Long Distance Moving Cost
by Season

The 2026 moving cost cycle

Interstate moving demand is sharply seasonal. Roughly 60% of all moves happen between May 1 and September 30. The other 40% is spread across the remaining seven months. Carriers price accordingly: peak-month rates run 25–35% above the off-season baseline, and within any month the timing of the actual pickup day can swing the total by another 10–15%.

The single biggest mistake long distance movers make is treating "summer" as one bucket. A June 4 pickup (early peak, before school ends) costs noticeably less than a June 28 pickup (peak-peak, end of June lease cycle). Likewise, a December 18 pickup costs more than a December 8 pickup because of holiday demand and short carrier schedules. The details matter.

Monthly demand and price multipliers — 2026

The table below shows demand level and the seasonal multiplier applied to baseline interstate moving rates. Multipliers are relative to October (1.00x baseline). The same shipment that costs $5,000 in October costs roughly $6,500 in July and $4,250 in December.

Why summer is so expensive

Three forces concentrate demand into a 90-day window between Memorial Day and Labor Day:

1. School calendar. Families with kids almost universally move between the last day of one school year and the first day of the next. That's roughly June 5 to August 25 in most US districts. Roughly 35% of all interstate moves happen in this window.

2. Military PCS (Permanent Change of Station). The Department of Defense runs roughly 400,000 PCS moves per year and the majority are timed to June–August for family stability and school transitions. Military moves dominate certain corridors (Norfolk, San Diego, Tacoma, San Antonio, Colorado Springs) and tighten carrier capacity even on non-military routes.

3. Lease turnover. Most US apartment leases end on the last day of the month and start on the first. June 30/July 1 and August 31/September 1 are the two highest-pickup days of the entire year. Carriers know this and price accordingly.

The combined effect: in late June through mid-August, demand for interstate trucks runs 2.5–3x off-season levels. Per-pound rates rise 25–30%, lead times stretch, and last-minute availability evaporates.

Week-of-month dynamics

Within any given month, pickup-day timing drives a 10–15% swing in price. The pattern is consistent across all 12 months:

If your schedule has any flexibility, target a pickup between the 10th and the 22nd of the month. That single choice often saves more than any other timing decision short of switching months entirely.

Day-of-week dynamics

Day-of-week swings are smaller than week-of-month, but they're real:

• Tuesday: Cheapest. Baseline -3 to -5%.
• Wednesday: Cheap. Baseline -2 to -4%.
• Thursday: Cheap. Baseline.
• Monday: Slightly higher. +2 to +4%.
• Friday: Higher. +5 to +8%.
• Saturday: Most expensive. +8 to +10%.
• Sunday: Higher. +5 to +8%. Some carriers don't run Sunday pickups at all.

A Tuesday mid-month pickup in October is the single cheapest delivery slot a long distance mover offers. A Saturday end-of-month pickup in July is the single most expensive.

Best time to move — by goal

Different priorities, different optimal months. Pick the one that fits your situation:

Cheapest possible move: Second or third week of January, Tuesday or Wednesday, mid-month (the 10th through the 22nd). Lowest demand, lowest per-pound rate, maximum truck capacity available. Save 25–35% versus peak summer. Trade-off: northern routes carry weather risk; build in 48–72 hours of schedule buffer.

Fastest move (shortest transit time): Mid-October through mid-November. Carrier crews are not at capacity, trucks aren't deadheading back from peak-season routes, and delivery windows tighten to 3–7 days instead of the 7–14 day windows common in peak season.

Best weather along the route: First three weeks of April or first three weeks of October. Mild temperatures across most of the country, low precipitation, low risk of hurricanes, low risk of snow. These are the two ideal months for cross-country moves where you're driving alongside the truck.

Best for retirees: Mid-September through October. After family/school demand drops off, before holiday season starts. Pricing is at or below baseline, carriers are willing to take longer delivery windows for storage-in-transit if needed (helpful for retirees timing a downsize), and weather is mild across most of the US.

