International Moving from U.S. States and Cities
Departure ports, airports, local tips and city-to-city routes for major U.S. metros.
Short answer
Pick your state or city to see which port and airport your move will use, local pickup tips, and route guides to popular destinations. East Coast ports are closest to Europe; West Coast ports are closest to Australia and New Zealand.
Cities at a glance
| City | State | Region | Air freight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | California | West Coast | LAX |
| New York | New York | East Coast | JFK and Newark (EWR) |
| San Francisco Bay Area | California | West Coast | SFO |
| Chicago | Illinois | Midwest | O'Hare (ORD) |
| Miami | Florida | Southeast | MIA |
| Houston | Texas | Gulf Coast | George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) |
| Seattle | Washington | Pacific Northwest | Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) |
| Boston | Massachusetts | New England | Logan (BOS) |
All U.S. metros
States, cities and routes in this guide
- Moving abroad from CaliforniaState: international movers and ports serving California
- Moving abroad from New YorkState: international movers and ports serving New York
- Moving abroad from IllinoisState: international movers and ports serving Illinois
- Moving abroad from FloridaState: international movers and ports serving Florida
- Moving abroad from TexasState: international movers and ports serving Texas
- Moving abroad from WashingtonState: international movers and ports serving Washington
- Moving abroad from MassachusettsState: international movers and ports serving Massachusetts
15 supporting pages and 6 route pages in this cluster. All link back here.
East, West or Gulf: why the coast matters
Containers sail from the port nearest your home or the one with the best sailing for your destination. From the Northeast, Atlantic crossings to the UK and Ireland are short. From California and the Pacific Northwest, Pacific lanes to Australia and New Zealand are direct, while Europe sailings are long. Gulf ports such as Houston sail to Europe on longer routes than the East Coast. Inland cities rail containers to a coast.
Frequently asked questions
Does it matter which U.S. city I move from?
Yes. Your city decides the departure port, the sailing route and how far your container travels by truck or rail before it sails.
Which U.S. coast is best for moving to Europe?
East Coast ports have the shortest Atlantic crossings. West Coast sailings to Europe usually go through the Panama Canal or transship.
Which U.S. coast is best for moving to Australia or New Zealand?
West Coast and Pacific Northwest ports have direct Pacific lanes.
What if my city has no seaport?
Your container is loaded at home or a warehouse, then moved by rail or truck to a coastal port. Chicago works this way.
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