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
Moving from Chicago to Ames is a regional long-distance move of roughly 360 road miles, heading west from Illinois to Iowa.
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 $2,850 to $4,240 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 1 to 3 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 6 h 54 min.
On the Chicago side there are 2,923 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (2,209 of them authorized for interstate work), and 55 around Ames (25 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 Ames.
Chicago has a population of about 2.7 million and Ames about 66,000. Chicago is considerably denser (12,061 people per square mile versus 2,355), so expect tighter loading conditions, parking permits or elevator reservations at the origin and easier truck access at the destination. Labor and living costs run lower in Iowa than in Illinois, which tends to make destination-side services such as unpacking or storage cheaper than the same services back home.
Cost of moving from Chicago to Ames
| Home size | Est. weight | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 2,000 lb | $1,220 | $1,490 | $1,810 |
| 1 Bedroom | 3,000 lb | $1,710 | $2,080 | $2,540 |
| 2 Bedrooms | 5,000 lb | $2,850 | $3,470 | $4,240 |
| 3 Bedrooms | 8,000 lb | $4,560 | $5,560 | $6,780 |
| 4+ Bedrooms | 11,000 lb | $6,270 | $7,640 | $9,320 |
Rental truck (DIY)
$520–$730
One-way truck for the distance, mileage and fuel included; you load and drive.
Portable container
$1,340–$1,970
Container delivered, you load, company transports; transit is slower than a mover.
Full-service mover
$2,850–$4,240
Two-bedroom reference; crew loads, hauls and unloads.
Moving cost calculator
Distance is pre-filled for Chicago, IL → Ames, IA. 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 Chicago (origin)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Near Ames (destination)
Central Iowa Towing And Recovery
Licensed interstate
Legal name: Central Iowa Towing And Recovery INC
- USDOT
- 2359315
- MC
- 1349765
- Based in
- Ames, IA 50010 (2 mi from center)
- Service
- Long-distance
- Fleet
- 88 trucks, 79 drivers
- USDOT registered
- 2012
Hemmen Moving INC
Licensed interstate
Safety: Satisfactory
- USDOT
- 608245
- MC
- 292343
- Based in
- Ames, IA 50014 (4 mi from center)
- Service
- Long-distance
- Fleet
- 8 trucks, 5 drivers
- USDOT registered
- 1995
J T L Transport LLC
Licensed interstate
- USDOT
- 2528339
- MC
- 887466
- Based in
- Randall, IA 50231 (15 mi from center)
- Service
- Long-distance
- Fleet
- 4 trucks, 4 drivers
- USDOT registered
- 2014
V&c Express Corp
Licensed interstate
- USDOT
- 3635053
- MC
- 1246860
- Based in
- Ames, IA 50010 (2 mi from center)
- Service
- Long-distance
- Fleet
- 2 trucks, 1 drivers
- USDOT registered
- 2021
Combined Relocation Services LLC
Licensed interstate
- USDOT
- 1666941
- MC
- 709641
- Based in
- Huxley, IA 50124 (10 mi from center)
- Service
- Long-distance
- Fleet
- 2 trucks, 2 drivers
- USDOT registered
- 2007
Alex Moving LLC
Licensed interstate
- USDOT
- 4346742
- MC
- 1699031
- Based in
- Ames, IA 50010 (2 mi from center)
- Service
- Long-distance
- Fleet
- 1 truck, 2 drivers
- USDOT registered
- 2025
Property Service Agency LLC
Intrastate carrier
- USDOT
- 1433739
- Based in
- Ames, IA 50010 (2 mi from center)
- Service
- Local moves
- Fleet
- 6 trucks, 6 drivers
- USDOT registered
- 2005
M&a Moving And Hauling
Intrastate carrier
Legal name: Myers & Associates LLC
- USDOT
- 2340775
- Based in
- Madrid, IA 50156 (13 mi from center)
- Service
- Local moves
- Fleet
- 2 trucks, 3 drivers
- USDOT registered
- 2012