Last Updated on December 12, 2021 by
Alaska is known as “The Last Frontier” for excellent reasons. The climate is brutal and bears are common and with more than twice as large as Texas Much of it remains rough and beautiful wilderness.
Interesting Alaska Facts –
- With over 660,000 square miles, Alaska is approximately 5 times bigger than Germany
- Over 3/4 of the world’s top mountains are located in Alaska
- Some estimates suggest that the state is home to more than 3 million lakes.
- Alaska is larger by 500 times that Rhode Island, but has 250,000 fewer residents.
- About 85% of the budget for the state is derived from gas and oil revenue
- Alaska is the state with the highest male-to-female ratio in the world.
It’s well-known for its high costs of living however it doesn’t stop residents from the lower 48 states from making the move every year to begin thrilling new chapters of their lives.
If you’re planning to move to Alaska There are four ways of getting your home goods there:
While each has its advantages and cons The two that are the most popular are clearly the best due to a variety of reasons.
Let’s have a closer look and find out the reason.
1. Moving Container Companies – The Best Mix of Price and Service
Pros-
- Affordable
- Customizable
- Fast delivery
- Storage can be utilized as well.
- They manage the logistics, including the driving
Cons-
- Small size container
- You’ll be required to complete your packing and loading and unloading
- May may see seasonal price increases and issues with availability
Moving to Alaska is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
However, driving a rental truck through snow, ice and massive bear-infested mountain ranges isn’t a good idea.
For consumers who are conscious of their budgets, There’s a way for them to indulge in the former without sacrificing the latter.
Although they’re not the only container-moving options for moving into Alaska, U-Haul U-Box and U-Pack are among the most practical and cost-effective options.
Utilizing their services they help you are able to pack, load, and unload and let the logistical burden to them.
2. Professional International Movers – Best for a Full-Service Experience
In the before, household goods were shipments across the 48 lower states (particularly those located on the West Coast) to Alaska were typically transported by moving vans in the same way as the regular basis for interstate moving.
Also known by the name Alaska’s “thru-van” service, it’s very rare these days.
Today, however, when you’re headed towards The Last Frontier your move is most likely to be treated like the case of an out-of-country (international) move.
Also, the items you purchase will be loaded and packed inside a shipping container. They will then be transported to a port that is located in California, Oregon, or Washington and then shipped to Alaska via ships.
We recommend that you begin your move by contacting one of the international moving firms.
When you finally arrive in Alaska A local moving service will pick the container and transport it to the new location to be delivered.
It could appear to be a chaotic logistical issue however, the benefits far surpass the cons.
Pros-
- Your international moving company will manage all aspects of your relocation (peace at ease)
- You don’t need to worry about all of the packing or moving, nor will you have to drive yourself
- Your move is less prone to delays caused by the harsh winter weather.
- There are a variety of container sizes in stock to accommodate any shipment
- You’ll be able to drive, fly , or take a cruise trip to Alaska
- Shipping moves (sea) are cheaper than moves made via truck (land)
Cons-
- You’ll be unable to pack your bags to save cash
- Door-to-door service might not be available in remote wilderness areas.
- The delivery and transit times are likely to be longer
The size and weight of household items Most likely, your household goods will be delivered either in a 40 or 20-foot container.
Remember that the time for transit will be longer when you’re moving to Midwest or the East Coast or Midwest because it will take up to at least a week to transport your container to the point of departure.
Keep in mind that for most trips towards Alaska there will be a fixed fee for every 100 pounds (CWT) of weight.
Services comprise:
- Packing
- Loading
- Transportation by sea and ground
- Unloading, packing and normal setting up of tables, beds, and so on.
Furthermore, the international shipping regulations require the movers to inspect and pack every single box (including those that customers pack themselves) to ensure that the box is free of prohibited items.
This means that for every weight, the costs are the same regardless of whether the company is packing 100 or 150 boxes. So packing some items yourself will not cost you anything.
FCL (Full Container Load) vs. LCL (Less-than-Container-Load)
With FCL you’ll get exclusive use of the container, even when there’s still space.
This is how most moves are managed, however, the international moving company you choose to work with might give you the possibility of LCL which means that they’ll fill in the space with a different shipment.
This could lower costs however it’s usually performed by companies who handle many relocations from Alaska coming from West Coast cities like Portland and Seattle.
Additionally, if you’re moving less than 1,000 pounds of household items Your mover will place your items in small wooden storage vaults and place them in a 20- to the 40-foot shipping box.
Did You Know?
