Moving from Fontana, CA to Chicago, IL
About 1,983 miles across a state line, from California into Illinois, so the federal interstate rules apply from the first quote.
Distance estimated from city coordinates; the calculator measures your exact route. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Fontana, CA to Chicago, IL covers about 1,983 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $8,924 – $11,898 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 243 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 1,983 miles from California to Illinois. Almost all of these move as consolidated freight: your goods share a trailer and the carrier quotes 7 to 14 days rather than a date. It is why a two-bedroom home here runs $8,924 – $11,898 instead of scaling straight with distance, and also why there is more handling and a looser schedule.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 5 days on the road (about 36 hours of driving)
- Usually moves on
- a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households
- Book ahead
- 6 to 8 weeks
Cost of moving from Fontana to Chicago
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $6,693 – $8,924 | $4,819 – $6,425 | $3,212 – $4,283 |
| 1 bedroom | $8,031 – $10,708 | $5,782 – $7,710 | $3,855 – $5,140 |
| 2 bedrooms | $8,924 – $11,898 | $6,425 – $8,567 | $4,283 – $5,711 |
| 3 bedrooms | $10,262 – $13,683 | $7,389 – $9,852 | $4,926 – $6,568 |
| 4 bedrooms | $11,601 – $15,467 | $8,352 – $11,137 | $5,568 – $7,424 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $13,385 – $17,847 | $9,637 – $12,850 | $6,425 – $8,567 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,983 miles, from our published model: distance × home-size factor × service rate, shown as −10% to +20% around the base figure. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items sit on top. How we price it.
Worked example: a two-bedroom home, Fontana to Chicago
1,983 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $9,915. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $8,924 to $11,898, transport only. Every parameter is on the methodology page; moving cost per mile explains why the rate falls with distance.
How many people move from Fontana to Chicago
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 243 people a year (±147) moved from San Bernardino County, CA, home to Fontana, to Cook County, IL, home to Chicago. Going the other way: about 317 people a year (±176). Movers from San Bernardino County make up 0.2% of the 127,735 people a year who moved into Cook County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 15,128 people a year (±2,843) moving from California to Illinois and about 19,953 people a year (±5,236) from Illinois to California — a net gain for California of about 4,825 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Riverside County, CA | 19,021 ±1,928 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | 15,590 ±1,301 |
| San Diego County, CA | 5,342 ±857 |
| Orange County, CA | 4,437 ±662 |
| Clark County, NV | 2,648 ±750 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| DuPage County, IL | 13,206 ±1,320 |
| Lake County, IL | 6,678 ±1,090 |
| Will County, IL | 6,454 ±1,007 |
| Kane County, IL | 4,555 ±770 |
| Lake County, IN | 3,835 ±861 |
Licensed movers at each end
35 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Fontana (108 counting those licensed only inside California). 25 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 20.7% of their 116 vehicle inspections ended with a truck put out of service. The largest by registered fleet:
| Carrier | Based in | Size | Inspections, 24 mo | Vehicle out of service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keep America Moving IncUSDOT 1851509 | Moreno Valley · 15 mi | 15 trucks | 3 | 100.0% of 2 |
| Pro Movers IncUSDOT 2211293 | Anaheim · 30 mi | 13 trucks | 4 | 0.0% of 2 |
| Murrieta MovingUSDOT 1076656 | San Bernardino · 11 mi | 12 trucks | 3 | 100.0% of 2 |
| Lucky Transportation CompanyUSDOT 586392 | City Industry · 27 mi | 12 trucks | 21 | 0.0% of 14 |
| Norwalk Transfer IncUSDOT 182059 | La Habra · 30 mi | 9 trucks | 28 | 18.2% of 22 |
| Executive Moving Systems IncUSDOT 2729024 | Anaheim · 30 mi | 7 trucks | 3 | 33.3% of 3 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Chicago end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Chicago: New World Van Lines Inc (Chicago, 204 trucks), National Van Lines Inc (Broadview, 174 trucks), New City Moving & Storage LLC (Chicago, 82 trucks), Complete Moving Inc (Arlington Heights, 80 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from California into Illinois, 49 CFR Part 375 applies: a written estimate before loading, no more than 110% of a non-binding estimate collected at delivery, and full-value protection unless you choose released value in writing. See binding vs non-binding estimates and valuation explained.
Before you book Fontana to Chicago
Insist on a survey
Over 1,983 miles the price is driven almost entirely by weight. A quote given without a video or in-home survey is a guess that gets revised upward on loading day, and at this distance the revision is expensive.
Keep full-value protection
It is the default on an interstate move. Signing it away for released value means 60 cents per pound, about $18 for a 30 lb television, after 1,983 miles of handling.
Arriving in Chicago
A local move inside Chicago later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $475 – $775 for a two-bedroom home and $795 – $1,425 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Chicago are Milwaukee (about 95 mi), Madison (about 142 mi), Grand Rapids (about 146 mi).
Other routes from Fontana
All routes from Fontana, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Fontana to Moreno Valley, CA | ~23 mi | $515 – $859 |
| Fontana to Anaheim, CA | ~28 mi | $515 – $859 |
| Fontana to Lancaster, CA | ~67 mi | $515 – $859 |
| Fontana to San Diego, CA | ~114 mi | $513 – $684 |
| Fontana to Oxnard, CA | ~117 mi | $527 – $702 |
| Fontana to Bakersfield, CA | ~145 mi | $653 – $870 |
| Fontana to Fresno, CA | ~261 mi | $1,175 – $1,566 |
| Fontana to Mesa, AZ | ~381 mi | $1,715 – $2,286 |
Also moving to Chicago: from Milwaukee, WI, from Madison, WI, from Grand Rapids, MI, from Peoria, IL.
Fontana to Chicago moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Fontana to Chicago?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 1,983 miles cost about $6,693 – $8,924 for a studio, $8,924 – $11,898 for a two-bedroom home and $10,262 – $13,683 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Fontana to Chicago take?
The drive is 5 days on the road (about 36 hours of driving), but the move usually takes 7 to 14 days because it moves on a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 6 to 8 weeks, 8 to 12 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from Fontana to Chicago?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $4,283 – $5,711 for a two-bedroom home, against $8,924 – $11,898 with full-service movers; a moving container is $6,425 – $8,567.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Fontana to Chicago?
Yes. Fontana is in California and Chicago is in Illinois, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 35 listed movers within 30 miles of Fontana hold it.
How many people move from Fontana to Chicago each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 243 people a year (margin of error ±147) moved from San Bernardino County, which contains Fontana, to Cook County, which contains Chicago.
Sources for this page
The published cost model; US Census Bureau ACS migration flows (± is the 90% margin of error); the FMCSA Motor Carrier Census and Safety Measurement System; 49 CFR Part 375. Data last refreshed September 24, 2026.