Anonymous
Post 07/29/2025 17:38     Subject: Move in day - stay one night or two?
Anonymous wrote:We're moving my freshman into her dorm on a Friday afternoon. I figured we'd stay in her college town on Friday night but return home late Saturday (2 hour drive).

Is there any reason we should stay an additional night? (other than my emotions )


Just drop her off and come back Friday evening. No need to stay over even one night. Let her go her own way.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2025 17:37     Subject: Move in day - stay one night or two?
When we dropped our DS off, we left him to his own devices the first night (we went out to dinner without him); however, he did take us to the dining hall for breakfast before we headed back home.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2025 17:35     Subject: Move in day - stay one night or two?
Be aware that in some college towns, the Walmart/Target will be demolished and out of stock on a lot of things.

When my DH dropped our DD off at CU Boulder, he did his own thing after helping her move in because… Boulder — he did some exploring.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2025 16:15     Subject: Move in day - stay one night or two?
Anonymous wrote:My kid was 3.5 hours away. Drove down early AM, moved in, made a Walmart run for last minute items and grabbed lunch on the way back to the dorm. Helped son get his room setup, and then left right before son and roommate were heading to the dining hall for dinner.


PP here who stayed an extra night. Believe it or not, this was exactly our experience, as far as our kid was concerned. We didn't see each other after that. I don't understand why some people are so bothered by the idea that parents can choose to stay in town and NOT see their kids again or interfere with their settling in.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2025 16:13     Subject: Move in day - stay one night or two?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We are staying 3 nights. Don’t expect to see my kid after we drop him off at his room. But we are driving 20 hours each way. So, the extra night is for much needed rest before turning around and heading back.


If it's a 20 hour drive, why not just fly?


With the contents of a heavily packed car?


You don’t need to drive everything there. Our son went to a school that was 10 hours away. We flew there and checked large duffle bags. It was free on Southwest. Airport was 15 minutes from school.

Rented a car. Had dorm bedding shipped to school that we order from a college dorm outfit place. You could also order items on Amazon and have it shipped to a locker in the college town. There were a few items that he still needed, so we made a Target run with the rented car.

Easy peasy.


You do realize that not every school is the same? Shipping to our school was not an option. Packages at beginning of year took weeks to process. Also Amazon prime same/next day is not an option everywhere. Glad this worked out for you but maybe consider that the experience is not the same for every college.


This seems to be an extreme challenge for many of the posters on this thread.
Anonymous
Post 07/29/2025 12:29     Subject: Move in day - stay one night or two?
Anonymous wrote:My kid was 3.5 hours away. Drove down early AM, moved in, made a Walmart run for last minute items and grabbed lunch on the way back to the dorm. Helped son get his room setup, and then left right before son and roommate were heading to the dining hall for dinner.


And that's the right way to do it.