12 Moving Across Country Tips From an Expert Who’s Gone Coast-to-Coast

Moving cross-country is exciting — and nerve-wracking. The journey is different from any other move, and the upfront work is extensive. With the right prep, a few tried-and-true tips for moving across country, and luck, you'll be unpacking boxes in your new home before you know it.

12 Tips for Moving Cross-Country

The best way to move cross-country is to give yourself plenty of time, do lots of research, have a plan, and stick to a budget. One of the best tips for moving cross-country: Decide how much money you should save for moving services with a cost calculator. You can plug in your details, and it will give price ranges for professional movers, containers, and rental trucks.

Before you leave, learn a few lessons about how to move cross-country from someone who’s done it: Me, when I moved from Vermont to San Diego.

1. Find a New Job or Negotiate Your Current Benefits Package

Relocating for work may mean moving across country. If you’re job hunting, ask a few questions. Does your desired location support your career path? For example, if you're moving to California, read about the fastest-growing industries in the state. Then, reach out to recruiters who know how to navigate out-of-state interviews and secure a position before arrival.

Keep in mind negotiating relocation packages may be a part of your company’s hiring or recruiting process. Moving is expensive, and choosing an employer willing to help could alleviate the stress and financial burden associated with moving cross-country.

After moving across country, your cost of living will likely change.

2. Organize Your Finances Before Moving Across Country

Upon moving across country, your cost of living will likely change. What you’re used to paying for groceries, rent, gas, and healthcare may shift. For example, rent prices were higher in San Diego than in Burlington, Vermont when I made the move. So, when moving across country:

• Compare costs of living using BestPlaces’ Cost of Living Calculator.
• Consider your credit score.
• Check out myFICO’s guide for tips on improving your credit score.

Why Is Moving Across Country So Expensive?

Cross-country moving costs are higher — from booking a long-distance moving service to shipping your car (or even driving it to your new home!). Here are a few stats to help you estimate the fees for your own move:

^{*Based on estimates from PODS and MoveBuddha for a 2-3 bedroom household (800-1,200 sf) as of August 2026. Costs don’t include insurance or taxes. Prices will vary based on specific locations, dates, size of household to be moved, and available discounts. For a detailed quote, call PODS at 877-350-7637.}

How To Move Across the Country More Affordably

Whether you’re moving across country on a budget or you’re looking to streamline the process, there are a few things you can do.

• Save your boxes: Keep boxes from online orders — they're great packing material!
• Sell what you don't need: Old clothes or small appliances are a great way to make extra money to cover costs.
• DIY: Driving a moving truck yourself is typically cheaper than moving cross-country with full-service movers, flying, and arranging separate pet transportation. However, it is more effort.

3. Use a Checklist When Moving Cross-Country

Determining the best way to move cross-country means weighing countless details earlier than you think. Waiting until the last minute will cost you. It adds more stress and risks your move taking longer.

That's where a moving cross-country checklist comes in handy. It maps out everything from eight weeks before moving day to unpacking the last box. Finding the best moving-across-country companies is a priority — check out PODS long-distance moving options for more information on how to move across the country.

Additional moving across country considerations include:

• Planning a pre-move trip: Visit your new neighborhood before moving across the country.
• Coordinate travel for loved ones: The best way to move cross-country could mean moving in shifts if you’re going with family and pets. Some may need to stay and finish school, while others move and start new jobs. Once determined, book tickets or coordinate transportation.
• Add buffer days for goodbyes: Moving across country is emotionally demanding, so spend time with the people and places that matter most. Request extra PTO as a cushion.
• Determine logistical details: There’s a lot involved in moving cross-country. Don’t forget about details like getting a new library card, changing your voter registration or going to the DMV for a license and plates.
• Have a conversation with your kids: This is important for any kind of move, but especially for moving across country. If you’re moving with kids, prepare them by having multiple conversations about moving cross-country, helping them feel involved and mentally prepared.

If you’re moving across country with children, make sure to prepare them by having multiple conversations about the move.

4. Ask the Locals for Recommendations

Do you know someone who’s lived in your new home state? Even better if they still do. Leverage your network when moving across country to get acclimated, especially if you’re unable to travel before moving day.

