It is estimated that just over 35 million people move every year in the United States. There are likely difficulties with every single one of these moves, but there are even more potential issues when moving across the country. Whether you just got a new job or are looking to escape the cold weather, you will need to plan your cross-country move meticulously.

These are the five best ways to plan a move from the East Coast to the West Coast.

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1. Take Care of Details Early

There is a long list of things that must be done every time you switch homes. It is best to get these things done as early as possible. You will need to schedule a moving company, forward your mail, and cut off the utilities.

These important details can be handled up to two months before your moving date. Getting them done and out of the way will allow you to focus on the more intricate aspects of the move.

2. Get Rid of Your Junk

It is highly likely that you have a lot of stuff in your house that does not get used. Packing and moving this stuff is a pain if you are just going down the street, and it is even more of hassle on a cross-country move.

If you have not used something within the last year or two, then it does not need to go to the new home. Donating to charity and holding a yard sale are the two best ways to get rid of your unwanted items.

3. Map Out the Route

Driving from the East Coast to the West Coast in a moving truck is going to be a time-consuming process, so it is best to map out the route before you leave. You do not want to get lost with your entire life in the back of a truck. It is also a good idea to plan your stops for gas.

There are stretches of highway in the rural parts of the country that do not have gas stations for nearly 100 miles. Knowing this information ahead of time will prevent you from running out of gas in the wrong area.

4. Reserve the Hotels

Since you will have your entire route mapped out ahead of time, it is also a good idea to reserve your hotels. You do not want to get stuck without a place to sleep because all of the hotels in the area are booked. You have to keep in mind that you will not be able to drive very fast in a full moving truck when reserving the hotels.

While a 600-mile drive is fairly easy in a car, it will be a rather long day of driving in a moving truck. Reserving a hotel roughly every 500 miles will let you make good progress without getting exhausted.

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5. Separate Your Valuables

Since things can easily get lost during a long move, you will want to keep your most valuable items with you at all times. This includes birth certificates, social security cards, checks, jewelry and anything else with value.

Separate these valuables and place them in their own container before starting the move. Keep this container in the front of the moving truck and take it with you every time you leave the truck.