Moving from Illinois to Virginia
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Chicago and Virginia Beach it is about 830 miles and 2 days on the road (about 15 hours of driving); the 15 city pairs we price between the two states run from 690 to 908 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.
- ~830 miChicago → Virginia Beach
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $3,735+2-bedroom, movers
- 15City routes priced
In short
About 6,488 people moved from Illinois to Virginia in 2024 (Census estimate, ±1,960), and about 4,974 went the other way. Between Chicago and Virginia Beach it is about 830 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $3,735 – $4,980 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 216 movers based in Illinois hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Illinois to Virginia
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 6,488 people a year (±1,960), against about 4,974 (±2,291) from Virginia to Illinois, so Virginia gains about 1,514 people a year on this exchange. Illinois is the 12th-largest of the 49 states sending people to Virginia; Virginia took in about 265,444 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Lake County | Norfolk City | 866 ±256 |
| Lake County | Virginia Beach City | 693 ±256 |
| Cook County | Fairfax County | 416 ±171 |
| Cook County | Virginia Beach City | 317 ±248 |
| Cook County | Arlington County | 285 ±171 |
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.
Chicago to Virginia Beach, 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 Virginia.
Cost of moving from Illinois to Virginia
At about 830 miles, full-service movers should land around $3,735 – $4,980 for a two-bedroom home and $4,295 – $5,727 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $2,689 – $3,586; a freight trailer is $1,793 – $2,390.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,801 – $3,735 | $2,017 – $2,689 | $1,345 – $1,793 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,362 – $4,482 | $2,420 – $3,227 | $1,614 – $2,151 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,735 – $4,980 | $2,689 – $3,586 | $1,793 – $2,390 |
| 3 bedrooms | $4,295 – $5,727 | $3,093 – $4,123 | $2,062 – $2,749 |
| 4 bedrooms | $4,856 – $6,474 | $3,496 – $4,661 | $2,331 – $3,108 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $5,603 – $7,470 | $4,034 – $5,378 | $2,689 – $3,586 |
Transport only, for an estimated 830 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 Virginia
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 4 have a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago to Arlington | ~690 mi | 3–7 days | $3,105 – $4,140 | $3,571 – $4,761 |
| Chicago to Richmond | ~721 mi | 3–7 days | $3,245 – $4,326 | $3,731 – $4,975 |
| Springfield to Arlington | ~785 mi | 3–7 days | $3,533 – $4,710 | $4,062 – $5,416 |
| Peoria to Arlington | ~787 mi | 3–7 days | $3,542 – $4,722 | $4,073 – $5,430 |
| Springfield to Richmond | ~789 mi | 3–7 days | $3,551 – $4,734 | $4,083 – $5,444 |
| Peoria to Richmond | ~800 mi | 3–7 days | $3,600 – $4,800 | $4,140 – $5,520 |
| Chicago to Norfolk | ~813 mi | 3–7 days | $3,659 – $4,878 | $4,207 – $5,610 |
| Chicago to Chesapeake | ~820 mi | 3–7 days | $3,690 – $4,920 | $4,243 – $5,658 |
| Chicago to Virginia Beach | ~830 mi | 3–7 days | $3,735 – $4,980 | $4,295 – $5,727 |
| Springfield to Norfolk | ~876 mi | 3–7 days | $3,942 – $5,256 | $4,533 – $6,044 |
| Springfield to Chesapeake | ~880 mi | 3–7 days | $3,960 – $5,280 | $4,554 – $6,072 |
| Peoria to Norfolk | ~890 mi | 3–7 days | $4,005 – $5,340 | $4,606 – $6,141 |
| Peoria to Chesapeake | ~895 mi | 3–7 days | $4,028 – $5,370 | $4,632 – $6,176 |
| Springfield to Virginia Beach | ~895 mi | 3–7 days | $4,028 – $5,370 | $4,632 – $6,176 |
| Peoria to Virginia Beach | ~908 mi | 3–7 days | $4,086 – $5,448 | $4,699 – $6,265 |
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 Virginia end, 411 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Virginia, moving costs in Virginia, or the reverse trip, Virginia 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 Virginia moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Illinois to Virginia?
Between the two states' main cities, Chicago and Virginia Beach, the distance is about 830 miles. From our model that is $3,735 – $4,980 for a two-bedroom home and $4,295 – $5,727 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $2,689 – $3,586 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $1,793 – $2,390. Across the 15 city pairs we price between Illinois and Virginia, distances run from 690 to 908 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Illinois to Virginia take?
Chicago to Virginia Beach is 2 days on the road (about 15 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 Virginia?
Yes. A move from Illinois into Virginia 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 Virginia?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $1,793 – $2,390 for a two-bedroom home over 830 miles against $3,735 – $4,980 with full-service movers. A container, about $2,689 – $3,586, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Illinois to Virginia each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 6,488 people (±1,960) moved from Illinois to Virginia that year, against about 4,974 (±2,291) from Virginia to Illinois. That makes Illinois the 12th-largest source of new residents for Virginia among the states.