How to Plan for Your Road Trip Before Your Long-Distance Move

Moving is never easy, but relocating long-distance, in some cases, across the country, means you’ll have a few additional challenges that don’t come with other types of moves.

Road trips can be a fantastic experience, but planning for the long-distance trek is a task in itself. We’ve compiled tips to organize your road trip before your long-distance move.

Map Your Route (And Have a Backup Plan)

Before you hit the road, map your route. Most people use apps such as Google Maps or Waze, but you should also bring a good old-fashioned paper map in case you lose service. If you have a Garmin, it could also prove helpful since it works off different technology than phone apps. When planning, be sure to:

• Note big cities and plan to avoid rush hours
• Look for scheduled road construction
• Build in time for rest stops and meals
• Add time for any sightseeing you may want to do

Familiarize yourself with any alternate routes you can take if you run into bad weather, an accident, or another road mishap.

Make Lodging Reservations

Ideally, make lodging reservations when you schedule your moving date and determine your route. This way, you can set driving goals for where to stop for overnights and avoid last-minute struggles of finding places to stay.

Also, hotel prices can fluctuate; book a refundable rate as soon as possible to get the best prices. If rates drop closer to your moving date, you can always rebook to put some extra money back in your pocket.

Make a List of Road-Trip Essentials

It’s a good idea to start early on a list of essentials to ensure you don’t inadvertently overlook important items you’ll need on the road.

• Prescription and OTC medications
• Car keys and spares
• License and registration
• Car chargers for phones and other devices
• Spare tire, carjack, and tire iron
• First-aid kit
• Flashlight
• Cash
• Food and drinks
• Enough clothing and toiletries for the trip’s duration
• Trash bags
• Jumper cables

Also, locate your car’s manual. If you run into unexpected problems, you can look them up.

Schedule Car Maintenance

Scheduling your pre-trip car maintenance is a must before any long-distance trip. Some tasks you can do yourself, but it’s a good idea to have a trusted professional do a thorough check so you don’t get stuck in the middle of nowhere, incur costly repairs, or experience delays.

Review Laws of States You’re Driving Through

Before you embark on your road trip, look up the traffic laws for each state you drive through. Know speed limits, distracted driving laws, car seat and booster laws, and any “hands-free” phone laws states have in place.

Ask About Your Delivery Date Or Window

Talk to your mover about the delivery date and window for the moving truck to arrive. This way, you can schedule your arrival to coincide and be there when the truck arrives. If the window is wide, and you’ll arrive first, pack enough essentials to last you until the truck’s window timeframe for arrival.

Ready to Plan Your Move?

If you’re ready to get planning, call our professional movers today for a free quote. We’ll help you organize a seamless move.