Start about 30 to 45 days before your move date, get a binding flat-rate quote from a mover that holds its own federal authority, and keep a list of what goes on the truck. Everything else on this page follows from those three things.
A cross-country move is not a bigger version of a local one. Your things ride on an 18-wheeler for days, the price is set by distance and weight, and the dates are a window, not an appointment. Here is the order we’d do it in.
Step 1: Pick a date range, not a single day
In moves customers booked with us, June is the busiest month at about 14% of the year’s moves, February the quietest at about 5%, about 29% of moves land in the last week of the month, and summer moves cost about 19.5% more than off-season moves. The typical customer books 34 days ahead. Our guidance is 30 to 45 days if you’re selling a home, 3 to 4 weeks if you rent, and more notice for June or month-end dates. The 8th through the 20th is usually easiest.
Source: timing figures are based on moves customers booked with us, 2020–2026. The booking ranges are company guidance, not statistics.
Step 2: Set a realistic budget
Nationally, a typical interstate move we priced cost $4,175 for a studio or 1-bedroom, $4,981 for 2 bedrooms, $7,520 for 3 bedrooms and $12,500 for 4 or more bedrooms.
| Home size | Typical price (national) | Usual range |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $4,175 | $3,650 – $4,950 |
| 2 bedrooms | $4,981 | $4,415 – $5,797 |
| 3 bedrooms | $7,520 | $6,605 – $8,930 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $12,500 | $10,395 – $15,735 |
Source: based on interstate moves we priced from January to mid-July 2026. These are national figures for all interstate routes, not a price for this route alone. A typical price means half of the moves we priced came in lower and half came in higher.
Your own price depends on distance, how much you’re moving, access at both ends and your date. For a fuller breakdown, see how much movers cost in 2026.
Step 3: Find out who is actually moving you
Some companies that sell moves are brokers: they take your booking and hand the job to another company. Others are carriers that own the trucks and crews. Neither is automatically bad, but you should know which one you’re dealing with before you pay a deposit. Read moving broker vs carrier, and look up the company’s federal record using this guide.
Step 4: Do a video walkthrough and get a binding quote
Every Safeway quote is a flat-rate, binding price set after a video walkthrough: if your inventory doesn’t change, your price doesn’t change, and anything added later is priced on its own. Here’s the difference between binding and non-binding estimates.
Walk the camera through every room, including closets, the garage and anything in storage. Whatever isn’t shown can change the price later.
Step 5: Cut what you won’t use
On a long-distance move you pay for what goes on the truck. Sell, donate or toss the things you’d replace for less than it costs to move them, and do it before the video walkthrough so your quote reflects the smaller load.
Step 6: Plan for the truck, the window and the access
Most long-distance moves share a truck with other households, so delivery arrives in a window. A truck just for you, with a delivery date you choose, typically adds $1,500–$4,500 depending on distance and destination. If your delivery date is fixed by a lease or closing, ask about it early.
Long-distance trucks are 18-wheelers about 70 feet long and more than 13 feet tall, so a smaller shuttle truck is sometimes needed to reach a narrow street or tight complex. Check your address with our shuttle checker and read when a moving truck needs a shuttle.
Step 7: The last two weeks
- Confirm the details in writing: pickup window, delivery window, crew size and what the price covers.
- Keep essentials with you: medications, documents, chargers, a few days of clothes.
- Photograph high-value items before they’re packed.
- Update your address with your bank, employer and the DMV in your new state. Each state sets its own deadlines, so check the new state’s rules.
Step 8: Delivery day
Check each item off against the inventory as it comes off the truck, and note any damage on the paperwork before the crew leaves. If something is damaged, read what a claim actually looks like before you sign off.
If your dates don’t line up, storage can bridge the gap; here’s how storage in transit works. If you’re still comparing options, our movers vs PODS vs U-Haul guide lays out the trade-offs.
Mistakes we see people make on long moves
- Booking on the lowest number. A quote far below the others usually has something missing. Compare what each quote covers, not just the total.
- Hiding things from the video walkthrough. The garage, attic and storage unit still count on a long-distance move. Anything not shown is priced later.
- Waiting for a single pickup day. Pickup and delivery both run in windows. Keep your last few days flexible, and keep a bag with essentials.
- Packing the things you need first at the bottom. Set aside a first-night box with chargers, toiletries, bedding and basic kitchen items so you aren’t hunting through boxes on day one.
- Skipping the delivery-day inspection. Check items off the inventory as they come off the truck, and note anything damaged before the crew leaves.
A little preparation removes most of the stress. Weight and access decide the price, and your inventory and your date decide the rest.
Get a flat-rate price for your move
Browse our interstate moving routes to see typical distances and timing for your corridor. Use our moving cost calculator for a first number, then call us at (844) 569-4550 for a binding flat-rate quote after a video walkthrough. Before you hire anyone, check who is actually doing the move: we hold our own federal authority (USDOT 3756000, MC 1335229), and this guide shows how to read a DOT record.
Frequently Asked Questions
We suggest 30 to 45 days if you’re selling a home and 3 to 4 weeks if you rent, with more notice for June or month-end dates. In moves customers booked with us, the typical customer books 34 days ahead.
Pick a date range, then get a binding flat-rate quote from a mover after a video walkthrough. That fixes your budget before you spend anything else.
Nationally, a typical interstate move we priced from January to mid-July 2026 cost $4,175 for a studio or 1-bedroom, $4,981 for 2 bedrooms, $7,520 for 3 bedrooms and $12,500 for 4 or more bedrooms. Your price depends on distance, inventory, access and date.
It depends on your time, your inventory and your budget. Rental rates are only the start, with fuel, mileage fees, equipment and your own time on top. Our moving cost calculator shows the rent-it-yourself total next to what movers cost.
Methodology: National prices come from interstate moves Safeway priced from January to mid-July 2026 (quote data). Timing figures come from moves customers booked with Safeway Moving, 2020–2026 (booked data); the booking ranges are company guidance, not statistics. Nothing here is a price for one specific route; your exact price is a flat, binding rate after a video walkthrough. We publish shares and typical figures only; we don’t publish counts.
