How to Move Across the Country for College

Going to a cross-country college

The acceptance letter from the university of your dreams is in hand, and you can relax for a little while. But as move-in day approaches, nervousness might set in again. How will you move all your stuff to a college across the country?

That’s where U-Pack® comes in. With over 25 years of experience in long-distance moving, we’re experts at handling moves for students.

Check out these tips for moving to a college across the country so you can relax and focus on making memories!

5 tips for moving to college out of state

Here’s what you should do to get ready for the move:

1. Verify move-in details

Confirm the move-in date and any rules or restrictions for parking vehicles or moving equipment. Reach out to the campus housing office with any questions or concerns.

Be aware of what is prohibited in student housing, like candles, toaster ovens or air fryers.

Ask if student groups will be available to help unload things on campus.

2. Choose a moving service

When going to a university close to home, loading the car and hitting the road is a valid option. But moving everything in a personal vehicle isn’t always a practical solution when going to another state.

Here are some common ways students may choose to move belongings to campus:

Moving company

Hiring a self-moving service like U-Pack is often the best choice for moving stuff across the country for college. With U-Pack, there’s no need to drive an unfamiliar rental truck or wait for multiple boxes to arrive.

Whether you’ll be living in a dorm or an apartment, U-Pack’s ReloCube® containers are perfect for small college moves. Each weather-resistant metal Cube holds up to a room’s worth of belongings. It fits into a regular parking space and has easy ground-level loading and unloading.

An experienced driver will pick up the container and drive it to campus. You can also load or unload the Cube at a local service center for added savings.

Pro tip: Book moves early since summer is a busy season!

Rental truck

Driving a rental truck cross country can be expensive since you’ll have to pay for fuel along the way.

The smallest rental trucks are often larger than what’s needed for dorm life, so you’ll likely pay for unused space. After moving in, you still have to return the truck, which can be a hassle when you want to focus on setting up your new room.

Shipping services

Sending belongings to a university with a parcel service can be tricky because some dorms don't accept package deliveries. If your packages go to an on-campus post office, it could be far from your housing. Carrying everything to your room might be difficult.

This option can also be costly with the weight and dimensions of the packages.

3. Make personal travel arrangements

Moving stuff is only half the journey; you still have to get to campus. Book the tickets early if traveling by air, bus or train, since back-to-school season can be busy. Don’t miss out on the best fares and schedule!

If you’re planning a road trip to the university, map out pit stops in advance to save time.

4. Prepare your things

Dorm rooms and student apartments are typically small. Discuss with your roommates what each person is bringing to avoid duplicating items that can be shared. For example, if your dorm has no microwave or mini-fridge, each roommate can bring one appliance.

Pro tip: Check out the university’s housing website for room dimensions and furnishings so you can plan what to pack!

What to bring

While gathering your things for college, only pack what’s needed until winter break. Make sure to leave out anything that isn’t allowed on campus. It’s best to avoid taking too many decorative items since you probably won’t have room for them.

Account for any changes in climate from your hometown to the college town. Grab a winter coat if you’re moving from Southern Florida to the northern states or the New England area!

If possible, wait until you reach campus to purchase supplies like body wash, bottled water and laundry detergent. These things are heavy and will take up space you might need for other items.

How to pack for college

While packing, think about storage solutions for the new room. If you plan to store shoes in a container under the bed, placing them in the storage tub for the move makes sense. Any baskets you’ll use to organize things in the dorm can hold stuff during the move. Tape the lids closed for the trip or cover open baskets with plastic stretch wrap to protect everything inside!

Consider packing bedding and pillows in vacuum-sealed bags to reduce space. Load other lightweight belongings into a collapsible laundry hamper that can help carry stuff and be functional in the room. Check out more ways to safely pack things for a move.

Strategic loading

Think about what you'll need on campus first. This could include tools for stacking furniture or fans to keep cool. Then, make sure to load these items last in the moving equipment to access them first after arriving on campus. Efficient loading can make any size move easier.

5. Plan for storage or moving during breaks

Once the school year ends, you’ll need a plan for storing belongings or moving them back home for the summer.

Check with the housing office about on-campus storage or contact a local storage facility for an off-campus solution (some might offer student discounts).

Some students take unneeded belongings home with them on shorter visits. During Thanksgiving or winter breaks, drop off summer clothes at home. During spring break, swap out cold-weather clothes for lighter ones. Doing this could leave you with less to pack when the school year ends.

To transport things home, U-Pack can help! Just reserve a ReloCube as early as possible to ensure availability.

Suggested reading: Everything you need to know about college move-in day.

Let U-Pack help you move across country for college

Get a quote online or call 844-362-5303844-594-3077 to speak to one of our moving consultants. We make cross-country student moves easy and affordable.