Johnson City, TN → Chicago, IL · Long-distance move

Movers from Johnson City to Chicago

About 560 road miles heading northwest. Typical two-bedroom cost $3,530–$5,250, delivery in 2–5 days, 93 carriers on the Johnson City side and 2,923 in Chicago.

560 miroad distance
10 h 21 mindriving time
2–5 daysdelivery window
$3,530–$5,2502-bedroom estimate

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

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Route summary

From: Johnson City, Tennessee
To: Chicago, Illinois
Road distance: ≈ 560 miles (474 straight-line)
Drive time: 10 h 21 min
Delivery window: 2–5 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 93 (59 interstate)
Movers at destination: 2,923 (2,209 interstate)

Reverse: Chicago → Johnson City

Chicago sits about 560 miles northwest of Johnson City, which makes this an interstate relocation from Tennessee to Illinois that most movers classify as a long-distance move.

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 $3,530 to $5,250 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 2 to 5 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 10 h 21 min.

On the Johnson City side there are 93 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (59 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.

Johnson City has a population of about 74,000 and Chicago about 2.7 million. Chicago is the denser city (12,061 people per square mile versus 1,633 in Johnson City), which often means shuttle trucks, parking restrictions or building move-in windows on delivery day. Illinois is a higher-cost state than Tennessee, so budget a little more for destination-side help, deposits and first-month expenses. Note that Illinois does collect a state income tax, unlike Tennessee, so factor that into the cost-of-living comparison.

Cost of moving from Johnson City to Chicago

Full-service estimate for 560 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$1,410	$1,720	$2,100
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$2,120	$2,580	$3,150
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$3,530	$4,310	$5,250
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$5,650	$6,890	$8,410
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$7,770	$9,470	$11,560

Rental truck (DIY)

$880–$1,240

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

Portable container

$1,520–$2,240

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

Full-service mover

$3,530–$5,250

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Johnson City, TN → Chicago, IL. 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 Johnson City (origin)

Cox Disposal INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 701359
MC: 66967
Based in: Bluff City, TN 37618 (13 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 16 trucks, 8 drivers
USDOT registered: 1997

Call (423) 538-4104 Route Verify on FMCSA

Sheepdog Transport

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Black Barn Farm LLC

USDOT: 3545701
MC: 136488
Based in: Elizabethton, TN 37643 (15 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 16 trucks, 16 drivers
USDOT registered: 2021

Call (772) 323-8127 Route Verify on FMCSA

Eastern Tennessee Transport LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2382126
MC: 818191
Based in: Blountville, TN 37617 (13 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 15 trucks, 11 drivers
USDOT registered: 2013

Call (423) 612-3377 Route Verify on FMCSA

Wcp Transportation LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 763762
MC: 343871
Based in: Gray, TN 37615 (6 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 12 trucks, 10 drivers
USDOT registered: 1998

Call (423) 232-0045 Route Verify on FMCSA

Tri City Logistics INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1577982
MC: 598650
Based in: Kingsport, TN 37663 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 12 trucks, 10 drivers
USDOT registered: 2006

Call (423) 279-1771 Route Verify on FMCSA

Olivers Transport LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3981761
MC: 1491041
Based in: Elizabethton, TN 37643 (15 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 12 trucks, 12 drivers
USDOT registered: 2022

Call (423) 543-0028 Route Verify on FMCSA

J & L Trucking INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1411363
MC: 534652
Based in: Piney Flats, TN 37686 (7 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 6 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered: 2005

Call (423) 946-3748 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bennett'S Moving Services

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Bms Enterprises LLC

USDOT: 2917922
MC: 1072695
Based in: Elizabethton, TN 37643 (15 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 6 trucks, 6 drivers
USDOT registered: 2016

Call (423) 512-2850 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 93 movers in Johnson City

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

Declutter first: long-haul pricing is by weight, so every hundred pounds you sell or donate saves money.
Check whether a shuttle truck is needed in Chicago if a 53-foot trailer cannot reach your street.
Keep vehicle titles, passports and prescriptions with you; movers cannot carry some items at all.
Insist on a binding or binding-not-to-exceed estimate after an in-home or video survey.

Near Johnson City

Near Chicago

Related routes

Other destinations from Johnson City

Other origins to Chicago

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Johnson City to Chicago?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $1,410 to $2,100 for a studio, $2,120 to $3,150 for a one-bedroom, $3,530 to $5,250 for a two-bedroom, $5,650 to $8,410 for a three-bedroom and $7,770 to $11,560 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Chicago from Johnson City?

About 560 road miles (474 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 10 h 21 min.

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 2 to 5 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 Tennessee 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 Johnson City to Chicago?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $880 to $1,240 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,520 to $2,240. 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 Johnson City–Chicago corridor.