Has anyone moved cross-country (USA)?

Question

I just found out 3 days ago that my boyfriend, 3 cats and I are moving to Las Vegas from NJ. Does anyone have any HELPFUL advice/tips/ideas they've learned from their experience of moving across the country?

As it stands right now, we are renting a truck and doing the move ourselves - while towing one car and driving the other car (with the cats) out there. I know it's going to be difficult, so any advice based on experience would be helpful!

Thanks!

Answer 1

There are several practical things you can do to make the trip easier. The first thing is to make sure that you have some sort of communication device in each vehicle, so that you can talk back and forth. Each of you should carry a cell phone, but you should also get a set of walkie talkies. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=cat06017&type=category

There are going to be areas that do not have cell service. You want to be able to coordinate stops (fuel, restrooms, food, and vehicle problems). It also helps to have the car being able to "break traffic" so that the truck can change lanes easier!

Plan your trip and make reservations for motels. Make sure that the motel allows pets (most likely there will be an extra charge) and has truck parking.

A GPS navigation system will be very helpful. You are looking at around a 2500 mile trip, and there will most lilely be wrong turns made! you can also program in the address of the motels and it will take you right there!

Try to stop early enough to get a good nights rest each evening. If you are not used to driving long distances, you may find that you are very tired after doing so. If the driver of the truck is not used to driving trucks with trailers, they will find it is a lot like work to drive.

Stop every couple of hours and walk around a bit. It will help keep you awake. Pick your route based on the weather. You do not want to be taking the northern route if there is going to be snow.

Have the car serviced prior to the trip. Make sure that it is safe. Carry glass cleaner, because you will have to clean your windshield several times on the trip!

One hint, stop in Cambridge OH and fill up your vehicles. Fuel is less expensive there than anywhere I found between St Louis and DC. Coming from NJ you may find one thing different. Most gas stations are self serve, where you pump your own fuel! NJ is the only state where full serve is required by law

Answer 2

Allow lots of time at least one week do not tow cars with the wheels turning you will not be able to back up and many cars cannot be flat towed. More expence trailer rental to put car on. Keep leashes on the cats at all times even in there boxes do not let them wander about the car. Open the door and off like a shot! Humans cannot run that fast after driving all day. Bye Bye fluffy in Nebraska truck stop. Sell everything you can replace with better when you get there. Lighten up as much as you can and take the southern most route Highways 30 20 and 10. Rental Trucks with trailers & Mountain Passes covered in snow are not for novice truck drivers.

Answer 3

My suggestion would be to go down 81 to Knoxville and head west on I40. Be careful in Tenn, lots of troopers used to hang out in the median.

I think the drive is prettier than I10. Of course, if you don't get moving soon, then go as far south as possible.

Try to plan on 5 days, minimum. I made it from Los Angeles to NC in 4 days. I left very early, and stopped fairly early, around 4pm to enjoy the hotel pools. I even stopped at the great meteor crater in AZ.

Look for hotels at Travelocity.com or choicehotels.com

If you get a truck that has a door to the rear, you could build a little room for your cats before you pack things up. Just make sure you seal it up, or they'll crawl all over the place. You could always leave 'em in the towed car.

Good luck and have fun!!!!

Answer 4

We moved cross-country (from CA to MO) last year with two cats. We kept them in the carrier during the day & only let them out once we were in our motel room for the night. We put a towel into the carrier in case they had an accident, but they never did... they just slept all day. Those disposable cat boxes that you can get at PetSmart or wherever made things a lot easier! We opened a new one each night & tossed it in the morning when we hit the road again. AS SOON AS you get into the motel room, put out food, clean water, and the cat box, but don't be surprised if they stay in the carrier for a bit... they will likely be a bit timid for a while. The carrier represents safety for them. Soon they will come out & explore. Don't plan marathon driving days, either -- we only drove about six or seven hours a day. We were driving with kids, too, so we had to consider them... but I don't think the cats would have been happy with driving twelve hours, either. Take an extra day or two if you can. Good luck with your move!

Answer 5

planning, planning,planning....you will not know many people and will need to just stay together with everything. do not try to handle everything alone or all at once. Do alot of stuff together...Be prepared for how much different the people are from what you are used to...and in some regards the same... it will be a cultural shock if you have never lived anywhere else...