When you’re planning to move into Anchorage or Wasilla your moving company may provide door-to-door service. However, when you’re moving into a remote region to search to find gold, the company might not. When you’re screening your move you should include this as one of the most important questions you are asked.
We have compiled a listing of the most reputable international Movers in order to locate a moving company that will meet your requirements.
3. Freight Companies – A Decent Last-Minute Option
Pros-
- Cheap
- The majority of trailers are 28-foot with plenty of interior space
- Some charge only for the space they actually use
- They drive.
Cons-
- A lot of freight trailers feature spring suspensions that can be hard on fragile items
- You’ll need to complete all the loading, packing and unloading
- Do not have the right to provide door-to door service throughout the state.
- The majority of freight companies don’t ship household items
In order to keep their trucks full and working at their maximum effectiveness, many freight companies offer transport for household goods.
These non-traditional services are usually offered by LTL (Less-than-Truckload) companies that move lots of relatively small shipments for various commercial customers.
U-Pack has 28-foot “pup” trailers for those with more than what can fit in one or two ReloCubes.
This option lets them will deliver to the majority of the major Alaskan cities, as well as bases for military personnel, and you can also unload the truck at the service center and then hire an experienced local moving company to complete the last part of your moving.
Insider’s Advice: Freight companies are worth looking into but for the greater of the time, you’ll prefer to use the services of a moving container service because their services are specifically designed towards household goods moving.
4. Rental Trucks – Only for Adventurous Types
The first thing to note is that you are able to lease a U-Haul vehicle and then drive through the Continental US to Alaska at specific dates throughout the calendar year.
However, you probably should not.
The weather is in Alaska can be chilly or icy and even dangerous, regardless of whether the remainder of the nation is enjoying mild spring and late summer temperatures.
The experience of being caught in a frightful snowstorm isn’t a cakewalk for experienced truckers or even rookies who have only a few or no experiences driving anything larger than the car.
In addition due to the distance involved, costs could be anywhere from a range of $4,000-$6,000, without including lodging, fuel, and the labor required for loading and loading – making it far from inexpensive.
According to U-Haul’s website, the cost of renting the 10-foot truck from Anchorage is mid-June 2021:
- $4,563 from Phoenix
- $4,798 from Chicago
- 3 798 dollars from Los Angeles
For distances that fall in the range of 4,000-5,000 miles, the driving time will typically be between 8 and 11 days for the majority of people.
When you rent a car, you’ll be given an agreed-upon time to complete the trip and after that, additional costs will be charged.
Some rental companies won’t permit their trucks to be taken to Alaska and for reasons that are legitimate.
Other Moving Options
Downsize by Selling, Donating, and Discarding
Eliminating nearly everything you have and beginning fresh is an excellent alternative for those who are minimalists.
If you do this, you can potentially cut out the relocation cost completely and bring what’s left from the plane baggage and checked bags.
However, it’s only practical for young single travelers who haven’t amassed a lot of things.
Remember that household items tend to be costlier in Alaska as compared to the other states So replacing them could cost more than sending them.
Use the Mail
It might sound odd, however, shipping just a few boxes of basic items via FedEx and the USPS could be an affordable option to conventional moving companies.
You also have the option of choosing whether you’d prefer expedited or standard delivery, and pay for the cost.
However, some items are not allowed as well as items that are packed by the box are much more vulnerable to be damaged than those shipped that are shipped in containers.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ
1. How much will it cost to relocate to Alaska?
There are so many variables that there’s not an average cost to move to Alaska.
Prices can range from just a few thousand dollars up to more than $20,000 when shifting the contents of a three or 4 bedroom home using a full-service moving company.
2. What cannot I ship to Alaska?
The prohibited items for moving to Alaska generally are similar to those banned for international and domestic moves: explosives, liquids and flammables aerosols, corrosive substances, and marine pollution.
Request your moving company to provide a complete list of belongings that aren’t able to be moved.
3. How can I transfer my vehicle to Alaska?
The most commonly used method of moving vehicles from Alaska is to use shipping.
Based on the size and value, its location, you’re moving to and your budget You’ll have the choice of placing it in the container of an overseas port, or using a Ro-Ro service which will transport it to the port using a vehicle hauler, and then unloaded, and then driven to the vessel.
When you arrive you’re Alaska then the process is reversed, and the package is delivered to a terminal at a company or to your new residence.
Check out the top car shipping companies.
4. What activities are there in Alaska?
Although it’s mostly related to snowmobiling, skiing fishing, hunting, and hunting, Alaska has tons of places to visit, including museums, restaurants of all kinds as well as a symphony band in Anchorage and some of the most breathtaking natural wonders therefore it’s not a problem to be bored.
