Moving from Illinois to Arkansas
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Chicago and Little Rock it is about 645 miles and 2 days on the road (about 12 hours of driving); the 6 city pairs we price between the two states run from 416 to 645 miles.
Prices from our published model (last updated ), not quotes. Distances marked ~ are estimated from city coordinates. Carriers: FMCSA Motor Carrier Census, snapshot 2026-09-24. We do not move anyone.
- ~645 miChicago → Little Rock
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $2,903+2-bedroom, movers
- 6City routes priced
In short
About 1,926 people moved from Illinois to Arkansas in 2024 (Census estimate, ±969), and about 1,361 went the other way. Between Chicago and Little Rock it is about 645 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $2,903 – $3,870 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 216 movers based in Illinois hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Illinois to Arkansas
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 1,926 people a year (±969), against about 1,361 (±697) from Arkansas to Illinois, so Arkansas gains about 565 people a year on this exchange. Illinois is the 11th-largest of the 46 states sending people to Arkansas; Arkansas took in about 62,808 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Cook County | Washington County | 138 ±126 |
| Will County | Marion County | 117 ±168* |
| St. Clair County | Madison County | 110 ±158* |
| Cook County | Benton County | 109 ±94 |
| Cook County | Pulaski County | 105 ±94 |
US Census Bureau: ACS 2024 state-to-state migration and ACS 2016–2020 county-to-county flows; people a year with a 90% margin of error. County names link to their cost guides. * Margin as large as the estimate.
Chicago to Little Rock, the representative route
Each state is represented by its largest city we cover. The map shows that corridor; the table further down prices every city pair between Illinois and Arkansas.
Cost of moving from Illinois to Arkansas
At about 645 miles, full-service movers should land around $2,903 – $3,870 for a two-bedroom home and $3,338 – $4,450 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $2,090 – $2,786; a freight trailer is $1,393 – $1,858.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,177 – $2,903 | $1,567 – $2,090 | $1,045 – $1,393 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,612 – $3,483 | $1,881 – $2,508 | $1,254 – $1,672 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,903 – $3,870 | $2,090 – $2,786 | $1,393 – $1,858 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,338 – $4,450 | $2,403 – $3,204 | $1,602 – $2,136 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,773 – $5,031 | $2,717 – $3,622 | $1,811 – $2,415 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $4,354 – $5,805 | $3,135 – $4,180 | $2,090 – $2,786 |
Transport only, for an estimated 645 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.
City-to-city routes from Illinois to Arkansas
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 1 has a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield to Fayetteville | ~416 mi | 3–7 days | $1,872 – $2,496 | $2,153 – $2,870 |
| Springfield to Little Rock | ~441 mi | 3–7 days | $1,985 – $2,646 | $2,282 – $3,043 |
| Peoria to Fayetteville | ~471 mi | 3–7 days | $2,120 – $2,826 | $2,437 – $3,250 |
| Peoria to Little Rock | ~509 mi | 3–7 days | $2,291 – $3,054 | $2,634 – $3,512 |
| Chicago to Fayetteville | ~622 mi | 3–7 days | $2,799 – $3,732 | $3,219 – $4,292 |
| Chicago to Little Rock | ~645 mi | 3–7 days | $2,903 – $3,870 | $3,338 – $4,450 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Illinois
122 of the 216 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 1,617 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 202 of 873 vehicle inspections (23.1%), above the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 173 of 1,617 driver inspections (10.7%, against 13.0%). None has an acute or critical violation from an FMCSA investigation in the past 12 months.
| Carrier | Inspections | Vehicle out of service | Driver out of service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Risinger Bros Transfer IncMorton, IL · USDOT 244981 | 417 | 57 of 160 | 4 of 417 |
| Complete Moving IncArlington Heights, IL · USDOT 4017704 | 240 | 37 of 186 | 22 of 240 |
| New World Van Lines IncChicago, IL · USDOT 258748 | 201 | 19 of 129 | 6 of 201 |
| National Van Lines IncBroadview, IL · USDOT 76628 | 143 | 25 of 78 | 6 of 143 |
| Em Transfer Services IncAddison, IL · USDOT 2914046 | 41 | 5 of 15 | 0 of 41 |
| Shur-Way Moving & Cartage CompanyLibertyville, IL · USDOT 172887 | 38 | 3 of 17 | 1 of 38 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
341 listed household-goods carriers are based in Illinois, 216 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Illinois directory ranks them. At the Arkansas end, 57 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Arkansas, moving costs in Arkansas, or the reverse trip, Arkansas to Illinois. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Illinois
Illinois to Arkansas moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Illinois to Arkansas?
Between the two states' main cities, Chicago and Little Rock, the distance is about 645 miles. From our model that is $2,903 – $3,870 for a two-bedroom home and $3,338 – $4,450 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $2,090 – $2,786 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $1,393 – $1,858. Across the 6 city pairs we price between Illinois and Arkansas, distances run from 416 to 645 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Illinois to Arkansas take?
Chicago to Little Rock is 2 days on the road (about 12 hours of driving). The move itself typically takes 3 to 7 days, because at this distance it usually travels on either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load, depending on the carrier and the season. Get the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Illinois to Arkansas?
Yes. A move from Illinois into Arkansas is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 341 listed movers based in Illinois, 216 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Illinois.
What is the cheapest way to move from Illinois to Arkansas?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $1,393 – $1,858 for a two-bedroom home over 645 miles against $2,903 – $3,870 with full-service movers. A container, about $2,090 – $2,786, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Illinois to Arkansas each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 1,926 people (±969) moved from Illinois to Arkansas that year, against about 1,361 (±697) from Arkansas to Illinois. That makes Illinois the 11th-largest source of new residents for Arkansas among the states.