As mentioned in a previous post, the world of difference between San Francisco and southern California can be astronomical: both the City by the Bay and the City of Angels host cultures like no other, and both present their own challenges when moving between them.

There are, however, some particular similarities that challenge movers: both can have narrow and sometimes unusual and winding streets which can make navigating a moving truck daunting. Additionally, parking can be extremely limited in either place (especially on the Westside and near the beaches in LA), meaning you may need to pay the city for a permit to block off a stretch of road for a specific length of time at both your starting point and your destination. You’ll want to give your neighbors advanced warning as well, and set out safety cones.

Hand the keys to the buyer’s agent? Clean the place before leaving? Tell your neighbors goodbye? San Francisco is well-known for having many steep, windy hills, making both carrying your belongings to the truck as well as getting the truck itself from point A to B a challenge. Expect a six-hour commute at minimum, and possibly a few hours more depending on the time of day and where in LA you’re going: traffic throughout the city is infamous across the state. Also, Los Angeles often has congested streets that deny parking on certain days for street sweeping purposes, so make sure to plan in advance to avoid hiccups. Fortunately, unlike San Francisco, most of the city is flat, so once you’ve gotten the truck actually parked unloading should be a relatively smooth process. Welcome to So Cal!