• Ask a friend to drive through a neighborhood you’re interested in or check an apartment.
• Have someone give you opinions about local schools and community culture.
• Seek referrals for a real estate agent or a home services professional, like an electrician.
• Ask questions on the city's social media pages. Local insight makes moving across the country feel less intimidating.

Before moving across the country, decide if you want to rent or buy your next home.

5. Figure Out if You’re a Buyer or a Renter

Housing markets vary drastically from one city to the next. Before moving across country, take a look at the housing and rental markets in your destination city to see which makes the most sense:

Home Buying

You may consider buying a house based on your credit report and finances. A real estate agent and mortgage lender will lay out all the numbers for you when you’re moving across country so you can understand the process.

Buying means padding your savings for a down payment, investing in a home inspection, affording closing costs, and issuing immediate repairs — plus an ongoing cushion for maintenance and upgrades.

Home Renting

Renting tends to be the more affordable and flexible choice when you're moving across the country — especially if you may move again in the future. You may need to count on paying the first and last month's rent, a security deposit, a pet deposit, and sometimes pet rent.

Use a resource like RentCafe to help plan your rental budget and find an apartment that makes you smile. If you prefer a rental house, check out Zillow or HotPads to search.

6. Weigh the Cost of Shipping Your Car When Moving Across Country

One of the biggest pains of moving cross-country is determining whether you should ship, drive, or sell your vehicle. If you lease your car or want to keep it in tip-top shape, the best way to move cross-country with a car is to ship it. Shipping avoids extra miles and extra wear and tear.

You will need to consider the cost, which depends on the vendor and the distance.

• The average cost to ship a car 1,000 miles is $1,020 in the U.S., according to Kelley Blue Book, or $1.02 per mile.
• The costs vary depending on your location, vehicle type, and whether you choose an open-air or a closed-transport container.
• Shipping companies will not let you store any items in your car while in transit.

You can also take a road trip and see the country up close. It’s one of the unexpected perks of moving cross-country. You can sell, trade, or keep the car once you arrive.

Declutter your belongings before moving cross-country to save time and money during your move.

7. Declutter Before Moving Cross-Country

You never realize how much stuff you have until you start packing. Use it as an opportunity to declutter and make a fresh start — especially when moving across country. Remember: The more stuff you have, the more boxes you need, the more it weighs, the more space it requires, and the more you pay.

Use a Three-Pile System

To declutter before moving, create three separate piles in each room — keep, donate, and sell. This system will help you pare down items to what you truly need and want.

For What You Plan to Sell

Use platforms like OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace, which allow you to sell all types of items and connect with buyers in your area. Short on time? Don’t forget about a good old-fashioned moving sale, too.

For What You Donate

Choose a service like Pickup Please (Vietnam Veterans of America), Habitat for Humanity, The Salvation Army, or Goodwill. They will often pick up your items for free.

8. Pack Your Clothes Strategically

Clothes can be the hardest items to pack, as their bulkiness can take up space. You only have so many boxes when moving across country, so determining how to pack clothes for a move the right way is key. Follow these moving cross-country tips instead of throwing clothes away:

• Rolling clothes keeps them wrinkle-free and saves space. Simply roll your items and tuck them into boxes. You’ll be shocked at how much more you can fit in each box.
• There will be gaps between the rolled clothes — use these spaces to squeeze in small items like socks and other delicates. You can also stuff your shoes with socks. This will help them keep their shape in transit.

9. Save Your Receipts While Moving Across Country

If you're moving cross-country due to work (or if you’re in the military), you may qualify to claim your moving expenses as a deduction on your federal income tax return. To ensure you have everything come tax season, collect all of your moving receipts and records, including:

• Packing supplies
• Other shipping costs
• Gas or mileage

Keep them organized in a safe place.

10. Do the Tasks Everyone Forgets

It’s easy to forget the little things when you’re caught up in the excitement and stress of moving. Before you leave, don’t forget to wrap up these important tasks:

• Schedule and transfer your utilities.
• Adjust insurance needs.
• Forward your mail.
• Change your package and food delivery service address.
• Cancel or transfer gym memberships.
• Arrange for key drop-off or transfer.
• Collect all personal records (e.g., medical, veterinarian, school).

