Moving from Illinois to Montana
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Chicago and Billings it is about 1,249 miles and 3 days on the road (about 23 hours of driving); the 6 city pairs we price between the two states run from 1,180 to 1,563 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.
- ~1,249 miChicago → Billings
- 7–14 daysTypical transit
- $5,621+2-bedroom, movers
- 6City routes priced
In short
About 80 people moved from Illinois to Montana in 2024 (Census estimate, ±62). Between Chicago and Billings it is about 1,249 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $5,621 – $7,494 in our model, delivered in 7–14 days. 216 movers based in Illinois hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Illinois to Montana
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 80 people a year (±62). Illinois is the 37th-largest of the 45 states sending people to Montana; Montana took in about 35,735 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Cook County | Missoula County | 147 ±140 |
| Cook County | Flathead County | 137 ±135 |
| Cook County | Lewis and Clark County | 111 ±125* |
| St. Clair County | Cascade County | 65 ±62 |
| DuPage County | Ravalli County | 59 ±71* |
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 Billings, 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 Montana.
Cost of moving from Illinois to Montana
At about 1,249 miles, full-service movers should land around $5,621 – $7,494 for a two-bedroom home and $6,464 – $8,618 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $4,047 – $5,396; a freight trailer is $2,698 – $3,597.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $4,215 – $5,621 | $3,035 – $4,047 | $2,023 – $2,698 |
| 1 bedroom | $5,058 – $6,745 | $3,642 – $4,856 | $2,428 – $3,237 |
| 2 bedrooms | $5,621 – $7,494 | $4,047 – $5,396 | $2,698 – $3,597 |
| 3 bedrooms | $6,464 – $8,618 | $4,654 – $6,205 | $3,103 – $4,137 |
| 4 bedrooms | $7,307 – $9,742 | $5,261 – $7,014 | $3,507 – $4,676 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $8,431 – $11,241 | $6,070 – $8,094 | $4,047 – $5,396 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,249 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 Montana
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria to Billings | ~1,180 mi | 3–7 days | $5,310 – $7,080 | $6,107 – $8,142 |
| Springfield to Billings | ~1,211 mi | 7–14 days | $5,450 – $7,266 | $6,267 – $8,356 |
| Chicago to Billings | ~1,249 mi | 7–14 days | $5,621 – $7,494 | $6,464 – $8,618 |
| Peoria to Missoula | ~1,497 mi | 7–14 days | $6,737 – $8,982 | $7,747 – $10,329 |
| Springfield to Missoula | ~1,529 mi | 7–14 days | $6,881 – $9,174 | $7,913 – $10,550 |
| Chicago to Missoula | ~1,563 mi | 7–14 days | $7,034 – $9,378 | $8,089 – $10,785 |
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 Montana end, 30 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Montana, moving costs in Montana, or the reverse trip, Montana 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 Montana moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Illinois to Montana?
Between the two states' main cities, Chicago and Billings, the distance is about 1,249 miles. From our model that is $5,621 – $7,494 for a two-bedroom home and $6,464 – $8,618 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $4,047 – $5,396 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $2,698 – $3,597. Across the 6 city pairs we price between Illinois and Montana, distances run from 1,180 to 1,563 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Illinois to Montana take?
Chicago to Billings is 3 days on the road (about 23 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 Montana?
Yes. A move from Illinois into Montana 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 Montana?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $2,698 – $3,597 for a two-bedroom home over 1,249 miles against $5,621 – $7,494 with full-service movers. A container, about $4,047 – $5,396, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Illinois to Montana each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 80 people (±62) moved from Illinois to Montana that year. That makes Illinois the 37th-largest source of new residents for Montana among the states.