Moving from Illinois to Louisiana
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Chicago and New Orleans it is about 973 miles and 2 days on the road (about 18 hours of driving); the 12 city pairs we price between the two states run from 645 to 983 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.
- ~973 miChicago → New Orleans
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $4,379+2-bedroom, movers
- 12City routes priced
In short
About 1,715 people moved from Illinois to Louisiana in 2024 (Census estimate, ±1,094), and about 2,737 went the other way. Between Chicago and New Orleans it is about 973 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $4,379 – $5,838 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 216 movers based in Illinois hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Illinois to Louisiana
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 1,715 people a year (±1,094), against about 2,737 (±1,315) from Louisiana to Illinois, so Louisiana loses about 1,022 people a year on this exchange. Illinois is the 13th-largest of the 43 states sending people to Louisiana; Louisiana took in about 70,992 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Cook County | Orleans Parish | 284 ±125 |
| Cook County | East Baton Rouge Parish | 206 ±217* |
| Cook County | Natchitoches Parish | 188 ±271* |
| Lake County | Terrebonne Parish | 148 ±205* |
| Cook County | Jefferson Parish | 130 ±156* |
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 New Orleans, 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 Louisiana.
Cost of moving from Illinois to Louisiana
At about 973 miles, full-service movers should land around $4,379 – $5,838 for a two-bedroom home and $5,035 – $6,714 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $3,153 – $4,203; a freight trailer is $2,102 – $2,802.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,284 – $4,379 | $2,364 – $3,153 | $1,576 – $2,102 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,941 – $5,254 | $2,837 – $3,783 | $1,892 – $2,522 |
| 2 bedrooms | $4,379 – $5,838 | $3,153 – $4,203 | $2,102 – $2,802 |
| 3 bedrooms | $5,035 – $6,714 | $3,625 – $4,834 | $2,417 – $3,223 |
| 4 bedrooms | $5,692 – $7,589 | $4,098 – $5,464 | $2,732 – $3,643 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $6,568 – $8,757 | $4,729 – $6,305 | $3,153 – $4,203 |
Transport only, for an estimated 973 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 Louisiana
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 2 have a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield to Shreveport | ~645 mi | 3–7 days | $2,903 – $3,870 | $3,338 – $4,450 |
| Peoria to Shreveport | ~712 mi | 3–7 days | $3,204 – $4,272 | $3,685 – $4,913 |
| Springfield to Baton Rouge | ~760 mi | 3–7 days | $3,420 – $4,560 | $3,933 – $5,244 |
| Springfield to Lafayette | ~789 mi | 3–7 days | $3,551 – $4,734 | $4,083 – $5,444 |
| Springfield to New Orleans | ~793 mi | 3–7 days | $3,569 – $4,758 | $4,104 – $5,472 |
| Peoria to Baton Rouge | ~832 mi | 3–7 days | $3,744 – $4,992 | $4,306 – $5,741 |
| Chicago to Shreveport | ~850 mi | 3–7 days | $3,825 – $5,100 | $4,399 – $5,865 |
| Peoria to Lafayette | ~860 mi | 3–7 days | $3,870 – $5,160 | $4,450 – $5,934 |
| Peoria to New Orleans | ~866 mi | 3–7 days | $3,897 – $5,196 | $4,482 – $5,975 |
| Chicago to Baton Rouge | 916 mi | 3–7 days | $4,122 – $5,496 | $4,740 – $6,320 |
| Chicago to New Orleans | ~973 mi | 3–7 days | $4,379 – $5,838 | $5,035 – $6,714 |
| Chicago to Lafayette | ~983 mi | 3–7 days | $4,424 – $5,898 | $5,087 – $6,783 |
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 Louisiana end, 70 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Louisiana, moving costs in Louisiana, or the reverse trip, Louisiana 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 Louisiana moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Illinois to Louisiana?
Between the two states' main cities, Chicago and New Orleans, the distance is about 973 miles. From our model that is $4,379 – $5,838 for a two-bedroom home and $5,035 – $6,714 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $3,153 – $4,203 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $2,102 – $2,802. Across the 12 city pairs we price between Illinois and Louisiana, distances run from 645 to 983 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Illinois to Louisiana take?
Chicago to New Orleans is 2 days on the road (about 18 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 Louisiana?
Yes. A move from Illinois into Louisiana 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 Louisiana?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $2,102 – $2,802 for a two-bedroom home over 973 miles against $4,379 – $5,838 with full-service movers. A container, about $3,153 – $4,203, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Illinois to Louisiana each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 1,715 people (±1,094) moved from Illinois to Louisiana that year, against about 2,737 (±1,315) from Louisiana to Illinois. That makes Illinois the 13th-largest source of new residents for Louisiana among the states.