Many people who are relocating across the country often wonder how much time it will take for movers to complete a cross-country move. It’s important to understand the timeline for a major move with professional moving services so you can start planning early and make the process less stressful.
Factors Affecting Moving Time
Different things can influence how long a cross-country move takes. Once you understand these factors, you’ll have a clearer idea of how much time to plan for the entire moving process.
Distance
One of the most basic things to consider is how far your new place is from where you live now. Moving to a nearby state will take much less time than moving across the country. You should also think about how driving on highways is usually faster than on smaller roads. Knowing the distance and speed limits helps you estimate how long your move will take.
Volume of Belongings
The amount of stuff you need to pack plays a big role in how long your move will take. If you have a lot of fragile or small items that need careful packing, it’ll take more time. Heavy things that have to go in smaller boxes also make loading and moving a bit slower.
Mode of Transportation
Another factor to think about is how the long-distance movers will transport your belongings. If your items are being shipped, you’ll need to allow extra time for pickup and delivery. If movers are driving your belongings to your new home in a moving truck, remember to include the time they’ll spend taking breaks during the trip.
Season and Weather
Seasonal conditions can strongly affect your moving timeline with cross-country movers. A winter storm might delay the truck by a day or two, and flooding could force drivers to take longer routes.
Busy seasons with more traffic can also cause delays, depending on where you’re moving. For example, if you’re moving to Florida during spring break, heavy vacation traffic might slow things down.
Weather can also impact your packing plans. On rainy days, it might be too wet to load your things into a truck or shipping container.
Logistics and Route Planning
Planning your route ahead of time helps you avoid problems and gives you a better idea of how long your cross-country move will take. Traffic maps and navigation apps can show real-time updates about construction zones or delays that might slow down the moving truck. If roadwork is happening during the day, it can cause heavy traffic but if it’s done at night, you might not notice much difference. Choosing another route might mean using smaller two-lane roads instead of highways, which could take a bit more time.
Distance and Time Correlation
The distance of your move directly affects how long the process will take. Whether you’re moving to another part of the state or across the country, you need to consider different factors to estimate when the movers will reach your new place. This step is also helpful when planning your cross-country moving checklist.
Short vs. Long Distances
A short move within the same state or to a nearby one can usually be done in a day or two. In many cases, the moving truck reaches your new home just a few hours after leaving the old one. For long-distance moves, the process takes more time — traveling across the country can take several days, and it might be a week or more before your belongings arrive.
Average Time Estimates
Even though you might not know the exact amount of time it will take for the movers to travel from Point A to Point B, you can still get an idea of how long a cross-country move usually takes. Here are a few sample routes and timelines:
- Taking I-90 from Boston to Seattle takes about 45 hours.
- Traveling from New Jersey to San Francisco on I-80 takes around 43 hours.
- Moving from Jacksonville, FL, to San Diego on I-10 takes about 32 hours.
- From Boston to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, takes roughly 18 hours.
- The drive from Seattle to Los Angeles takes about 16 hours.
Coast-to-coast moves usually take about a week or more, while moving from one region to another typically takes around two to three days of driving.
Impact of Stops and Detours
When you include stops for gas, food and unexpected detours from road construction the time for your cross-country move increases. Some detours can add extra miles or take you onto smaller two-lane roads that slow you down. Even if you stay on the main highway, lower speed limits in construction zones can make the trip longer. Heavy traffic in big cities during rush hours can also add more time to your travel.
When planning a cross-country move, it’s important to create a timeline, as it can greatly reduce your stress. Getting ready in advance helps the whole process go more smoothly and keeps you from worrying when the movers show up. You can also contact STI Moving & Storage for a personalized moving quote and other moving services.
FAQs
How much does it cost to move across the country?
The cost of a cross-country move depends on your specific situation. Once you share the details of your move, STI can give you a customized estimate.
How far in advance should I plan a cross-country move?
It’s best to start planning at least two to three months before your moving date. This gives you enough time to organize everything, compare prices and book a moving company.
What’s the best time of year to move cross-country?
Moving during the fall or winter — the off-season — can often save you money compared to busier times of the year.
What should I pack for a cross-country move?
Pack enough clothes, personal items, medicines and other essentials to last until your movers arrive with the rest of your things, which might take a week or more.