Best for families with school-age kids: June 5–25 if you must move in summer. This window captures the start of summer break and avoids the peak-of-peak July rush. Booking 8–10 weeks ahead is essential. If you have any flexibility, late August (after the 22nd) is dramatically cheaper than late July and still gives kids two weeks to settle before school.

Best for military PCS: Work with your TMO and use PPM if your timeline is flexible. Aim for early June (before the 12th) or after August 20. These windows have noticeably more carrier capacity than mid-June through early August.

Weather risks by region

Weather doesn't just delay moves — in some regions it determines pricing and carrier willingness to book. Plan around these:

Florida and the Gulf Coast — Hurricane season June 1–November 30. Peak storm activity is August through early October. Carriers will not refuse Florida moves during this window, but contracts include force-majeure clauses for active named storms. If a storm is on track to your origin or destination within 72 hours of pickup, expect rescheduling. Most Florida-bound moves happen successfully in summer, but build 7+ days of schedule buffer between pickup and required move-in date.

Northeast (NY, NJ, PA, MA, CT) — Winter weather January–February. Nor'easters and ice storms cause 24–72 hour delays. Long-haul carriers continue to operate, but local pickup crews may delay loading. December moves in the Northeast typically need a 48-hour weather buffer.

Texas and the Southwest — Extreme heat May–September. Temperatures over 100°F create real challenges for crew productivity and for heat-sensitive goods (candles, electronics, certain wood furniture). Most Texas-bound moves are completed normally, but crews work shorter days and load times can stretch.

Midwest (IL, IN, OH, MO, KS) — Tornado season April–May. Severe weather typically causes same-day delays, rarely multi-day. Long-haul corridors through tornado alley occasionally reroute, adding 1–2 days transit time.

Pacific Northwest (WA, OR) — Wildfire smoke June–October. Crews may delay pickup for air quality reasons in heavy smoke days. Rarely affects long-haul transit.

Mountain West (CO, UT, ID, MT, WY) — Snow October–April. Mountain passes (I-70 through Colorado, I-80 across Wyoming, I-15 through Idaho) can close for hours or full days in heavy storms. Build 48-hour delivery buffer for any cross-mountain move November through March.

Last-minute moves: 15–30% premium

Booking a long distance move with less than 7 days lead time typically costs 15–30% more than the standard quote — even in off-season. The reasons: fewer carriers can take last-minute loads, the carriers that can are typically picking up a partial trailer that needs to be filled (paying premium to do it), and the dispatcher knows you have no negotiating leverage.

If you must book last-minute, three rules: (1) get 3 quotes anyway — the spread on last-minute quotes is even wider than usual, (2) verify FMCSA licensing on every quote (last-minute is when scam brokers thrive), and (3) read the contract carefully — last-minute contracts often have higher cancellation penalties and faster payment terms.

Holiday-week premiums

Specific holiday weeks carry larger-than-baseline premiums regardless of underlying month:

• Memorial Day weekend (last weekend of May): +15–20% over mid-May baseline. Triggers peak season pricing for the following 14 weeks.
• Independence Day week (July 1–7): +10–15%. Both the holiday week and the surrounding lease-turnover days are at peak.
• Labor Day weekend (first weekend of September): +10–15%. Marks the last peak-season weekend.
• Thanksgiving week (last week of November): +8–12%. Most carriers don't pick up on Thanksgiving day or the following Friday.
• Christmas/New Year week (Dec 22 – Jan 2): +10–15%. Reduced crew availability, tight carrier schedules. Otherwise cheap month.

Use the calculator for your exact month and route

Our moving cost calculator applies the monthly multipliers from this page automatically. Pick your route, home size, and target month — see the 2026 cost range in 5 seconds. For a binding quote, call (833) 555-8699.

Popular routes — see seasonal pricing in context

Each route page shows the typical price ranges for that specific corridor by season:

• New York to Miami — hurricane season planning
• New York to Tampa — winter snowbird corridor
• Los Angeles to Austin — heat-season pricing
• Chicago to Houston — winter-to-warmth pricing
• Boston to Tampa — retiree-friendly Sept–Oct window
• San Francisco to Nashville — cross-country shoulder pricing

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