How Long Does It Take to Move Across the Country?
One of the most common concerns people have when relocating across the country is how long it will take for movers to move cross-country. It’s critical that you understand the timeline for a major move with professional moving services so that you can begin planning early and reduce the stress that often accompanies relocation.
Factors Affecting Moving Time
Several factors can have an impact on your timeline for a cross-country move. Once you know those factors, you can better estimate how much time you should give the moving process.
Distance
One of the straightforward factors is the distance between the current location and the new one. Driving time from one state to the next will be much shorter than when you’re moving all the way across the country. You’ll also have to calculate the difference in speed between back roads and highways. Knowing the distance and the speed limits is the foundation for figuring out your timeline for the move.
Volume of Belongings
How much you have to pack will be important in estimating the timeline for how long it takes to move across the country. If you have many fragile items that must be handled carefully or small items, it will take longer to pack everything. Heavy items that must be packed in smaller boxes will also create more work when loading.
Mode of Transportation
Another factor to consider is how the long-distance movers will haul your personal belongings. If you’re having the items shipped, you must allow extra pickup time. If the movers are driving your belongings to the destination in a moving truck, you’ll need to factor in stops for breaks along the way.
Season and Weather
Seasonal conditions can greatly impact your timeline with cross-country movers. A winter storm might delay the truck for a day or two. Flooding in an area may require drivers to find a different route, which may take longer.
Busy seasons with more traffic can have an impact, depending on where you’re moving. For instance, a move to Florida might take longer during spring break when more people are taking vacations, creating delays with heavy traffic.
Weather can also affect your packing and extend your timeline. Some days, it may be too rainy to work outside as you load a shipping container.
Logistics and Route Planning
Planning your route is one of the best ways to avoid issues and to know how long it takes to move across the country before you or your belongings hit the road. Traffic maps and apps provide real-time information on work zones, which can cause delays for household movers. They can let you know if road construction is being done during the day, which could back up traffic significantly. You may not notice an impact if the construction is being done at night. Taking a different route may mean traveling two-lane roads instead of a major highway, possibly taking longer.
Distance and Time Correlation
The distance of the move has a direct impact on your timeline. Whether you’re moving across the state or the country, you must factor in a variety of conditions to determine how long it will take for the movers to arrive at the destination. This step will help with your cross-country moving checklist.
Short vs. Long Distances
A short move across the state or in an adjoining state could be completed in one or two days. Often, the moving truck arrives at the new property within a few hours of leaving the old property. A long-distance move will take days, especially when traveling across the country. It could be a week or more before your belongings arrive in the moving truck.
Average Time Estimates
Even though you may not be able to predict the exact amount of time it will take for the movers to get from Point A to Point B, you can get some estimates on how long a cross-country move takes. Consider the following routes and timelines:
- Taking I-90 from Boston to Seattle will take around 45 hours
- Traveling from New Jersey to San Francisco on I-80 will take around 43 hours
- Jacksonville, FL, to San Diego on I-10, is about 32 hours
- From Boston to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is about 18 hours
- It takes about 16 hours to drive from Seattle to Los Angeles
Coast-to-coast moves will take about a week or longer, and moving from one region to the next will be a two- or three-days drive.
Impact of Stops and Detours
As you figure in stops to refuel, breaks to eat a meal, and detours due to road construction, the timeline for a cross-country move grows. Some detours can add miles to your trip or take you from four-lane highways down to two at a slower speed. Even if you travel through the road construction and stay on the highway, the reduced speed limits will increase the timeline. Heavy city congestion during rush hour in the morning or early evening will also increase the time it takes to get through metropolitan areas.
When planning a cross-country move, take the time to plan the timeline, knowing it will have a big impact on lowering your stress. Preparing ahead for a cross-country move can help things go smoothly throughout the process and eliminate worry when the movers arrive. Contact Allied Van Lines for your own personalized moving estimate and other moving services.
FAQs
How much does it cost to move across the country?
The cost of moving across the country varies because each situation is unique. Once we have the details of your move, Allied will provide a personalized estimate.
How far in advance should I plan a cross-country move?
Start planning at least two to three months before your move date. This lets you plan everything, get quotes, and hire a mover.
What’s the best time of year to move cross-country?
The off-season for moving is in the fall and winter, which may help you save money on the cost of a cross-country move.
What should I pack for a cross-country move?
Pack enough clothing, personal items, medications, and other essentials to last until the movers arrive with your belongings, which could be a week or longer after you arrive.