Answer 6

Cyborg is so right...thorough planning is essential for any move and especially cross-country. I've done it with cats...and kids...and it's not easy but it isn't impossible by far. (Husband is retired military.)

Before you leave, have your kitties checked by their vets and make sure shots are up-to-date and hand carry your records on them with you. The city you go to may require proof of shots for licensing. Also it helps when you look for pet friendly hotels to stay in. Part of your planning can include a research of hotels along the route you take (along approximate points you and your b/f decide is maximum time/mileage traveled for one day). It's easy enough to find out pet friendly places since most hotels are corporate owned and are on the internet (you could also make your reservations for the night ahead of time if you wished.)

Also for kitties, start right now if you haven't already, taking them for short rides in the car to get them use to traveling. This will also identify which if any get car sick and you can let your vet know and he/she can advise you on this. Take plenty of water and stop often to offer them water and boxtime. It's also good for you and your b/f...helps you fight road fatigue. Don't be alarmed though if kitties don't go until you stop for the night. I had one that did that and the vet said she was all right. If you haven't done so already, consider having them chipped just in case the "horrible" happens and one gets away from you. Be sure to have a soft comfortable and familar towel or blanket in their pet carrier so they will feel secure. When you stop for the night, give them lots of love and attention...this will also be good for you and your b/f...you know very well how relaxing it is to play/pet your cats.

You and your b/f might wish to do some simple stretching exercises when you take rest stops. Also if you both have cell phones, don't forget the car charger!!! You want to keep it charged so you can communicate if something happens to one or the other vehicle and you need to make an unscheduled stop. Also keep water in a small cooler for each of you. (Don't forget your fave munchies either...must have a bit of comfort food along the way.) If you feel your attention drift or find yourself tiring...take a rest stop!!! Use caution and safety to ensure your safe journey and arrival.

Create an itenerary and leave copies with family (email if family is out of state) and friends. Make sure you contact any parties you say you'll call from your overnight stops. Peace of mind for all makes for a less stressful trip.

Pack a "light bag" and keep it where you can easily reach it w/o having to move things around. Fast in and out of car to hotel and back makes for more rest time and faster departure time. Also, make yourselves some "care kits" for inside the car. This may include travel size bottle of mouthwash, toothbrush/toothpaste, bandaids for boo-boos, nail clippers/nail file, handiwipes for quick touchups/clean hands (if you don't wish to use the bottle of hand sanitizer), a roll of toilet paper (for those rest stops that are always out), box of tissue, some plastic grocery bags for trash and any medications you may be taking. (Your choice of pain reliever is always good to have on hand.)

Keep your valuable papers together and where you can easily find them if you need them. This may include birth certificates, vet records, insurance papers, etc. This doesn't have to be kept in the car, just so long as you can find and retrieve them quickly if necessary.

Study your route a bit before you leave. See what if any tourist stops may be listed and consider making this a part of yoru rest stops. Consider adding just a bit of "local color" to your trip and make some good memories along the way and enjoy what your locale has to offer travelers.

If you can get a city map before you go, study it. If you already know the area you are going to be living in (if you're super lucky and have an addy already is even better) do a Yahoo! map search and find out what is around you. Shopping centers, grocers, where banks, hospitals, utilities are at, are all good things to know ahead of time. Also knowing if a hospital or shopping center is near the area you are going, gives you a point of reference to let you know you're on the right tract.

When you arrive...REST!!! Get the kitties settled in first. Then you and your b/f can worry about unpacking and getting boxes out of the way. So your house/apt is messy for a bit...big deal. You've made a long trip. Give yourself a chance to rest and do just a little at a time. It'll all come together soon enough.

Once settled in a bit, get out and EXPLORE! Drive around a few blocks from your home and see what is there. Find all the grocery stores, shopping, medical offices, post office, etc that are nearest you. Then as you get your bearings, it'll be like you've lived there forever.

And be sure before you leave to go to your local post office and get a "moving kit" so you can have your mail forwarded to you once you get your new address.

There is so much more I could tell you but these suggestions are enough to get your thoughts going. Now you just need to sit down with your pad and pen and start making your lists. Remember what Cyborg said .."Planning, planning, planning....."

Good luck to you all and may you and yours have a safe and enjoyable journey.