flying, and make a decision that works best for your household.

19. Skip DIY. 

You may be considering doing many parts of your move yourself, but professionals are not only experts — they can take on more of the burden of moving. 

So consider your budget carefully. It may be worth it to pay more to have professional packers put your items safely into boxes if you're able to devote more time to your family or other important tasks. 

20. Don’t neglect your self-care tasks.

Whether you enjoy practicing yoga, painting, going to the spa, taking hikes and other activities that help you manage stress, make sure you don’t completely neglect them during the moving process. 

Sure, you may need to pull back your spending on some of your pricier self-care activities. But if you can find low-cost (or free) alternatives, consider giving those options a try. 

Tips for moving across the country by yourself.

If you're moving across the country by yourself, you've got a set of challenges and opportunities. In addition to the tips we’ve already gone over, keep this advice in mind:

21. Start fresh.

Take advantage of your move to declutter and simplify your life. If you’re moving by yourself, the number of items you have to go through is probably less than if you were moving with a partner or family of four.

So, use your cross-country move as an excuse to get rid of items you'll probably never use again. And get excited about the new clothing, furniture and decor you can put in your new home as you embark on this new chapter in your life.

22. Take safety precautions.

When moving by yourself, be sure that you're traveling safely. As previously mentioned, research your route. When mapping everything out, identify safe towns and cities where you can stay overnight. 

Also, pack emergency items just in case you get stuck on the road or encounter a severe storm. Consider adding flashlights, a first aid kit, medication, water bottles, blankets and extra food.

23. Hire professional moving services.

And finally, when moving by yourself, relying on trustworthy professionals to help is key. Save yourself the stress and get some of your valuable time back by hiring a moving company to help with packing, loading and moving your items across the country.

Hire a pro on Thumbtack for your cross-country move.

Planning a cross-country move is a big job. But with proper planning and research, you can make the move as smooth and successful as possible. Use Thumbtack to find and hire cross-country movers near you.

How hard is it to move cross country?

It's challenging to move cross country, but people do it every day. As long as you have a checklist and begin the process several months in advance, moving across the country is doable. To make it even easier, don’t DIY it — hire a professional instead. 

How long does it take to move cross country?

It depends on your destination and whether you plan to make a few stops along the way. For example, if you’re driving from Florida to California, that comes out to roughly 40 hours of driving time (which you’ll probably do over the course of several days). 

What should you not move across the country?

Consider not moving the following items when moving across the country:

• Appliances that no longer work
• Perishable food items
• Clothing that’s worn out or doesn’t fit
• Old linen and towels 
• Anything that contains mold, mildew or rust
• Expired food, personal care products or medication
• Flammable, combustible or toxic materials and substances