College Move-In Road Trip: From Kansas City to GCU

There are certain moments in motherhood that test your heart in ways you never imagined. For me, that moment was taking my son Kale on a college move-in road trip from Kansas City to Phoenix, Arizona, where he’ll begin his first year at Grand Canyon University as a junior.

This college move-in road trip wasn’t just about the miles or the destinations. It was about the food, the adventures, the laughter, the hiccups, and the bittersweet goodbyes. As a mama, it was one of the hardest journeys I’ve ever taken, but also one of the most meaningful. I want to share it with you—not just the itinerary, but the heart behind it.

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KC to OKC – Comfort Food on the College Move-In Road Trip

Our college move-in road trip started in Kansas City and took us straight to Oklahoma City. By the time we reached Midtown, we were ready for a meal, and we landed at The Mule, a local gem known for its loaded grilled cheese sandwiches.

I ordered the Macaroni Pony—a grilled cheese stuffed with creamy mac and cheese and BBQ pulled pork. It was incredible! Kale and I also split an order of cheese curds, which were fried to perfection. Sitting across from my son, laughing over gooey cheese, I thought: this college move-in road trip is going to be something special.

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Amarillo – A Sweet Morning on the College Move-In Road Trip

That night we pushed on to Amarillo, Texas, where we stopped to rest. The next morning, we discovered Girasol Cafe & Bakery—a stop that made me grateful for this college move-in road trip all over again.

I had the most incredible French toast I’ve ever tasted, while Kale ordered Huevos Rancheros and a blueberry scone. Sharing bites, we both agreed that food this good can only happen on a college move-in road trip where you take the time to stop and enjoy.

After breakfast, we headed to Cadillac Ranch, where travelers spray paint colorful layers onto half-buried cars. Kale and I left our marks there, standing together under the wide Texas sky, knowing this moment was one we’d remember long after the college move-in road trip was over.

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Albuquerque – A Breaking Bad Twist on the College Move-In Road Trip

Our next stop on the college move-in road trip was Albuquerque, New Mexico. Kale and I are both Breaking Bad fans, so of course we had to see the sights.

We drove by Walter White’s house, stopped at Los Pollos Hermanos (really a restaurant called Twisters), and even saw the A1A Car Wash. We missed a few spots—like Jesse Pinkman’s house and Saul Goodman’s office—which just means we’ll have to plan another college move-in road trip someday.

For dinner, we went to Sadie’s Mexican Restaurant. Kale had a shredded chicken burrito smothered “Christmas style” (half red, half green sauce). I ordered brisket enchiladas with sopapillas for dessert. Everything was beyond delicious, and it fueled us for the five-and-a-half-hour late-night push to Flagstaff. This is what makes a college move-in road trip both exhausting and unforgettable—long stretches of driving mixed with meals worth talking about forever.

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Flagstaff – Bumps Along the College Move-In Road Trip

Morning in Flagstaff meant bagels at Biff’s Bagels. Kale ordered a pastrami, egg, avocado, and cheese sandwich, while I couldn’t decide between sweet or savory. Thankfully, they offered “bagelitos”—mini bagels—so I indulged in both.

Then it was off to Macy’s Coffeehouse, where I ordered a Mexicano and Kale tried another specialty drink. We sipped them on the patio, enjoying the mountain air and the slower pace of this part of our college move-in road trip.

But not every part of the trip was picture-perfect. That afternoon, we got rear-ended pulling out of a Dutch Bros parking lot. Everyone was okay, but it shook us up. Later, we realized we’d accidentally parked in a non-parking spot and came back to find a ticket on the windshield. It felt like the universe was piling on, but we laughed it off, reminding ourselves that every college move-in road trip has its bumps—sometimes literally.

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Sedona Scenic Route – Soaked But Smiling on the College Move-In Road Trip

On the way to Phoenix, we detoured through Sedona, Arizona, one of the most beautiful drives of the whole college move-in road trip. The red rocks and winding roads along Highway 89A took our breath away.

We stopped at Harding Springs to fill our Stanley cups with natural mountain spring water. Just as we leaned over to collect it, the skies opened up, and we were drenched in a sudden downpour. Laughing and soaked, we jumped back in the car with water-filled Stanleys in hand, another memory etched into the heart of this college move-in road trip.

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Phoenix Arrival – Food, Friends, and First Nights

When we finally rolled into Phoenix, tired but happy, we met up with friends—Sammy and her dad—for dinner at a local Mexican restaurant. We shared naked guacamole and street corn that blew us away. By now, food had become one of the main characters of our college move-in road trip, and this meal was no exception.

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Move-In Day – A Stormy End to the College Move-In Road Trip

Move-in day at Grand Canyon University was like something out of a movie. As we unloaded the car, a haboob (giant dust storm) swept through Phoenix, followed by a monsoon. Over 50,000 people lost power, the airport shut down, and here we were—mama and son—trying to make a dorm room feel like home.

We had 45 minutes to unload the car, and we made it work. But as always, we realized we needed more—groceries, storage bins, cleaning supplies. So the next morning, we made the inevitable Target run, stocking up on all the last-minute things Kale would need to thrive.

Our last meal together before the goodbye was at In-N-Out Burger. Sitting across from my boy, burger in hand, I tried to make every bite last just a little longer. Because as much as this college move-in road trip had been about getting him to GCU, it was also about cherishing every moment before the goodbye.

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Mama’s Goodbye on the College Move-In Road Trip

And then, the moment came. Hugging my son outside his new dorm, I told him how proud I was. I told him God had opened this door for him and that He would walk beside him every step of the way.

But in my mama’s heart, I was breaking. The tears came as I headed to the airport. The college move-in road trip was over, and Kale was officially stepping into his next chapter without me by his side.

That’s the tension of motherhood—holding on and letting go, sometimes in the very same moment.

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Crazy Busy Mama Tip

If you ever get the chance to take a college move-in road trip with your child, here’s my advice: Lean into it. Stop for the quirky restaurants. Take the detours. Laugh when it rains. Cry when it hurts. Because the college move-in road trip isn’t just about moving your child into a dorm—it’s about moving them into their future while holding their hand just a little longer.

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Final Thoughts

This college move-in road trip from Kansas City to Phoenix was one of the hardest, sweetest, most emotional journeys of my life. From cheesy sandwiches in Oklahoma to French toast in Texas, from Breaking Bad landmarks in Albuquerque to Sedona spring water, from the laughter to the tears—it was all part of this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

My boy is now at Grand Canyon University, ready to grow and thrive. And this mama is learning how to let go, pray harder, and trust that God’s plan is bigger than my own.

Because at the end of the day, this wasn’t just a college move-in road trip.
It was a journey of love.