Moving Into JMU, EMU, Bridgewater, or Blue Ridge This Fall?

College Storage


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July 1st, 2026


If you're starting school at James Madison University, Eastern Mennonite, Bridgewater College, or Blue Ridge Community College this August, you're about six weeks out from starting a whole new chapter of your life and education. You may also be moving into your new home away from home and with that comes some excitment and a little chaos as well. Most colleges only offer a two-day move in window and that can mean residence halls and parking areas are overwhelmed with families shuffling belongings around. Adding on top of that, you may find that your dorm room isn't big enough to hold everything you want to bring along. Don't panic; check out the guide below!

Mini Stor It has been the Shenandoah Valley's largest storage facility for over 35 years, and we've watched thousands of students navigate this exact transition.


When to Reserve Your Unit


  • Peak week is the last week of July through the first week of August for students renting storage during the school year. By the second week of August, popular sizes (smaller units) are often full at most facilities in Harrisonburg. This means you may get stuck with a bigger unit than you need or end up storing further away than you wanted to. We can set up your rental ahead of time and date the lease for the move in date you need when you call to reserve or rent with us.

  • The last week of August is a bad time to make decisions. You'll be figuring out dorm assignments, meal plans, textbook returns, and roommate logistics. Setting up storage in July removes one moving piece from that week.

  • If you are planning to rent for the summer only (between May and August), call or reserve in March or April. We usually offer student summer packages and discounts for paying the full summer up-front!

What Size Do You Actually Need?

For a first-year student moving into a college dorm, the honest answer is usually less than parents think. Here's a rough guide:

  • 5x5 or 5x10 unit — Enough space for one dorm's worth of overflow: extra bedding, off-season clothes, a couple of boxes of books, small appliances that don't fit in the room.

  • 5x15 unit — Room for full off-campus overflow, a futon or armchair, and multiple bins of clothing and gear. This is the size we recommend if you're bringing a lot from home.

  • 10x10 unit — Split with a roommate, and you're each paying half of a 5x10. If you already know your dorm assignment and your roommate is up for it, this is usually the cheapest option.

  • Anything bigger — Off-campus students, chapter houses, and rising seniors with real accumulation. Freshmen almost never need more than a 10x10.


What Mini Stor It Offers for College Students

We're at 190 East Mosby Road in Harrisonburg — a short drive from JMU and EMU, about 15 minutes northeast of Bridgewater College, and roughly 20 minutes north of Blue Ridge Community College's Weyers Cave campus.

What that geography means practically:

  • If you're at JMU or EMU, you can reach your unit in 10 minutes and be back in class within the hour.

  • If you're at Bridgewater, we're the closest full-service option — you don't have to drive to Staunton or Winchester.

  • If you're at Blue Ridge, we're a natural midpoint between campus and Harrisonburg errands.

Our units range from 5x5 to 20x25, with climate-controlled and drive-up options. If you're bringing books, electronics, an instrument, or anything paper-based, spend the extra on a climate-controlled unit — Shenandoah Valley humidity in July and August isn't kind to unprotected belongings. Access hours are 6 AM to 10 PM, seven days a week. Our office is open Monday through Friday 9 to 5, Saturday 9 to noon, and Sunday by appointment.

Timing Tips for August Move-In

A few practical things we've watched work well:

  • Unload your storage unit the day before move-in, not the day of. Move-in day is chaotic. If your unit belongings are already in your car (or already at the dorm), you're not competing for parking with 200 other families.

  • Bring the essentials to the dorm; leave the "maybe" pile in storage. You can always drive back and grab the extra lamp. You can't undo cramming too much into a 12x15 dorm room.

  • Take photos of what's in your storage unit. Not for security — for memory. You will forget what you stored. A phone photo of the packed unit saves you a trip in October to hunt for the winter coat you thought you had.

  • Label boxes by season, not category. "Winter clothes," "December-January textbooks," "spring gear" — this is much easier to navigate than "clothes," "books," and "sports."

Ready to Reserve?

If you're moving into JMU, EMU, Bridgewater College, or Blue Ridge CC this fall, reserve your unit now — call (540) 246-0181, stop by 190 East Mosby Road, or reserve online. Popular sizes go fast in the first week of August. Doing this in July is the easiest thing you can take off your move-in list.