There’s a lot of planning involved in moving. With so much planning involved, it’s easy to overlook planning your actual moving route.

Whether you’re moving across the city or across the state, pre-planning your route seems pretty straightforward. Just type the locations into Google Maps, then take note of the directions, right?

There’s actually a little more involved in pre-planning your moving route than just Google Maps. Here’s what you need to know about pre-planning your route:

Why You Need to Pre Plan Your Moving Route

You should pre-plan your route whether you’re moving to a new state or just moving across town. You may be driving a large moving truck, in which case you might not be allowed on certain streets, or may not be safe on certain dangerous highways.

There may also be certain hazards and risks along the way. Maybe Google Maps tells you to drive over a snowy mountain pass, for example, instead of taking 15 minutes longer to take a route that avoids the mountains.

That’s why you need to pre-plan your move: moving is stressful enough. When you encounter unexpected problems on the road, moving becomes instantly more stressful.

Step 1) Use a Route Planner like Google Maps

Google Maps (or your chosen route planner) should be the first place you start planning your move. Type in Point A, then type in Point B, and look at the available routes between your destinations.

You don’t have to pick a route now. Keep all those routes in mind as you go to step 2 and step 3.

Step 2) Decide How Much Time You Want to Spend Driving Every Day

If you’re moving to a new state, then you might be facing a multi-day move. Do you want to do your entire 15-hour drive in one day? Or do you want to split it into 2 shorter days?

If you’re breaking up your drive, identify cities and towns along the way where you might like to stop. You’re probably not going to have time to sightsee, but staying in a scenic city is never a bad idea. You can enjoy a nice evening and dinner to take your mind off the move, then get ready for the next day.

When deciding where to stay overnight, hotel safety is one of the most important considerations. Some hotels have underground parking garages, but your moving truck might not be able to fit inside those garages. Does the hotel have a secure parking lot? It is patrolled? Located in a good part of town?

Paying $60 for a cheap motel quickly turns into a bad idea if your tens of thousands of dollars worth of possessions get stolen. Consider spending a little extra money on a nicer hotel as an investment.

Step 3) Identify Any Potential Hazards or Problems Along the Way

Whether you’re moving across town or to a new state, your route may have some hazards along the way. Check your route and look for any of the following potential problems:

  • Low hanging overpasses
  • Special truck routes
  • Any special events in towns (or your city) along the way that may close a route
  • High mountain passes or other potential environmental hazards

Step 4) Make a Backup Plan

What if there’s a big accident on your route on moving day? What if there’s a storm or flooding?

That’s why you make a backup plan. Plan this backup route the same way you planned your initial route, looking for hazards and identifying any potential problems along the way.

Avoid All This Hassle By Working with Professional Alabama Movers

Want to avoid all of this hassle? Work with professional Alabama movers who will completely plan your moving route for you. Professional moving companies typically have pre-chosen routes they know to be the safest and most efficient ways to get from point A to point B. Rely on their expertise to make your move stress-free. Find your location below to get in touch now!

Huntsville & North Alabama

Birmingham & Tuscaloosa

Opelika & Montgomery

Pensacola & Mobile

West Georgia

Photo by Stephen Monroe on Unsplash