Best Time of Year for a Long-Distance Move
Off-season interstate moves run 20 – 30% cheaper than the summer peak. The cheapest weeks to book, and the seasonal hazards to plan around.
The single biggest lever on a long-distance moving quote isn't distance or home size — it's the week you book. Off-season interstate moves (roughly September through April) run 20 – 30% cheaper than the summer peak.
Summer is expensive everywhere. School is out, leases turn over on the first of the month, and college students move — so nationwide van capacity tightens from May through August and prices climb. Close to half of all U.S. moves happen in those four months.
The cheapest slots are mid-week and mid-month. A Tuesday or Wednesday move away from the end-of-month lease rush almost always beats a Saturday-the-31st booking. Ask carriers directly which dates in your window are cheapest.
Whatever the season, book early. Lock in a binding or not-to-exceed written estimate 6 – 8 weeks out for an interstate move — longer for summer. Confirm each mover's USDOT number at fmcsa.dot.gov before you sign.
Watch the route, not just the calendar. Mountain-corridor moves — into or out of Colorado, for example — can hit winter storm closures on the passes, while Gulf and Southeast routes carry hurricane-season risk from June through November. Build a day or two of schedule slack around the known seasonal hazards on your specific corridor.