Expand your horizons by exploring the best ways to move cross-country
A DIY cross-country move offers the most budget-friendly option for relocating your belongings, costing as little as $120 to $2,300 for a self-driven road trip.
Full-service moving costs range from $4,600 to $10,300, while truck rentals run about $2,000 and containers cost $2,000 to $5,000 for your long-distance move.
Hybrid moves let you choose which tasks to handle yourself and which to outsource, helping you balance effort and expense based on your timeline.
Hiring a local moving company provides reliable support with packing, loading, transporting, and unpacking, helping you avoid the physical demands of a cross-country move.
In the early stages of planning a move, it’s important to consider the best way to move cross-country to decide which method is right for you. After all, it’s not easy to uproot your entire life and settle down somewhere far away. Fortunately, you have many moving options to choose from. Here are the seven best ways to move cross-country.
The least expensive and most scenic way to move across the country is to pack up your vehicle and hit the open road. If you can part with some unnecessary belongings and have a spacious automobile, a DIY move can be a great opportunity to see new sights while saving money. You can buy new items once you get to your final destination or ship large furniture items there.
The cost of a DIY move ranges from $120 to $2,300, depending on distance, amount of belongings, whether you hire movers, and moving supplies. An entirely DIY move is tricky to pull off for a cross-country move, especially if you have many moving boxes and belongings.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Inexpensive | Time-consuming |
| Full control over packing and moving | Additional travel costs |
| According to your own schedule | Limited space |
Best for: Homeowners on a budget who don’t mind driving long distances and traveling light
Renting a moving truck is an ideal option for people who want to save money and are willing to do the heavy lifting (and driving). The cost of renting a moving truck ranges from $20 to $100 per day, depending on truck size, fuel, insurance, and distance traveling. You can expect to pay about $2,000 to move a two-bedroom home 1,000 miles or more.
Be mindful of hidden fees, as some rental companies tack those on your final bill. And since moving trucks aren’t great for mileage, make sure to schedule lots of time for refueling in your travel itinerary.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Affordable | Additional costs like gas and insurance |
| Full control over packing and moving | Physically demanding |
| Various truck sizes for larger homes | Completely DIY |
Best for: Ambitious DIY movers who’d like to save money
A moving container is a steel-framed, weather-resistant crate that comes in several sizes for all your moving needs. If you rent this type of container for your move, the moving container company will deliver it right to your doorstep. Then, you can take as much time loading your belongings into the container as you want before your move date arrives.
Once you’re done, the company will pick the container back up and drive it to its destination—a storage facility or your new home. The cost to ship a moving container ranges from $2,000 to $5,000, depending on the weight of items, distance traveling, and more.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Flexible timeline | More expensive |
| Double as storage space | Partially DIY |
| Pros will transport your belongings | Parking space required for container |
Best for: Individuals who want to pack and load their own belongings but not drive them
If the mere thought of a cross-country move stresses you out, don’t worry, you can hire a local moving company to take care of everything for you. While a full-service move is usually the most expensive option, it’s worth the investment. Full-service movers will pack, load, transport, unload, and unpack your belongings for you. This option saves you time and hassle involved with a long-distance move. Instead, you’ll only have to arrange your own travel plans.
Moving cross-country with the help of professional movers costs an average of $4,600, but prices can increase to $10,300 for large, full-service moves. Keep in mind that additional services like packing and unpacking and furniture assembly will boost the total bill.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Professionals manage moving schedule | Costly |
| Reduces risk of injury to you and damage to your belongingsReduces risk of injury to you and damage to your belongings | Little to no involvement in the moving process |
| Less stress | Not as flexible timeline |
Best for: People who are willing to spend more for a stress-free move
A hybrid move allows you to choose how involved you want to be in the moving process. For example, you could pack and load your belongings yourself then hire professionals to transport them for you. Or you might hire packers for moving, and then drive and unpack on your own.
This moving method allows you to put your energy into manageable moving tasks and save a bit of cash while paying the pros for the harder, more labor-intensive tasks.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Save money by DIY-ing some tasks | Spending on moving truck and movers |
| Outsource help where you need it | Requires DIY effort |
| Less stressful than a total DIY move | May be tough distinguishing DIY and professional tasks |
Best for: Individuals who want to complete some tasks on their own and outsource help for others
Not wanting to rent a rental truck or moving container? You could also rent a freight trailer for large cross-country moves. The rental process works similarly to renting a moving container. The freight company will deliver the trailer to your home and give you a few days to load your belongings. Then, they’ll drive it to your destination for you.
Freight trailers charge by the amount of square footage your belongings take up. When booking space in a freight trailer, you’ll need to estimate how much square footage you’ll need. You can expect to pay around $2,000 or more to rent space in a freight trailer for a long-distance move.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Affordable | Partially DIY |
| Delivered and transported for you | Sharing trailer with other people’s belongings |
| Only pay for space you need | Parking space required |
Best for: People who are happy to pack their belongings but want to forgo driving them to the destination
If you don’t mind sharing space with fellow movers, shared load moving is another option to consider. As the name implies, your moving company will transport your belongings and those of other customers at the same time. You’ll only pay for the space you use, as these companies charge by the square. However, it may be beneficial to invest in moving insurance since more stops could lead to unforeseen issues.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Reduces cost by sharing space | May pay more in insurance |
| Helps to maximize resources | More stops along the way |
| Companies find other customers for you | Less space for your belongings |
Best for: Individuals with fewer belongings who want to save money
I recently moved to another state and chose United Trust Van Lines after comparing several companies. Their team was punctual, professional, and extremely careful with my belongings. I was especially impressed with how they handled my home office setup and fragile items. Everything arrived on...
United Trust Van Lines, LLCShowed up on time and cleaned carpets well, but didn?t move furniture.
Voda Cleaning & Restoration of ColumbusA reliable team for moves across state. My switch to a new place needed careful lifting through tight hallways. The movers checked the doorway first, then carried heavier pieces with slow, controlled movements. Their patience helped prevent damage, and I?d choose them again.
**Would rate a 0 if i could** NEVER USE THIS COMPANY!!!!! They shattered my tv console and dresser, lost a mirror, and never finished the move. The broken furniture cost me over $600 to replace. They left me with 6+ hours of personal labor moving my 1BR apartment, when I was quoted a FULL...
All My Sons Moving & StorageI could not have moved without the help of Jen Stover! I was in my house for nearly 20 years, so the thought of clearing it out while working full time was overwhelming. Jen takes great joy in sorting and organizing while asking the hard questions with patience and compassion. Jen is...
Go and Stow Home OrganizingCouldn't have been a worse experience. 3 of my belongings were lost and 5 belongings were damaged. My furniture was clearly dragged across the ground. The movers couldn't move the furniture I paid extra heavy weight fees for so I had to help them move my own furniture. The manager gave me...
US Interstate and RailExcellent experience for me! They helped me a lot with my move. very reasonable price. Good communication with the office manager is excellent.
Goodview Moving and StorageI was concerned about my possessions safety throughout the move but Bridge View Van Lines took all necessary security measures to make sure everything arrived in mint shape I am really appreciative of their effort and commitment They made my long distance move seem simple
Bridgeview Van LinesThis moving company is the best in Columbus, Ohio! They rescued me when my movers didnâ t show up. Do not ever use Plane Movers! They never showed up for my move, claiming that I never signed the contract. They didnâ t call me to follow up, communication was awful. The people that work for...
All My Sons Moving & StorageOzie and Tyquese were great and worked fast. It was a good move
All My Sons Moving & StorageFrom average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
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