Transpo planning - example: Albany, NY

Flying
Flights start around $200 for two (about $20 more for Toronto)
Transit time: 6.5 - 8.5 hours
Shipping cost for cars?
Shipping cost for belongings?
Advantages: Fast, start working and settling right away, no motel expense, no concern about snow/accidents/car trouble
Disadvantages: Cars and most other belongings must be shipped which will be expensive

Train
Tickets start around $277 for two
Transit time: 58 hours
Shipping cost for cars?
Shipping cost for any remaining belongings?
Advantages: No motel expenses, allows more checked baggage and less shipping, no concern about snow/accidents/car trouble
Disadvantages: Could be working instead of traveling, sleep not very restful, cars must be shipped, may still have to ship some belongings

RVing
Advantages: Less hectic pace, work as we travel, no motels, no separating from cars or belongings, no expense for shipping cars or belongings
Disadvantages: Must purchase either small RV or camper shell and small trailer, gas expenses for each vehicle, possible snow/accidents/car trouble

Driving
Roughly 3090 mile drive
Rough guesstimate of gas expense, per car: $570
Transit time (minimum): 46.5 hours
Potential hotel cost: $240
Rental cost for hauling trailer?
Advantages: Possibly less hectic, no separating from cars or belongings, no expense for shipping cars or belongings
Disadvantages: Could be working instead of traveling, possible snow/accidents/car trouble, expense for rental trailer

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Related Research

Driving
U.S. current snow cover
Google maps
Mapquest



Given our non-existent experience driving in the snow, we'll want to route around snowy areas as much as possible. It looks like the best way to get around it is basically take freeways 10, 20, 30 out to Fort Worth, then swing north on one of several routes northeast.

Tornado season is roughly March-August, peaking in April and May, and predominantly occurring along Tornado Alley – a flat stretch of land from west Texas to North Dakota. Texas is the hardest hit.

Auto Transport/Shipping
Car shipping tips

Costs vary widely, but just as an example I got some prices for shipping our cars from Los Angeles, CA to Albany, NY. Some of them have somewhat higher prices for trucks than cars. Range for the truck: $799 - 1592. Car: $649 - 1392.