Moving from Illinoisto California
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Chicago and Los Angeles it is 2,019 miles and 5 days on the road (about 37 hours of driving); the 75 city pairs we price between the two states run from 1,829 to 2,153 miles.
Prices from our published model, not quotes. Distances marked ~ are estimated from city coordinates. We do not move anyone.
Chicago to Los Angeles, 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 California.
Cost of moving from Illinois to California
At 2,019 miles, full-service movers should land around $9,086 – $12,114 for a two-bedroom home and $10,448 – $13,931 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $6,542 – $8,722; a freight trailer is $4,361 – $5,815.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $6,814 – $9,086 | $4,906 – $6,542 | $3,271 – $4,361 |
| 1 bedroom | $8,177 – $10,903 | $5,887 – $7,850 | $3,925 – $5,233 |
| 2 bedrooms | $9,086 – $12,114 | $6,542 – $8,722 | $4,361 – $5,815 |
| 3 bedrooms | $10,448 – $13,931 | $7,523 – $10,030 | $5,015 – $6,687 |
| 4 bedrooms | $11,811 – $15,748 | $8,504 – $11,339 | $5,669 – $7,559 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $13,628 – $18,171 | $9,812 – $13,083 | $6,542 – $8,722 |
Transport only, for 2,019 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 California
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 27 have a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield to San Bernardino | ~1,829 mi | 7–14 days | $8,231 – $10,974 | $9,465 – $12,620 |
| Springfield to Moreno Valley | ~1,830 mi | 7–14 days | $8,235 – $10,980 | $9,470 – $12,627 |
| Peoria to San Bernardino | ~1,841 mi | 7–14 days | $8,285 – $11,046 | $9,527 – $12,703 |
| Springfield to Fontana | ~1,841 mi | 7–14 days | $8,285 – $11,046 | $9,527 – $12,703 |
| Springfield to Riverside | ~1,842 mi | 7–14 days | $8,289 – $11,052 | $9,532 – $12,710 |
| Peoria to Moreno Valley | ~1,843 mi | 7–14 days | $8,294 – $11,058 | $9,538 – $12,717 |
| Springfield to Ontario | ~1,851 mi | 7–14 days | $8,330 – $11,106 | $9,579 – $12,772 |
| Peoria to Fontana | ~1,852 mi | 7–14 days | $8,334 – $11,112 | $9,584 – $12,779 |
| Peoria to Riverside | ~1,854 mi | 7–14 days | $8,343 – $11,124 | $9,594 – $12,793 |
| Springfield to Chula Vista | ~1,862 mi | 7–14 days | $8,379 – $11,172 | $9,636 – $12,848 |
| Peoria to Ontario | ~1,863 mi | 7–14 days | $8,384 – $11,178 | $9,641 – $12,855 |
| Springfield to Anaheim | ~1,867 mi | 7–14 days | $8,402 – $11,202 | $9,662 – $12,882 |
| Springfield to Lancaster | ~1,867 mi | 7–14 days | $8,402 – $11,202 | $9,662 – $12,882 |
| Springfield to San Diego | ~1,868 mi | 7–14 days | $8,406 – $11,208 | $9,667 – $12,889 |
| Springfield to Irvine | ~1,873 mi | 7–14 days | $8,429 – $11,238 | $9,693 – $12,924 |
| Peoria to Lancaster | ~1,876 mi | 7–14 days | $8,442 – $11,256 | $9,708 – $12,944 |
| Peoria to Chula Vista | ~1,878 mi | 7–14 days | $8,451 – $11,268 | $9,719 – $12,958 |
| Springfield to Santa Ana | ~1,878 mi | 7–14 days | $8,451 – $11,268 | $9,719 – $12,958 |
| Peoria to Anaheim | ~1,879 mi | 7–14 days | $8,456 – $11,274 | $9,724 – $12,965 |
| Peoria to San Diego | ~1,884 mi | 7–14 days | $8,478 – $11,304 | $9,750 – $13,000 |
| Peoria to Irvine | ~1,886 mi | 7–14 days | $8,487 – $11,316 | $9,760 – $13,013 |
| Peoria to Santa Ana | ~1,890 mi | 7–14 days | $8,505 – $11,340 | $9,781 – $13,041 |
| Springfield to Los Angeles | ~1,890 mi | 7–14 days | $8,505 – $11,340 | $9,781 – $13,041 |
| Springfield to Santa Clarita | ~1,895 mi | 7–14 days | $8,528 – $11,370 | $9,807 – $13,076 |
| Springfield to Long Beach | ~1,896 mi | 7–14 days | $8,532 – $11,376 | $9,812 – $13,082 |
| Peoria to Los Angeles | ~1,901 mi | 7–14 days | $8,555 – $11,406 | $9,838 – $13,117 |
| Springfield to Bakersfield | ~1,902 mi | 7–14 days | $8,559 – $11,412 | $9,843 – $13,124 |
| Peoria to Santa Clarita | ~1,905 mi | 7–14 days | $8,573 – $11,430 | $9,858 – $13,145 |
| Peoria to Bakersfield | ~1,908 mi | 7–14 days | $8,586 – $11,448 | $9,874 – $13,165 |
