Moving can be a stressful time. It’s especially daunting if you’re moving cross-country by car to a completely new state. In October of 2018, I made the move from Tampa, Florida to Los Angeles, California with everything packed into my car. Here are some things I found useful that made the move less stressful.
1) BRING A DRIVING PARTNER
Driving long distances can be made so much more tolerable if you have a partner to drive with. Bring a friend or family member with you on the tip. For me, I brought along my fiancée/now-husband. He was already living in Los Angeles, but it just made sense for him to fly back to Tampa for us to make the drive together.
Switching between drivers every few hours can allow you to cover more miles with fewer stops, and it’s a lot more fun to share memories with someone you care about.
2) CULL YOUR CLOSET (AND EVERYTHING ELSE)
This might seem like the most obvious thing to start with. Watch some Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up on Netflix, and Marie Kondo the heck out of your belongings.
Find a local charity that speaks to you, and donate everything that is still in usable condition.
3) PACK SOFT ITEMS IN BAGS.
Soft items packed into bags (such as blankets, pillows, clothing) can be crammed into those car nooks and crannies that boxes and suitcases can’t fill. A few things might need ironing after the trip, but you’ll be maximizing the amount of space in your car.
4) PLAN TO MAKE UNEXPECTED STOPS
When planning how long it’ll take for you to get from one Point A to Point B, make sure you add in more time than necessary. You’ll make pit-stops at random towns on the side of the road and find delightful tourist traps where you least expect it.
Planning extra hours into your journey will relieve some of the stress you may feel from needing to get to your hotel or Airbnb before nightfall.
5) RESEARCH WEATHER IN OTHER STATES
When we left Florida, the autumn weather was humid and slightly more than balmy. Eight hours and one state later, the weather was windy and cold. If you’ll be driving from one climate to another, make sure you have your change of shoes or extra layers within easy reach.
6) MOST IMPORTANT: LEAVE ROOM FOR SNACKS
As a lover of snacks, I cannot stress this enough. Leave. Room. For. Snacks. Don’t be so intent on packing every corner with your belongings that you forget to leave space for snacks. Your mid-dessert cravings will thank you.
