Bakersfield, CA → Chicago, IL · Cross-country move

Movers from Bakersfield to Chicago

About 2,054 road miles heading northeast. Typical two-bedroom cost $7,750–$11,530, delivery in 5–10 days, 270 carriers on the Bakersfield side and 2,923 in Chicago.

2,054 miroad distance
36 hours (5 driving days)driving time
5–10 daysdelivery window
$7,750–$11,5302-bedroom estimate

Photo: File:Chicago River ferry.jpg: John Picken derivative work: Georgfotoart · CC BY 2.0

Open navigation Google Maps Apple Maps Waze

Route summary

From: Bakersfield, California
To: Chicago, Illinois
Road distance: ≈ 2,054 miles (1,741 straight-line)
Drive time: 36 hours (5 driving days)
Delivery window: 5–10 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 270 (144 interstate)
Movers at destination: 2,923 (2,209 interstate)

Reverse: Chicago → Bakersfield

Moving from Bakersfield to Chicago is a cross-country move of roughly 2,054 road miles, heading northeast from California to Illinois.

At this distance carriers price by shipment weight and mileage rather than by the hour. A two-bedroom home (around 5,000 lb of goods) typically costs $7,750 to $11,530 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 5 to 10 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 36 hours (5 driving days).

On the Bakersfield side there are 270 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (144 of them authorized for interstate work), and 2,923 around Chicago (2,209 interstate). For an interstate move you can book from either end; movers near the origin handle loading and are usually the better first call, while a destination-side company can be useful if you need storage or delivery-day help in Chicago.

Bakersfield has a population of about 422,165 and Chicago about 2.7 million. Chicago is the denser city (12,061 people per square mile versus 2,693 in Bakersfield), which often means shuttle trucks, parking restrictions or building move-in windows on delivery day. Labor and living costs run lower in Illinois than in California, which tends to make destination-side services such as unpacking or storage cheaper than the same services back home.

Cost of moving from Bakersfield to Chicago

Full-service estimate for 2,054 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$3,100	$3,780	$4,610
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$4,650	$5,670	$6,920
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$7,750	$9,450	$11,530
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$12,400	$15,120	$18,440
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$17,050	$20,790	$25,360

Rental truck (DIY)

$2,860–$4,040

One-way truck for the distance, mileage and fuel included; you load and drive.

Portable container

$2,850–$4,200

Container delivered, you load, company transports; transit is slower than a mover.

Full-service mover

$7,750–$11,530

Two-bedroom reference; crew loads, hauls and unloads.

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Bakersfield, CA → Chicago, IL. Adjust the other options to see your range.

—to—

Typical full-service range.

Estimates use market baselines described on the cost guide; your quotes will vary by inventory, access and date.

Moving companies for this route

Near Bakersfield (origin)

F B T INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 1662332
MC: 611291
Based in: Bakersfield, CA 93313 (13 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 250 trucks, 260 drivers
USDOT registered: 2007

Call (661) 952-9195 Route Verify on FMCSA

Roadies INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2532550
MC: 880258
Based in: Bakersfield, CA 93307 (9 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 141 trucks, 332 drivers
USDOT registered: 2014

Call (661) 214-8880 Route Verify on FMCSA

Stevens Trucking Company

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Stevens Transportation INC

USDOT: 145059
MC: 1418017
Based in: Bakersfield, CA 93307 (9 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 112 trucks, 89 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (661) 366-3286 Route Verify on FMCSA

Arora Enterprise INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1835079
MC: 665263
Based in: Bakersfield, CA 93313 (13 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 80 trucks, 85 drivers
USDOT registered: 2008

Call (661) 343-2647 Route Verify on FMCSA

P E I

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Patiala Express INC

USDOT: 2051219
MC: 762376
Based in: Bakersfield, CA 93308 (14 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 60 trucks, 68 drivers
USDOT registered: 2010

Call (661) 889-1209 Route Verify on FMCSA

Sidhu Truck Line INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 836260
MC: 457298
Based in: Bakersfield, CA 93308 (14 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 51 trucks, 73 drivers
USDOT registered: 1999