| Peoria to Long Beach | ~1,908 mi | 7–14 days | $8,586 – $11,448 | $9,874 – $13,165 |
| Springfield to Fresno | ~1,913 mi | 7–14 days | $8,609 – $11,478 | $9,900 – $13,200 |
| Peoria to Fresno | ~1,915 mi | 7–14 days | $8,618 – $11,490 | $9,910 – $13,214 |
| Springfield to Oxnard | ~1,945 mi | 7–14 days | $8,753 – $11,670 | $10,065 – $13,421 |
| Peoria to Oxnard | ~1,955 mi | 7–14 days | $8,798 – $11,730 | $10,117 – $13,490 |
| Peoria to Roseville | ~1,961 mi | 7–14 days | $8,825 – $11,766 | $10,148 – $13,531 |
| Peoria to Modesto | ~1,967 mi | 7–14 days | $8,852 – $11,802 | $10,179 – $13,572 |
| Springfield to Roseville | ~1,967 mi | 7–14 days | $8,852 – $11,802 | $10,179 – $13,572 |
| Springfield to Modesto | ~1,969 mi | 7–14 days | $8,861 – $11,814 | $10,190 – $13,586 |
| Chicago to San Bernardino | ~1,972 mi | 7–14 days | $8,874 – $11,832 | $10,205 – $13,607 |
| Chicago to Moreno Valley | ~1,975 mi | 7–14 days | $8,888 – $11,850 | $10,221 – $13,628 |
| Peoria to Sacramento | ~1,976 mi | 7–14 days | $8,892 – $11,856 | $10,226 – $13,634 |
| Peoria to Stockton | ~1,978 mi | 7–14 days | $8,901 – $11,868 | $10,236 – $13,648 |
| Springfield to Sacramento | ~1,981 mi | 7–14 days | $8,915 – $11,886 | $10,252 – $13,669 |
| Springfield to Stockton | ~1,981 mi | 7–14 days | $8,915 – $11,886 | $10,252 – $13,669 |
| Chicago to Fontana | ~1,983 mi | 7–14 days | $8,924 – $11,898 | $10,262 – $13,683 |
| Chicago to Riverside | ~1,986 mi | 7–14 days | $8,937 – $11,916 | $10,278 – $13,703 |
| Chicago to Ontario | ~1,994 mi | 7–14 days | $8,973 – $11,964 | $10,319 – $13,759 |
| Chicago to Lancaster | ~2,005 mi | 7–14 days | $9,023 – $12,030 | $10,376 – $13,835 |
| Chicago to Anaheim | ~2,010 mi | 7–14 days | $9,045 – $12,060 | $10,402 – $13,869 |
| Chicago to Chula Vista | ~2,014 mi | 7–14 days | $9,063 – $12,084 | $10,422 – $13,897 |
| Chicago to Irvine | ~2,018 mi | 7–14 days | $9,081 – $12,108 | $10,443 – $13,924 |
| Chicago to Los Angeles | 2,019 mi | 7–14 days | $9,086 – $12,114 | $10,448 – $13,931 |
| Chicago to Santa Ana | ~2,022 mi | 7–14 days | $9,099 – $12,132 | $10,464 – $13,952 |
| Peoria to Fremont | ~2,028 mi | 7–14 days | $9,126 – $12,168 | $10,495 – $13,993 |
| Peoria to San Jose | ~2,028 mi | 7–14 days | $9,126 – $12,168 | $10,495 – $13,993 |
| Springfield to Fremont | ~2,030 mi | 7–14 days | $9,135 – $12,180 | $10,505 – $14,007 |
| Springfield to San Jose | ~2,030 mi | 7–14 days | $9,135 – $12,180 | $10,505 – $14,007 |
| Chicago to Bakersfield | ~2,034 mi | 7–14 days | $9,153 – $12,204 | $10,526 – $14,035 |
| Chicago to Santa Clarita | ~2,034 mi | 7–14 days | $9,153 – $12,204 | $10,526 – $14,035 |
| Chicago to Fresno | ~2,035 mi | 7–14 days | $9,158 – $12,210 | $10,531 – $14,042 |
| Chicago to Long Beach | ~2,039 mi | 7–14 days | $9,176 – $12,234 | $10,552 – $14,069 |
| Peoria to Oakland | ~2,040 mi | 7–14 days | $9,180 – $12,240 | $10,557 – $14,076 |
| Springfield to Oakland | ~2,043 mi | 7–14 days | $9,194 – $12,258 | $10,573 – $14,097 |
| Peoria to San Francisco | ~2,049 mi | 7–14 days | $9,221 – $12,294 | $10,604 – $14,138 |
| Springfield to San Francisco | ~2,052 mi | 7–14 days | $9,234 – $12,312 | $10,619 – $14,159 |
| Chicago to Roseville | ~2,071 mi | 7–14 days | $9,320 – $12,426 | $10,717 – $14,290 |
| Chicago to Modesto | ~2,082 mi | 7–14 days | $9,369 – $12,492 | $10,774 – $14,366 |
| Chicago to Oxnard | ~2,084 mi | 7–14 days | $9,378 – $12,504 | $10,785 – $14,380 |
| Chicago to Sacramento | ~2,086 mi | 7–14 days | $9,387 – $12,516 | $10,795 – $14,393 |
| Chicago to Stockton | ~2,091 mi | 7–14 days | $9,410 – $12,546 | $10,821 – $14,428 |
| Chicago to San Francisco | 2,135 mi | 7–14 days | $9,608 – $12,810 | $11,049 – $14,732 |
| Chicago to Fremont | ~2,142 mi | 7–14 days | $9,639 – $12,852 | $11,085 – $14,780 |
| Chicago to San Jose | ~2,143 mi | 7–14 days | $9,644 – $12,858 | $11,090 – $14,787 |
| Chicago to San Diego | 2,146 mi | 7–14 days | $9,657 – $12,876 | $11,106 – $14,807 |
| Chicago to Oakland | ~2,153 mi | 7–14 days | $9,689 – $12,918 | $11,142 – $14,856 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
