Chicago, IL → San Mateo, CA · Cross-country move

Movers from Chicago to San Mateo

About 2,185 road miles heading west. Typical two-bedroom cost $7,990–$11,880, delivery in 5–10 days, 2,923 carriers on the Chicago side and 332 in San Mateo.

2,185 miroad distance
38 hours (5 driving days)driving time
5–10 daysdelivery window
$7,990–$11,8802-bedroom estimate

Photo: The original uploader was MCB at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 2.5

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Route summary

From: Chicago, Illinois
To: San Mateo, California
Road distance: ≈ 2,185 miles (1,852 straight-line)
Drive time: 38 hours (5 driving days)
Delivery window: 5–10 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 2,923 (2,209 interstate)
Movers at destination: 332 (93 interstate)

Reverse: San Mateo → Chicago

Moving from Chicago to San Mateo is a cross-country move of roughly 2,185 road miles, heading west from Illinois to California.

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 $7,990 to $11,880 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 38 hours (5 driving days).

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 332 around San Mateo (93 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 San Mateo.

Chicago has a population of about 2.7 million and San Mateo about 103,337. Chicago is considerably denser (12,061 people per square mile versus 8,732), so expect tighter loading conditions, parking permits or elevator reservations at the origin and easier truck access at the destination. California is a higher-cost state than Illinois, so budget a little more for destination-side help, deposits and first-month expenses.

Cost of moving from Chicago to San Mateo

Full-service estimate for 2,185 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$3,190	$3,900	$4,750
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$4,790	$5,840	$7,130
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$7,990	$9,740	$11,880
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$12,780	$15,580	$19,010
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$17,570	$21,430	$26,140

Rental truck (DIY)

$3,000–$4,230

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

Portable container

$2,970–$4,370

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

Full-service mover

$7,990–$11,880

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

Moving cost calculator

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

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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)

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

Near San Mateo (destination)

Air Container Transfer

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Act 2 Services INC

USDOT: 1701515
MC: 624529
Based in: Brisbane, CA 94005 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 60 trucks, 48 drivers
USDOT registered: 2007

Call (415) 468-2220 Route Verify on FMCSA

Pcc Logistics

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Pacific Coast Container INC

USDOT: 555398
MC: 274237
Based in: San Leandro, CA 94577 (13 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 36 trucks, 43 drivers
USDOT registered: 1994

Call (510) 346-6100 Route Verify on FMCSA

Forward Logistics INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2107877
MC: 736145
Based in: South San Francisco, CA 94080 (9 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 29 trucks, 30 drivers
USDOT registered: 2011

Call (650) 873-3888 Route Verify on FMCSA

On Point Logistic Solutions INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3492133
MC: 1149694
Based in: San Mateo, CA 94401 (1 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 28 trucks, 40 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (650) 229-4480 Route Verify on FMCSA

Crown Worldwide Moving And Storage LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 2970
MC: 138953
Based in: Union City, CA 94587 (13 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 25 trucks, 18 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (510) 614-4105 Route Verify on FMCSA

Freight Line Express Trucking INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1279465
MC: 559129
Based in: Burlingame, CA 94010 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 23 trucks, 23 drivers
USDOT registered: 2004

Call (650) 552-9928 Route Verify on FMCSA

Nor-Cal Moving Services

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1844592
MC: 670818
Based in: Hayward, CA 94545 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 23 trucks, 19 drivers
USDOT registered: 2009

Call (510) 780-2692 Route Verify on FMCSA

Ontrack Moving LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2551548
MC: 889001
Based in: Hayward, CA 94545 (11 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 20 trucks, 25 drivers
USDOT registered: 2014

Call (510) 751-9113 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 332 movers in San Mateo

Related routes

Other destinations from Chicago

Other origins to San Mateo

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Chicago to San Mateo?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $3,190 to $4,750 for a studio, $4,790 to $7,130 for a one-bedroom, $7,990 to $11,880 for a two-bedroom, $12,780 to $19,010 for a three-bedroom and $17,570 to $26,140 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is San Mateo from Chicago?

About 2,185 road miles (1,852 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 38 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 Illinois into California 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 Chicago to San Mateo?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $3,000 to $4,230 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,970 to $4,370. 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 Chicago–San Mateo corridor.