I have some questions about driving cross-country, can you give me your input?

The chances are very high of me getting out of the military in about a year, so I could either stay in NJ, or (what I’m leaning more towards, although I’m still weighing my options) go to either WA, or OR (where I’m from and my family is spread around). But let’s just say that I am going to go back to WA or OR, what’s the best way to do that?

There are multiple ways: Flying and having your stuff moved, driving with a U-Haul (all of my stuff would fit in a van, seriously) and towing your car or vice versa (but I have a 4-cylinder, so no) etc. I don’t really want to fly, because I think going on this journey (I’d be alone, too) would be really eye-opening and simply a good thing to do.

I was thinking maybe a U-haul with all of my stuff, but then there’s also having a moving company move all of my stuff so I’m free with my car (but I paid for my ex-wife to move back home from NJ to MN and that was almost $6,000 with a moving company; she flew back, so maybe not).

I guess my question would be: what would be the best option, assuming a lone 25 year old wanted to move across the country? Give me your honest and realistic opinions. Thank you.