The IU Bloomington Move-In Guide: Movers, Timing, and Summer Storage

Move-in at Indiana University is one of the busiest weeks of the year in Bloomington. Thousands of students arrive within the same few days in mid-to-late August, the near-campus streets get tight, and good moving crews book out fast. Whether you are a first-year heading into a residence hall, a returning student taking an apartment near campus, or a parent doing the heavy lifting, a little planning makes the day far easier. Here is how to do it well.

Book your movers before the August rush

The single best thing you can do is book early. IU move-in compresses a huge number of moves into a handful of days, so the calendar fills well before the academic year starts. Reserve your crew four to six weeks out if you can, especially if you need a weekend date during Welcome Week. If you are moving from out of state, see our long-distance moving page for how interstate moves are scheduled.

What move-in is actually like near campus

The streets around campus and in the near-campus neighborhoods were not built for dozens of trucks at once. Expect narrow one-way streets, limited parking, older houses with tight stairwells, and apartment buildings that may require you to reserve an elevator or a loading window. A crew that works Bloomington regularly knows these quirks and plans around them, which saves you time and avoids parking headaches on a hot August day.

• Confirm parking and any loading-zone rules at your building before move-in day
• If you are in an apartment, reserve the elevator or loading dock window early
• Measure doorways and stairwells for larger furniture, common in older near-campus houses
• Have a plan for where the truck can legally stop, since campus-area streets are tight

Packing for a dorm or a first apartment

Most student moves are smaller than a full household, but they still go better with a system. Pack the things you use least first, label every box with the room and a one-line note, and set aside a first-night box with chargers, toiletries, bedding, and a change of clothes. For a residence hall, remember that storage is limited, so it pays to be honest about what you actually need on campus versus what can stay home or go into storage.

Summer storage between semesters

A lot of IU students do not want to haul everything home in May and back in August. Storing your furniture and boxes over the summer is often cheaper and far less work than two long-distance trips. We can move you out at the end of spring, hold your items, and deliver them back for fall move-in. See our moving and storage options for how that works, or ask us to quote a move-out, storage, and move-in package together.

If you are local to central Indiana

Plenty of IU students come from the Indianapolis area and the surrounding suburbs. A move from Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, or Greenwood down to Bloomington is a short trip we run constantly. You can read more about our Bloomington service on our Bloomington movers page, and our Indianapolis movers page covers the other end.