1. Set your budget and date
Get a planning range from the form on this page. Add your own travel, temporary housing and setup costs. Be realistic: moving costs usually aren't limited to the moving bill. See cost to move across the country.
Choose your date next. Summer is most popular and tightest for trucks, and winter can bring road delays on northern routes.
2. Find housing
If you can, visit first, or at least hire a local agent or take a video tour. Renting for a few months before buying lets you learn the area. Check the commute at the hours you'll actually travel.
3. Decide what to ship
Go room by room and sort into keep, sell, give away and throw away. At 2,000 miles, weight is expensive. Check rooms, doors and storage at your new home before you ship large pieces.
4. Choose how your things will travel
| Option | Effort | Timing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-service mover | Low | Delivery window | Best for larger homes |
| Container | Medium | Flexible | You load it |
| Rental truck | High | You control it | You drive and lift |
See shared load vs dedicated truck if you're using a mover.
5. Plan how you'll get there
Decide whether you'll fly or drive. If you drive, book hotels that have secure parking, and keep valuables with you. If you fly, arrange your car separately. We don't ship cars, so look for a licensed auto transporter.
6. Prepare for the gap
Your things usually arrive after you do. Pack a kit for the first week: clothes, bedding, kitchen basics, chargers, medication, documents, toys, a tool kit and toilet paper.
7. Delivery day
Check your inventory as each item comes off the truck. Note any damage or missing items in writing before you sign. See your rights and responsibilities.
8. First month
Update your license and registration, voter registration, insurance, doctors and schools. Establishing residency goes through them in order. The moving out of state checklist keeps it all together.