Moving from San Antonio, Texas, to San Jose, California, is going to be a big change. Just getting there will be a challenge. You will be traveling through some rocky, dry terrain, after all! Thankfully, you can count on National Van Lines to handle the most stressful parts of the moving process, including packing, loading, transporting and unloading. The rest is up to you, though. Even then, you don’t have to go it alone. Our experts are moving people all over the country, which means they have seen what life is like in both Texas and California. Here’s some advice for every Texan hoping to move to California.
Climate Change
Both Texas and California enjoy a sunny warm environment, so you won’t have to do too much adapting when it comes to literal weather. At their coolest (in Fahrenheit), both San Antonio and San Jose have average lows in the 40’s and, at the highest, highs in the 90’s. The one big difference will be precipitation. Be sure to buy yourself an umbrella for the Californian winter. While San Antonio has hardly any rainfall, San Jose averages two to three inches of rain from December through March.
Pollution is another item to keep in mind. In terms of quality of life, you will find that San Jose enjoys a higher purchasing power index and lower traffic, but it also has a lot more pollution than what you’re used to in San Antonio.
Differences in Transportation
Both large cities, expect San Jose to have a considerable amount of traffic. Don’t worry about it being too bad, though. The Californian city isn’t among the top 10 American cities with the worst traffic. You would have to go to Los Angeles for that.
How navigate the area depends on the location of your new home and of your job. Living within the city, public transportation will be your best option. Driving a car to work shouldn’t be much different, though you will want to check the laws regarding emissions. California has some of the strictest vehicle emission restrictions in the country in an effort to reduce pollution. If you look up lists of America’s most polluted cities, you’ll see why California takes such dramatic precautions. Don’t worry though, San Jose isn’t among California’s worst polluted cities.
The Drive
According to Google Maps, the two fastest paths out of San Antonio to San Jose will be approximately 24 – 27 hours. While that may seem daunting, there’s a lot to see along the way. Your drive will take you south of the Rocky Mountains, where you will get to see some very breathtaking sites. Google Maps has a feature called ‘explore,’ which lets you see interesting sites along the way. Don’t worry yourself over the long drive and treat the journey like a vacation for your family. Sites particularly interesting for your family to explore include:
- Rock Hound State Park in Deming, New Mexico
- The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona
- Superstition Mountains in Phoenix, Arizona
- Disney’s California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California
Depending on how much time you have to spend traveling, you may prefer flying to driving. The amount of time you save is significant, with a typical flight being under five hours from San Antonio to San Jose. If this option appeals to you, speak with a professional moving company about options for shipping your car. Shipping a car may add cost onto your move, but your time is precious. If you have a short window of time to move, this may be your best option.
Are you planning a long distance move from Texas to California? Call a National Van Lines agent today to schedule a free, no-obligation moving quote at 877-590-2810. Ask about our options for shipping a vehicle as part of your residential or corporate move.
