January 13, 2023 Posted in Moving Tips

What Is the Best Time of the Year to Move Across the Country?

An interstate relocation is a big undertaking. You have innumerable components to balance in order to make sure everything goes smoothly. Still, one of the most significant factors to consider when planning a move like this is timing – so what is the best time of year to move? In this blog post, we’ll answer that question by taking a look at all the key elements and exploring how they may affect the answer for each individual situation.

A girl packing for cross-country moving
Follow our tips on how to decide what season is right for your long-distance move, and prepare for success

Each season can be the best and the worst for organizing the move, depending on your needs. For example, summer moves are the best choice for many, but they also bring the highest expenses. Organizing a winter relocation, on the other hand, is more challenging but also more affordable. Fall and spring move both have their pros and cons, which depend on your specific circumstances. Still, whichever season you end up choosing, you should go with a mid-month, mid-week move since these periods bring lower demand.

What Do You Need to Consider When Choosing the Right Time to Move?

By taking the time to evaluate your needs and plan accordingly, you can make sure that your move is as smooth and stress-free as possible and brings you all the relocation benefits you’ve hoped for. Below we will outline five of the most important elements to consider when relocating out of state and determining the right time for you to move.

Availability of services

Picking a city to live in and then organizing the whole relocation process is no small feat! Whether you’re hiring movers or doing it yourself, it’s essential to know what services are available in your area – and when – before making any decisions. When you start choosing a relocation company, for example, you need to ensure they are able to offer their relocation and packing services for the period you have in mind.

Timing and budget

One of the biggest factors in choosing when to move is timing. You want to make sure that all of your plans align with your timeline so that everything goes as smoothly as possible. Additionally, consider how much money you have allocated towards your move – not all times of the year bring the same relocation expenses.

Weather conditions

If at all possible, try not to do too much moving during extreme weather conditions. Doing so could create safety hazards for both yourself and anyone helping with the move. It’s also important to be mindful of any heavy rains that may occur throughout the year – you don’t want anything getting damaged due to moisture!

School year

If you have children who are enrolled in school, it’s important that their education isn’t disrupted because of a move. At the same time, you need to consider your ability to adjust to the new environment. Don’t forget that starting classes in a new school is never easy for the young ones, but it can be especially difficult if they need to do it in the middle of a school year.

Social events and occasions

Lastly, think about any social events or family occasions coming up in the near future (such as weddings or birthdays). You don’t want these special days overshadowed by a chaotic relocation process! If you have the freedom to choose your relocation date, try not to schedule anything too close to these big events.

When Is the Best Time of Year to Move Out – Choosing the Right Season

There is no answer that fits all the different needs and wishes people who move have. All four seasons have their pros and cons when it comes to choosing a date for your big move! Your unique circumstances, relocation reasons, financial status, and preferences will ultimately determine what is the best time to move to a new city. Ultimately, it comes down to you and what you as an individual need.

With careful consideration and preparation, you can make sure that your next relocation experience is an enjoyable one! To help you out, we listed the benefits and drawbacks of each season.

Have a Stress-Free Move GET A FREE QUOTE

Relocating in the Summer or Fall

The beginning of the fall season usually brings good weather (not too hot or too cold). However, keep in mind that relocation seasons last from May to September, so planning a move to another city during this period can also be a bit costlier than what you would like. However, if you’re moving in the late fall, you would probably need to worry about rain or snow falling and complicating your relocation day preparations.

On the other hand, summer months are the peak of the relocation season, which makes them the most expensive period to move – and it’s the biggest disadvantage this season brings. At the same time, if you plan to rent an apartment, know that costs during summertime are also on the higher side – but you’ll be presented with a wider choice of apartments than in any other period. Those relocating with kids often choose to move in the summer since it’s a period when they are out of school.

Keep in mind that the summer months can bring the ideal weather for the move. However, if you plan to hire movers from Seattle to California and move to San Diego or other places that bring high summer temperatures, you need to know how to stay safe in hot weather. If you plan to move to or from some of the hottest states in the USA, take a look at the video below for some valuable tips:

Organizing a Winter or Spring Move

Demand is at its lowest during the winter. Therefore, if you’re looking for the cheapest time of the year to move, consider organizing a move in winter. However, it’s likely that a driver’s route will be impacted by cooler temperatures, deep snow, or rain during a winter month. Additionally, winter temperatures can make loading and unloading a truck challenging, especially if you’re relocating to a cold climate or from it.

