Moving From California to New York

Your Essential Road Trip Checklist

  Have you decided to drive across the country from California to New York? Whether your meeting the moving truck that’s delivering your belongings, doing a DIY move, or moving a small load in your car, here’s an essential checklist for your road trip when making the move from California to New York

 How long is a road trip from California to New York?

 California to New York is approximately 2900 miles in distance. That’s around 43 hours of driving. 43 hours does not include rest stops, gas stops, food breaks, and overnight stops.

What freeway goes from California to New York?

 If you want the fastest route from California to New York, the I-80 is an east to west freeway. Whether you’re moving from Los Angeles to New York or moving from San Francisco to New York, the I-80 is the quickest route and is approximately 2900 miles.

Plan your route

 Whether you decide on the fastest, or the scenic route to New York, plan your journey ahead of time, especially if you’re travelling with children. Know where you’ll be sleeping for the night and if necessary book ahead of time. Plan how many hours a day you’ll be driving and if you plan to stop at any of Americas natural wonders, and make sure there open during your road trip.

Prepare downloads

 If you’re uncertain whether you’ll have Internet connection at any point during the road trip, it’s a good idea to download a map of your route. If anyone in the car will be using media during the journey, download favorite movies, podcasts or music before setting off.

 What should I pack for a road trip across America?

 Whether you’ll be on the road for a few days, driving directly to New York, or taking advantage of the opportunity to drive across America and experience some of the incredible sites, make sure you have everything packed for the ultimate road trip between California and New York.

 Car

 Moving from California to New York is a long journey; you’ll want to make sure your car is serviced prior to embarking on this adventure. Once you’re ready to pack the car, organize a space for all the essential items that need to be easily accessible.

•  Keys
• License and registration
• Insurance
• Map
• Flashlight
• Spare tire
• Jumper cables
• Jerry can
• Car manual
• Face masks
• Hand sanitizer
• Trash bags
• Cooler

Personal items

 A lot of the items listed are things that are needed on a daily basis, with the exception of a few. When packing clothing for the road trip, be prepared for the change in weather conditions between states. Depending on the time of year you’ll be making the move from California to New York will dictate what clothing you pack, however be aware of the drop in temperature at night in some states, especially on the open road. 

• Clothing
• Rain jackets
• Hats
• Sunglasses
• Toiletries
• Medications
• Sunscreen
• Laptop
• Phone
• Chargers
• First aid kit
• Credit cards
• Cash
• Passports
• Important documentation

Children and babies

 If young children and babies will also be journeying across America in the car, make sure to have all their individual essentials packed and on hand.

• Car seats
• UV window shades
• Blankets
• Diapers or pull-ups
• Wipes
• Toiletries
• Clothing (be prepared for different weather conditions)
• Travel crib
• Pacifiers
• Bottles/Sippy cup
• Toys
• Favorite stuffed toy
• Ipad and charger

Food and refreshments

Depending on the length of time you’ll be on the road will determine the amount of food and snacks to be packed. Perishable foods have a short lifespan, therefore not recommended for a long road trip. If you do pack perishables, these would be best eaten first. And remember, from California to New York there will be plenty of places to pick up some snacks.

• Beef jerky
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Carrots, bell peppers, avocado
• Apples
• Nuts and seeds
• Dried fruit
• Protein bars
• Canned tuna
• Crackers
• Chips (alternatives - coconut chips or vegetable chips)
• Dark chocolate
• Bottled water

Download checklists

There are some great apps available such as Moving checklist and Fantastical to assist you with keeping track of your checklist. Do a search to see what suits your needs. Some are free and can be downloaded to a smartphone, so you’ll have it on hand at all times. Recommended reading How Long Will It Take For My Items To Be Delivered Moving During Extreme Weather Conditions Best Moving Apps