Need cross country move advice please! (hotels, bridge, cross-country, best)

[Roanoke Bound]

Hello Wanderlusts!

First off, thank you for reading this and helping if you can! I really appreciate your time. Also a thank you shout out to ersatz for suggesting that I post questions here.

My family and I are moving from Sacramento, CA to the Roanoke, VA area soon and are looking for some cross-country moving advice.

MOVING METHOD: We currently have a 2,500 sq. ft., 4-bedroom house with lots of stuff stored in the garage. We plan on using the U-Pack company to get everything out there.

We are looking at homes now but won't move until we close. We're hoping that will be in late October but it could stretch into the spring. Fingers crossed that it will be sooner because we really want to get out there!

TRAVEL: We have two Volvo wagons to accommodate my husband and I, three kids, three dogs, and one cat (oh my!). We are torn between making the trip comfortable but fast or, taking a little more time to show the kids the country. My husband travels for a living so he has thousands of points we can use to stay in hotels along the way for free. We have a certified service animal so that covers the animals with a little bit of care.

We can go I-80 which takes us straight to Roanoke. If we drove 80 at 8 hours a day we figure it will take us about 5 days to get there. It would go through Salt Lake, up over CO via lower WY, through NE, MO, IL, KY, WV, then VA.

Alternatively, if we drive south in CA to travel on 10 or 40, it will take longer but is a little bit more scenic (as far as I know). I wouldn't want to do I-10 but considering I-40 so the kids can see the Grand Canyon and we have friends in St. Louis we would like to see so they'll see the Arch. Wherever we stop, it won't be for terribly long.

Do y'all have any suggestions for routes? Particularly if we go the I-40 route when we get to the TN/KY lines? If we wind up traveling in winter, we could skip the Rockies -- again on 80.

Have any of you guys travelled that far with a big crew? I think it will be nuts but we're choosing to look at it as an adventure.

If we could choose, what is the best month to move? (We were thinking October to miss the winter snow).

Traveling advice? Moving tips and advice?

Thanks in advance!

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by Roanoke Bound

Traveling advice? Moving tips and advice?

Cross one bridge at a time, don't confuse moving across country with traveling across,
... and don't plan to actually enjoy either by road once the cold/snow seasons begin.

[Stagemomma]

How old are your kids? Old enough to appreciate the scenery? Too young to tolerate 8 hours in the car for 5 straight days?

I'd do the sight seeing if it was me.

there is a website called Roadtrippers that might help plan a route.

As for your 2,500sf of stuff? PURGE!
I used ABF U-Pack and was very satisfied with the price.

[WellShoneMoon]

FYI: C-D has a General Moving Issues forum that you might find helpful: //www.city-data.com/forum/general-moving-issues/

[Roanoke Bound]

Originally Posted by Stagemomma

How old are your kids? Old enough to appreciate the scenery? Too young to tolerate 8 hours in the car for 5 straight days?

I'd do the sight seeing if it was me.

there is a website called Roadtrippers that might help plan a route.


As for your 2,500sf of stuff? PURGE!
I used ABF U-Pack and was very satisfied with the price.

Awesome! Thanks for that, Stagemomma.

We will definitely purge. I usually do it every three months but we are behind this year.

Oldest child is a 23 year old Autistic daughter and then two boys, 13 and 10.

Will check out Roadtrippers. Thanks!

[Roanoke Bound]

Originally Posted by MrRational

Cross one bridge at a time, don't confuse moving across country with traveling across,
... and don't plan to actually enjoy either by road once the cold/snow seasons begin.

Nor totally understand you. Can you clarify? Our home is being moved my movers so we'll just be driving our families. :-)

Thanks!