Note that cold months demand additional work from your side. To avoid any injuries when relocating for both you and your movers, pour salt on your entrance the day before you move to prevent accidents. At the same time, providing additional protection to your household goods must be on your to-do list. Note that most sensitive belongings, such as electronics, need to be additionally insulated, so they don’t get damaged by the cold.

On the other hand, early spring can bring some unexpected weather conditions, as well. However, later spring months can be the best time to plan a move to a new city alone because the weather is typically more agreeable than winter and summer, and the prices are still on the lower side. However, it’s one of the worst periods to pick if you’re relocating with school-aged kids.

A girl playing with snow after long-distance moving
Winter moves can be a good choice for you, but only if you're adequately prepared

What Is the Best Month to Move?

Again, choosing the best months for organizing a move depends on your needs and preferences. If, for you, “the best” is a synonym for “most affordable” period, know that you are more likely to save money on a move from late September to April. During this period, demand for cross-country movers and rental trucks typically decreases, which results in the lower costs of getting long-distance moving services or renting a relocation vehicle.

Remember that late spring and summer account for around 70% of all moves in the States since this time of the year is usually most suitable for college students, people with families, and so on. Therefore, if you’re looking for the most convenient time, regardless of the price, then you should choose a date between May and September.

If Possible, Choose a Mid-Month Move

If you can choose the date of the move, organizing relocation at the beginning or end of the month would be a relocation mistake – those are the dates which bring the highest demand and, therefore, the highest price. Since most leases start on the first of the month, many people tend to hire a cross-country moving company around this date, so it’s the period when movers are the busiest. To avoid the costlier prices, try scheduling a move mid-month.

Packing Services

Our professional packers have methods and techniques to ensure all your items are intact during and after the move.

Learn More

Car Shipping Services

We can ship your vehicles using the best freight options available. Your car will be moved safely and securely and arrive as planned.

Learn More

Storage Services

Looking for storage space while you get settled? California-Seattle Express provides 30 days free storage with your move.

Learn More

Pick Weekdays Over the Weekends

Due to the greater demand for long-distance moving company services and the limited number of weekends in a month, relocating on a Saturday or Sunday (and Friday) may result in higher prices, especially during peak relocation season. It is advisable to plan your move between Monday and Thursday, since these days bring lower prices than the weekends, due to the lower demand.

To sum it up, if you can afford to lose a day or two of work, weekdays are a much better choice. If you’re relocating for a job, don’t forget that relocating on a weekday means you’ll have the entire weekend to unpack and organize everything before the work week comes.

A girl packing before cross-country moving
You'll be able to save up with relocating during the weekdays but also leave enough time to unpack and settle

Which Time of the Day Should You Choose?

Early birds will be happy to find out that the ideal time to move is in the morning. If you select a reputable relocation company, count on movers wanting to arrive early, ideally between the hours of eight and ten. During those warmer months, early mornings typically imply cooler weather, which is much more suitable for hard physical work such as loading.

However, It’s a good idea to begin early, even if you’re relocating by yourself. Moreover, one of the most well-known relocation day tips is to start early on the day of the move. The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll be done with all the hard work and chaos each relocation day brings – and you’ll have extra time to unpack, arrange, and enjoy your new place.

A couple packing before long-distance moving
Mornings tend to be the most productive periods of the day when it comes to relocating

Long-Distance Movers Are There to Help You Move on Whichever Date You Choose

The stress of choosing the right date for your move may be reduced by hiring movers from California to Seattle (or those that will help you move in the opposite direction). They are experienced with any type of move and are able to help you relocate efficiently and safely, no matter which period of the year you have in mind. They can also provide a variety of services that can make your move go more smoothly. All you need to do is choose a company that fits you the best – and make sure to book their services on time.

Milly Andrews

Milly is a Portland prodigy of packing and relocating! She has been on the move her whole life, and she's got the moving boxes and stories to prove it. With her vast experience in the art of relocation, she's like a human GPS, always finding the most efficient way to navigate the moving process.

Moving Quote

    Auto Quote

      Moving & Auto Quote

        We Cover

        © 2024. California-Seattle Express