Call (661) 735-1111 Route Verify on FMCSA

Isla Solutions INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4394496
MC: 1724252
Based in: Bakersfield, CA 93309 (2 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 40 trucks, 75 drivers
USDOT registered: 2025

Call (323) 323-3365 Route Verify on FMCSA

Sohi Transport INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1587174
MC: 587583
Based in: Bakersfield, CA 93313 (13 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 36 trucks, 26 drivers
USDOT registered: 2006

Call (661) 556-3680 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 270 movers in Bakersfield

Near Chicago (destination)

Nova Lines INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2559423
MC: 892806
Based in: Bridgeview, IL 60455 (9 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 1,298 trucks, 1,298 drivers
USDOT registered: 2014

Call (847) 881-0432 Route Verify on FMCSA

Hmd Trucking INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 976560
MC: 415186
Based in: Chicago Ridge, IL 60415 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 409 trucks, 375 drivers
USDOT registered: 2001

Call (708) 398-6237 Route Verify on FMCSA

Cdn Logistics INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 781203
MC: 332177
Based in: Northlake, IL 60164 (12 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 310 trucks, 260 drivers
USDOT registered: 1998

Call (708) 344-5555 Route Verify on FMCSA

Hub Group

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Hub Group Dedicated LLC

USDOT: 801828
MC: 357193
Based in: Oak Brook, IL 60523 (14 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 2,505 trucks, 3,194 drivers
USDOT registered: 1999

Call (630) 271-3600 Route Verify on FMCSA

Fx

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Freight Exchange Of North America LLC

USDOT: 1194542
MC: 471387
Based in: Franklin Park, IL 60131 (12 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 218 trucks, 219 drivers
USDOT registered: 2003

Call (312) 612-2200 Route Verify on FMCSA

New World Van Lines INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 258748
MC: 162485
Based in: Chicago, IL 60646 (12 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 204 trucks, 189 drivers
USDOT registered: 1985

Call (773) 509-5937 Route Verify on FMCSA

Liv Transportation INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2196716
MC: 762386
Based in: Bridgeview, IL 60455 (9 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 201 trucks, 201 drivers
USDOT registered: 2011

Call (708) 401-7441 Route Verify on FMCSA

Celtic Cartage INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 1197429
MC: 476351
Based in: Palos Hills, IL 60465 (12 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 185 trucks, 185 drivers
USDOT registered: 2004

Call (708) 974-1405 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 2,923 movers in Chicago

Tips for this move

Ask about consolidated versus dedicated truck options—dedicated is faster but costs more.
Read the FMCSA 'Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move' booklet the carrier must provide.
Ship the car separately if you plan to fly; auto transport is priced by the mile like household goods.
Confirm which items the mover will not carry (plants, perishables, propane, some batteries).

Near Bakersfield

Near Chicago

Related routes

Other destinations from Bakersfield

Other origins to Chicago

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Bakersfield to Chicago?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $3,100 to $4,610 for a studio, $4,650 to $6,920 for a one-bedroom, $7,750 to $11,530 for a two-bedroom, $12,400 to $18,440 for a three-bedroom and $17,050 to $25,360 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Chicago from Bakersfield?

About 2,054 road miles (1,741 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 36 hours (5 driving days).

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 5 to 10 days after pickup. Carriers give a spread rather than a fixed date because long-distance trucks carry several shipments; a dedicated truck or expedited service shortens the window for an extra fee.

Does my mover need interstate authority for this move?

Yes. Crossing from California into Illinois makes this an interstate move, so the carrier must hold active FMCSA operating authority (an MC number) in addition to its USDOT number. The company cards on this page flag which carriers are authorized for interstate work.

Is it cheaper to rent a truck or use a container for Bakersfield to Chicago?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $2,860 to $4,040 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,850 to $4,200. Both save money versus a full-service crew but you do the loading, and container transit can take longer than a mover's delivery window.

When is the least expensive time to book this move?

Rates are highest in summer and around the last days of any month, when demand peaks. Mid-month, mid-week and winter dates are usually quoted below the standard rate. Booking four to eight weeks ahead gives you the widest choice of carriers on the Bakersfield–Chicago corridor.