Moving from Chicago, IL to Missoula, MT
About 1,563 miles across a state line, from Illinois into Montana, 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 Chicago, IL to Missoula, MT covers about 1,563 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $7,034 – $9,378 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 147 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 1,563 miles from Illinois to Montana. 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 $7,034 – $9,378 instead of scaling straight with distance, and also why there is more handling and a looser schedule.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 4 days on the road (about 28 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 Chicago to Missoula
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $5,275 – $7,034 | $3,798 – $5,064 | $2,532 – $3,376 |
| 1 bedroom | $6,330 – $8,440 | $4,558 – $6,077 | $3,038 – $4,051 |
| 2 bedrooms | $7,034 – $9,378 | $5,064 – $6,752 | $3,376 – $4,501 |
| 3 bedrooms | $8,089 – $10,785 | $5,824 – $7,765 | $3,882 – $5,177 |
| 4 bedrooms | $9,144 – $12,191 | $6,583 – $8,778 | $4,389 – $5,852 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $10,550 – $14,067 | $7,596 – $10,128 | $5,064 – $6,752 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,563 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, Chicago to Missoula
1,563 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $7,815. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $7,034 to $9,378, 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 Chicago to Missoula
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 147 people a year (±140) moved from Cook County, IL, home to Chicago, to Missoula County, MT, home to Missoula. Too few went the other way to estimate. Movers from Cook County make up 1.3% of the 10,974 people a year who moved into Missoula County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 80 people a year (±62) moving from Illinois to Montana.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| DuPage County, IL | 21,050 ±1,662 |
| Will County, IL | 12,267 ±1,138 |
| Lake County, IL | 11,414 ±1,215 |
| Lake County, IN | 9,145 ±1,341 |
| Kane County, IL | 8,885 ±1,239 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Flathead County, MT | 1,029 ±524 |
| Yellowstone County, MT | 683 ±293 |
| Cascade County, MT | 575 ±268 |
| Ravalli County, MT | 461 ±163 |
| King County, WA | 424 ±320 |
Licensed movers at each end
154 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Chicago (245 counting those licensed only inside Illinois). 81 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 20.3% of their 615 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New World Van Lines IncUSDOT 258748 | Chicago · 11 mi | 204 trucks | 201 | 14.7% of 129 |
| National Van Lines IncUSDOT 76628 | Broadview · 12 mi | 174 trucks | 143 | 32.1% of 78 |
| New City Moving & Storage LLCUSDOT 4020807 | Chicago · 6 mi | 82 trucks | 17 | 25.0% of 8 |
| Complete Moving IncUSDOT 4017704 | Arlington Heights · 25 mi | 80 trucks | 240 | 19.9% of 186 |
| Em Transfer Services IncUSDOT 2914046 | Addison · 20 mi | 36 trucks | 41 | 33.3% of 15 |
| Hollander International Storage and Moving Company IncUSDOT 131735 | Elk Grove Village · 22 mi | 23 drivers | 5 | 0.0% of 1 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Missoula end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Missoula: Montana Transfer (Missoula, 15 trucks), All Lanes Moving & Storage Inc (Missoula, 5 trucks), Garden City Movers LLC (Missoula, 2 trucks), Service Long Distance Moving LLC (Missoula, 1 truck).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Illinois into Montana, 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 Chicago to Missoula
Insist on a survey
Over 1,563 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 1,563 miles of handling.
Arriving in Missoula
A local move inside Missoula later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $515 – $831 for a two-bedroom home and $867 – $1,533 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Missoula are Spokane (about 198 mi), Boise (about 290 mi), Billings (about 318 mi).
Other routes from Chicago
All routes from Chicago, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago to Milwaukee, WI | ~95 mi | $475 – $775 |
| Chicago to Madison, WI | ~142 mi | $639 – $852 |
| Chicago to Grand Rapids, MI | ~146 mi | $657 – $876 |
| Chicago to Peoria, IL | ~152 mi | $684 – $912 |
| Chicago to Fort Wayne, IN | ~163 mi | $734 – $978 |
| Chicago to Indianapolis, IN | ~192 mi | $864 – $1,152 |
| Chicago to Lansing, MI | ~195 mi | $878 – $1,170 |
| Chicago to Springfield, IL | ~208 mi | $936 – $1,248 |
Also moving to Missoula: from Spokane, WA, from Billings, MT, from Seattle, WA, from Reno, NV.
Chicago to Missoula moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Chicago to Missoula?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 1,563 miles cost about $5,275 – $7,034 for a studio, $7,034 – $9,378 for a two-bedroom home and $8,089 – $10,785 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Chicago to Missoula take?
The drive is 4 days on the road (about 28 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 Chicago to Missoula?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $3,376 – $4,501 for a two-bedroom home, against $7,034 – $9,378 with full-service movers; a moving container is $5,064 – $6,752.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Chicago to Missoula?
Yes. Chicago is in Illinois and Missoula is in Montana, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 154 listed movers within 30 miles of Chicago hold it.
How many people move from Chicago to Missoula each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 147 people a year (margin of error ±140) moved from Cook County, which contains Chicago, to Missoula County, which contains Missoula.
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.