What the interstate rules give you
A licensed carrier. Active interstate operating authority (an MC number) and a USDOT number, both checkable on the FMCSA register. A company that offers neither is a broker at best.
A written estimate before loading. Binding fixes the price for the listed inventory; non-binding follows the weighed shipment. The carrier cannot demand more than 110% of a non-binding estimate at delivery, with the balance billed within 30 days. Ask for binding not-to-exceed by name, after a survey.
Valuation. Released-value protection is included at 60 cents per pound per item; full-value protection is the upgrade worth buying for 2,019 miles of handling.
A delivery window, in writing. If it is on the bill of lading, missing it entitles you to delay costs. If it is not, it entitles you to an apology.
Interstate movers based in Illinois
351 household-goods carriers in Illinois are active on the FMCSA register. The largest with interstate authority, by registered fleet:
- Risinger Bros Transfer Inc, Morton · USDOT 244981 · 337 trucks
- New World Van Lines Inc, Chicago · USDOT 258748 · 204 trucks
- National Van Lines Inc, Broadview · USDOT 76628 · 174 trucks
- New City Moving & Storage Llc, Chicago · USDOT 4020807 · 82 trucks
- Complete Moving Inc, Arlington Heights · USDOT 4017704 · 80 trucks
At the California end
1,617 household-goods carriers are based in California — useful if you need a local crew after delivery. A local move inside Los Angeles runs about $475 – $775 for a two-bedroom home.
Timing the move
| Home size | October – April, mid-week | Summer weekend (+25%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 bedrooms | $9,086 – $12,114 | $11,358 – $15,143 |
| 3 bedrooms | $10,448 – $13,931 | $13,060 – $17,414 |
Transit is 7 to 14 days. Book ahead: 6 to 8 weeks, 8 to 12 in summer. Trailers on this corridor fill faster in summer, but crews and trucks are stretched, so windows get wider, not shorter.
Other moves from Illinois
Illinois to California moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Illinois to California?
Between the two states' main cities, Chicago and Los Angeles, the distance is 2,019 miles. From our model that is $9,086 – $12,114 for a two-bedroom home and $10,448 – $13,931 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $6,542 – $8,722 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $4,361 – $5,815. Across the 75 city pairs we price between Illinois and California, distances run from 1,829 to 2,153 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Illinois to California take?
Chicago to Los Angeles is 5 days on the road (about 37 hours of driving). The move itself typically takes 7 to 14 days, because at this distance it usually travels on a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households. Get the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 6 to 8 weeks, 8 to 12 in summer.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Illinois to California?
Yes. Any move that crosses from Illinois into California is regulated by the FMCSA, and the carrier must hold active interstate operating authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. Check both on the FMCSA register before you sign. Interstate carriers must give you a written estimate, the federal "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move" booklet, and access to an arbitration programme, and cannot demand more than 110% of a non-binding estimate before releasing your goods.
What is the cheapest way to move from Illinois to California?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $4,361 – $5,815 for a two-bedroom home over 2,019 miles against $9,086 – $12,114 with full-service movers. A container splits the difference and gives you days to load. On any of them, moving between October and April, mid-month and mid-week, is worth another 20 to 30 percent — a peak-season date puts the three-bedroom figure at $13,060 – $17,414 rather than $10,448 – $13,931.