Moving from Maine to Illinois
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Portland and Chicago it is about 1,035 miles and 3 days on the road (about 19 hours of driving); the 6 city pairs we price between the two states run from 1,035 to 1,303 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.
- ~1,035 miPortland → Chicago
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $4,658+2-bedroom, movers
- 6City routes priced
In short
About 199 people moved from Maine to Illinois in 2024 (Census estimate, ±212). Between Portland and Chicago it is about 1,035 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $4,658 – $6,210 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 16 movers based in Maine hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Maine to Illinois
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 199 people a year (±212). Maine is the 46th-largest of the 48 states sending people to Illinois; Illinois took in about 199,996 from other states in all. The margin of error is as large as the estimate, so read it as a handful of households rather than a count.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland County | Cook County | 54 ±48 |
| Cumberland County | Morgan County | 27 ±37* |
| Cumberland County | Champaign County | 21 ±35* |
| Cumberland County | Ogle County | 17 ±26* |
| Hancock County | Jackson County | 13 ±21* |
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.
Portland to Chicago, 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 Maine and Illinois.
Cost of moving from Maine to Illinois
At about 1,035 miles, full-service movers should land around $4,658 – $6,210 for a two-bedroom home and $5,356 – $7,142 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $3,353 – $4,471; a freight trailer is $2,236 – $2,981.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,493 – $4,658 | $2,515 – $3,353 | $1,677 – $2,236 |
| 1 bedroom | $4,192 – $5,589 | $3,018 – $4,024 | $2,012 – $2,683 |
| 2 bedrooms | $4,658 – $6,210 | $3,353 – $4,471 | $2,236 – $2,981 |
| 3 bedrooms | $5,356 – $7,142 | $3,856 – $5,142 | $2,571 – $3,428 |
| 4 bedrooms | $6,055 – $8,073 | $4,359 – $5,813 | $2,906 – $3,875 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $6,986 – $9,315 | $5,030 – $6,707 | $3,353 – $4,471 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,035 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 Maine to Illinois
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. Run any pair through the calculator for a measured distance.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland to Chicago | ~1,035 mi | 3–7 days | $4,658 – $6,210 | $5,356 – $7,142 |
| Bangor to Chicago | ~1,127 mi | 3–7 days | $5,072 – $6,762 | $5,832 – $7,776 |
| Portland to Peoria | ~1,176 mi | 3–7 days | $5,292 – $7,056 | $6,086 – $8,114 |
| Portland to Springfield | ~1,203 mi | 7–14 days | $5,414 – $7,218 | $6,226 – $8,301 |
| Bangor to Peoria | ~1,271 mi | 7–14 days | $5,720 – $7,626 | $6,577 – $8,770 |
| Bangor to Springfield | ~1,303 mi | 7–14 days | $5,864 – $7,818 | $6,743 – $8,991 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Maine
10 of the 16 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 25 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 2 of 14 vehicle inspections (14.3%), below the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 2 of 25 driver inspections (8.0%, against 13.0%). With fewer than 30 vehicle inspections, a single out-of-service order moves that rate by several points, so treat it as a small sample. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty Bell Moving & Storage IncSouth Portland, ME · USDOT 1846942 | 7 | 1 of 3 | 2 of 7 |
| Allen's Transfer & Storage LLCAugusta, ME · USDOT 4357146 | 6 | 0 of 4 | 0 of 6 |
| Knowlton Moving and Storage CorpWarren, ME · USDOT 2371561 | 2 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 2 |
| J C Moving LLCPortland, ME · USDOT 3266900 | 2 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 2 |
| Earle W Noyes & Sons Moving SpecialistsPortland, ME · USDOT 51022 | 2 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 2 |
| Gore Moving & Storage IncWindham, ME · USDOT 714881 | 2 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 2 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
39 listed household-goods carriers are based in Maine, 16 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Maine directory ranks them. At the Illinois end, 341 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Illinois, moving costs in Illinois, or the reverse trip, Illinois to Maine. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Maine
Maine to Illinois moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Maine to Illinois?
Between the two states' main cities, Portland and Chicago, the distance is about 1,035 miles. From our model that is $4,658 – $6,210 for a two-bedroom home and $5,356 – $7,142 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $3,353 – $4,471 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $2,236 – $2,981. Across the 6 city pairs we price between Maine and Illinois, distances run from 1,035 to 1,303 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Maine to Illinois take?
Portland to Chicago is 3 days on the road (about 19 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 Maine to Illinois?
Yes. A move from Maine into Illinois is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 39 listed movers based in Maine, 16 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Maine.
What is the cheapest way to move from Maine to Illinois?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $2,236 – $2,981 for a two-bedroom home over 1,035 miles against $4,658 – $6,210 with full-service movers. A container, about $3,353 – $4,471, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Maine to Illinois each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 199 people (±212) moved from Maine to Illinois that year. That makes Maine the 46th-largest source of new residents for Illinois among the states.