Planning a Cross-country Move
The movers have gone, the house is empty. Now it is time to get your cars, people and pets moved to your new home. If you are planning a cross-country move, getting there can either be drudgery or an adventure. Choosing adventure makes it fun and memorable for everyone. The key is in the planning.
tips for planning a cross-country move
Here are suggestions for a successful trip to move a long distance – a trip that you will actually enjoy.
Read on for more details.
creating an itinerary
When planning a cross-country move, you first need to decide how many days you want to take to make the drive. If you have children or pets, plan for more frequent breaks. If you are using a moving company, talk to them about when your things will arrive at your destination. There may be a charge for temporary storage if they arrive ahead of you.
Figure out how many miles you need to drive from beginning to end. Take the weather and time of year into consideration when determining your route. Divide that number by the number of days you want the drive to take. That will give you the number of miles you need to travel each day. Use that information to plan your stops.
I like to use Google Maps for planning a trip. For our drive from Philadelphia to Phoenix, I started with the recommended directions from Google Maps, and then made adjustments to include places we wanted to visit.
We decided to make our drive in 6 days, using the drive as a break from the hectic weeks that led up to the move. Our days averaged 5-6 hours of driving each day. Our trip wasn’t exactly a straight line from Pennsylvania to Phoenix because it included visits with family. Here is peek at our itinerary:
Having a well thought-out plan makes the trip go smoothly and makes it more enjoyable for everyone.
Packing the Car
For a successful trip, be sure to pack smart. As with everything else, this requires good planning.
The first tip – Do not leave this job to the last minute. Think through what you will need on the trip. You will also need to leave room for anything the movers won’t transport (wine, perishable items, cleaning products, etc.).
As you get closer to your departure date, set aside an area to put everything you plan to take in the car. Clearly mark the items with a DO NOT PACK sign for the movers. Do this for EVERYTHING you plan to take in the car.
When it is time to pack the car, make sure the things you need at every stop (e.g. suitcase, things that need refrigeration, dog equipment, etc.) are easily accessible.
Minimize what you pack in a suitcase. You won’t need a lot along the way. This will help reduce the number of things you have to lug into the hotel every night. Of course, weather also will be a factor. There are some things that can’t be left in freezing cold such as plants and electronics.
Here are some things you will want to pack in the car for the trip:
- First-aid kit
- Jumper cables
- AAA membership card
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Plastic bags for trash
- Paper towels
- Hand sanitizer
- Cleaning wipes
Also, make sure you pack a few things for the weather. If you are traveling in the winter, pack a ice scraper and compact shovel in case you encounter snow and ice.
Be flexible
Planning a cross-country move also means planning for some unexpected things to come up. Not everything goes according to plan. Weather and car trouble can throw a monkey wrench into the trip.
Check the weather each day for where you are headed. You may need to make adjustments based on the weather.
If you don’t already have one, get a AAA membership. Their roadside assistance can be invaluable in the event of car trouble.
We ended up having car trouble on our way to Pittsburgh and lost the entire afternoon that had been intended to see family. Snow was forecasted that night so we decided to push on and stay in Ohio instead to avoid the brunt of the storm. We were disappointed, but it was the right decision. Flexibility (and a sense of humor) is key!
Hotels
Choosing the rights hotels is important because you need to be well rested to drive the next day. And it helps to make the trip more enjoyable. When choosing a hotel, think about what will your family need in a hotel to make the trip enjoyable? A pool? A restaurant at the hotel? Free breakfast? Dog-friendly accommodations? A kitchen?
Choose a hotel that best fits your needs. If you can, stay downtown. It costs a little more, and it might be a little more of a hassle with getting around and parking, but you get to see and experience so much more.
For a trip like this, hotel brand loyalty becomes very helpful. Using points you have accumulated with a brand can help off-set the cost of the trip. Belonging to a loyalty program will also help when things go wrong and you have to change your plans at the last minute without being charged for the night. And sometimes, individual locations will waive certain fees (parking, pet fees) because you are a loyal customer.
Book the hotels for your trip as soon as you finish creating your itinerary. If you can, avoid traveling during peak times, such as holidays. Hotels get more expensive and less available.
Residence Inn hotels were a perfect option for us. The rooms are larger than a typical hotel, they are dog-friendly, and we were able to use our points to help off-set the cost of the trip. They also include breakfast. Our dogs appreciated the breakfast sausage that they were treated to each morning.
Restaurants
When you are planning your cross-country move, be sure to include plans for restaurants at each stop. Don’t fall into the fast food trap. Instead, treat yourself to dinner each night in a restaurant that isn’t run of the mill. Know ahead of time where you want to go. Make sure they are open on the day that you will be in that town. It requires a little more effort, but it is nice having something to look forward to at the end of each day, instead of eating cold french fries in a hotel room.
When we travel, we enjoy trying restaurants we have seen on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. We looked up restaurants from the show in the specific areas we were stopping and then added them if we saw one we liked. It was a treat having a steak dinner at the Cattlemen’s Steakhouse in Oklahoma City after a long day of driving!
Pets
If you have pets, there are special considerations. You have to choose lodging that will accept pets. The fees vary from hotel to hotel.
Some dogs love car rides; others don’t. Think of some ways that will make them more comfortable.
It also helps to plan stops with places that had dog parks/runs. Google maps is great for this – search “dog parks near me” or dog parks in the town where you plan to stop. After a long day of driving, it can be great exercise for everyone to head to a dog park and get some exercise.
Once you reach Texas / Oklahoma, be careful where you walk the dogs when you stop for gas or a stretch. The grass can have some nasty burrs that get stuck in the dogs paws and HURT.
Be sure to pack some paper towels and cleaner in case of accidents. Also bring a towel to use to clean them off in case of rain or snow. A new toy or treat is also helpful to keep them busy in the hotel room – just make sure it doesn’t make a lot of noise. Our dogs love to chase a laser – it’s a great, quiet way to give them some exercise in the hotel room.
There are some great resources out there to help you find pet-friendly places for your trip. BringFido.com is one that is really helpful because it includes information about dog-friendly hotels, restaurants and other services in locations all over the country.
MAKE EACH STOP MEMORABLE
If possible, include stops to see friends and family along the way. Research interesting things to see and do at each stop. Include something fun at each stop.
One of our memorable stops included a detour to the small town in Tennessee where I was born We drove through town, had lunch and got a picture of me in front of the hospital where I was born – on my actual birthday! And then we ended the day with a nice birthday dinner in downtown Memphis.
Have Fun
Here are a few ideas for things you can do for fun along the way to make the trip memorable:
- Add some spray paint to Cadillac Ranch.
- Eat the food each state is known for
- Have a playlist of songs to play for each state you drive through
- Take a picture in front of the welcome signs in each state.
Free road trip planner!
Planning is the key to making the trip one to remember. Be sure to get your free road trip itinerary printable and start planning your cross-country move that will be fun and memorable as you drive to your new home.
