Many people move during the holidays, but holiday moving does come with challenges. We’ll go over the basics of moving during spring, summer, fall, and winter holidays. By the end, you’ll know about traffic patterns, price fluctuations, and other quirks of holiday moves.
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Moving During Spring Holidays
Spring holidays include Mother’s Day, Easter, Saint Patrick’s Day, and more. The most widely observed spring holiday is Memorial Day, which takes place on the last Monday of May.
Spring holidays are a good time to move. One benefit of spring moving is the weather: you don’t need to worry about driving in winter storms, and the mild temperatures are great for physical exertion. In addition, the spring is the best time to sell a house quickly. Peak moving season is in the summer, so in the spring, you’ll have more availability from local moving companies, as well as less competition when finding rentals.
Still, be aware that Memorial Day is one of the top travel days in the United States, which can lead to road traffic and increase train and plane ticket prices. If you need to move by car during Memorial Day, leave early, and expect traffic to add to your travel time. For other spring holidays, like Saint Patrick’s Day, you don’t need to worry as much about road traffic.
Moving During Summer Holidays
Summer has plenty of holidays, including Independence Day, Juneteenth, and Father’s Day. Summer is also peak moving season—especially if you’re moving with kids, who are out of school during this time. With so many people moving in the summer, expect to face increased moving costs during this season. Book your local moving companies and truck rentals early!
Summer weather can be good for a move—but can also be hot! Start your move early in the day to avoid the heat, bring plenty of water, and dress appropriately. If you hire a local moving company, have some cold water and snacks on hand for your movers.
In addition, if you plan to move during a holiday like Independence Day, plan ahead for traffic and increased travel costs during this time.
Moving During Fall Holidays
Some of the big fall holidays include Labor Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day. Veteran’s Day, which occurs on November 11, is the most popular of these fall holidays.
Moving in the fall has some benefits. Moving in an off-season like the fall can save you money and make your booking more flexible. Fall also marks a slowdown in the housing market, which can save you money if you’re buying. In addition, the cooler temperatures are great for moving boxes.
However, there are a few things to know about moving during the fall holidays. Condensation is a concern as the weather gets colder, particularly since moisture can damage items like electronics. You’ll also face limited daylight, especially after daylight savings time in November. Lastly, if you have children, moving in the fall can significantly disrupt their school routine.
Be careful if you move during Labor Day, which is one of the peak travel days. Still, if you need to travel for your move in the fall, you’ll avoid both the busy summer travel season and the winter travel boom.
Moving During Winter Holidays
There are many winter holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Of these holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas tend to be the busiest for travel.
Winter is one of the cheapest times to move due to the low demand. However, not many people move during the winter precisely because of winter weather—the difficulty of avoiding winter storms, keeping walkways clear, and protecting houses from salt and slush that you might track in. If you need to drive long distances in the winter, stock your vehicle with food, water, and gas in case you get stuck on the road. In addition, start moving early in the day to make the most of the limited light.
There are pros and cons of moving during a winter holiday. You might have more scheduling flexibility at work or with children’s school schedules. Still, winter moves can make it harder to celebrate these holidays with friends and family. And you’re not the only one who wants to celebrate—movers do, too! Thus, if you want to move on Christmas or New Year’s Day, prepare for local moving companies to be short-staffed, and consider moving a few days later instead.
Conclusion
Now you’re well-briefed on moving during holidays. For spring holidays, expect good weather and a busy housing market. In the summer, book your moving company early, as moving demand is high. In the fall and winter, you can save some money on moving—but prepare for the winter weather. Regardless of the season, know about peak travel days like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Labor Day, and Memorial Day, which can significantly impact your move.
FAQs
Moving during winter holidays is a great way to save money, but winter weather can pose challenges when you’re moving. You may also wish to avoid this time due to holiday commitments and increased national travel. If you do move during the winter holidays, be flexible.
Holidays in each season come with their own challenges. Regardless of the time of year, if you move on a major holiday like Thanksgiving, prepare for traffic and increased train and plane ticket prices.
Sophie Pollack-Milgate has a day job as a research assistant. In her free time, she likes to read 10% of the library books she checks out, complain about how either ice or heat are ruining her runs (depending on the season), and modify recipes beyond recognition.