11. Add Time to Your Schedule for Flexibility

You can make endless to-do lists and backup plans, but something could always go awry. Your movers might arrive three hours late, or you could get a flat tire in the middle of nowhere. It’s important to be flexible and reduce stress when moving, if possible. Moving cross-country is hard, even for the most organized individual.

After moving cross-country, be sure to find time to enjoy your new city in between unpacking boxes!

12. Explore Your New Locale

Once you’ve unpacked your last box, it’s time for the fun part: Exploring. This is what makes moving cross-country worth all the effort. I made a point to say “yes” to everything when I first arrived in San Diego. This helped me make new friends, find fun local spots, and go out of my comfort zone.

How PODS Helps With Moving Cross-Country

Moving cross-country with PODS gives you more control over timing than full-service movers. Some of the biggest benefits include:

• You're not locked into one loading and delivery date.
• One month of storage is built into the cost of every PODS move, so you can pack over several days instead of rushing to fill a truck in one trip.
• You don’t have to worry about driving a big DIY rental truck, since PODS handles the transportation of your moving container.
• If your closing dates don't line up, you can keep your container at a secure PODS Storage Center until you're ready to have it delivered.

Looking for the best way to move cross-country? Consider PODS — particularly for complex moves or ones that require storage.

Moving Across the Country — FAQs

Q: How much does it typically cost to move cross-country?
A: Moving across country can cost as little as $2,000, but it depends on several factors, including the size and distance of your move. However, you could budget up to $10,000 (or more). To make it cheaper:

• Travel light by selling bulky items.
• Move during the off-season months of October through April, though November and December are the least expensive.
• Ask your moving company about midweek pricing, since weekends cost more.
• Rental trucks land at the low end, full-service movers are usually the most expensive, and PODS portable moving containers are in the middle. Call PODS at 877-350-7637 for a free long-distance moving quote.

Q: What is the easiest way to move cross-country?
A: Hiring full-service movers who do everything for you is certainly the easiest, but it’s also the most expensive. You can create your own hybrid move with the help of PODS portable moving containers, though. Hire local packing and loading assistance (PODS can refer you!) for more flexibility and convenience throughout your cross-country move.

Q: What are red flags to watch for in movers?
A: Watch out for companies that are missing licenses, reject the need to do in-person walkthroughs, or provide quotes that are too hasty or too good to be true. Trust your gut.

Q: Which is cheaper, PODS or a moving company?

A: PODS is typically cheaper than a full-service moving company and — with one month of storage built into the cost of every move — PODS is also the more flexible option.

Q: How long does a cross-country move take?
A: Plan for at least 10 days door-to-door, and budget two to three weeks off work if you can. Delays are common, and you'll need time to unpack and settle in.

Q: What should I do first when moving across the country?
A: Step one when moving cross-country is to figure out your budget and put together a moving timeline. Use a cost calculator to estimate moving expenses, then build a moving checklist working backward from your moving date — covering housing, work, travel, and admin tasks like utilities and mail — starting at least eight weeks out.

Q: What shouldn't I take when moving cross-country?
A: Anything you'd get rid of in a normal decluttering pass, plus items that won't suit your new climate or lifestyle. You won’t need heavy winter coats in sunny California!

Moving Cross-Country With PODS

The best way to move cross-country is by following these expert tips — and partnering with a moving and storage provider who understands how to move across the country in a flexible but efficient manner. That’s where PODS comes in.

Have a PODS portable moving container delivered to your home, load it according to your timeline, then have it transported across the nation to your new home. Need to take your time packing? That’s fine — one month’s storage is built into the cost of every move. PODS can even refer you to local packing and loading services to help with the heavy lifting.

Call PODS at 877-350-7637 for a free long-distance moving quote.

Jessica Thiefels has been writing for more than 10 years and has written for a wide variety of publications, including AARP, Reader’s Digest, and Lifehack and regularly contributes to The Financial Diet, RE/MAX, Homes.com, and more. Follow her on Twitter @JThiefels and connect on LinkedIn.

_{*This article was written on behalf of PODS Enterprises, LLC (“PODS”). PODS does not warrant the completeness or accuracy of any information contained in this article and disclaims any liability for reliance upon the content herein.}