Palo Alto, CA → Joliet, IL · Cross-country move

Movers from Palo Alto to Joliet

About 2,152 road miles heading east. Typical two-bedroom cost $7,930–$11,790, delivery in 5–10 days, 233 carriers on the Palo Alto side and 694 in Joliet.

2,152 miroad distance
37 hours (5 driving days)driving time
5–10 daysdelivery window
$7,930–$11,7902-bedroom estimate

Photo: Dennisyerger84 · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Route summary

From: Palo Alto, California
To: Joliet, Illinois
Road distance: ≈ 2,152 miles (1,824 straight-line)
Drive time: 37 hours (5 driving days)
Delivery window: 5–10 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 233 (62 interstate)
Movers at destination: 694 (561 interstate)

Reverse: Joliet → Palo Alto

Moving from Palo Alto to Joliet is a cross-country move of roughly 2,152 road miles, heading east 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 $7,930 to $11,790 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 37 hours (5 driving days).

On the Palo Alto side there are 233 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (62 of them authorized for interstate work), and 694 around Joliet (561 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 Joliet.

Palo Alto has a population of about 67,000 and Joliet about 152,241. The two cities have comparable density (2,851 and 2,331 people per square mile), so loading and unloading conditions are usually similar at both ends. 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 Palo Alto to Joliet

Full-service estimate for 2,152 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$3,170	$3,870	$4,720
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$4,760	$5,800	$7,080
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$7,930	$9,670	$11,790
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$12,680	$15,470	$18,870
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$17,440	$21,260	$25,940

Rental truck (DIY)

$2,960–$4,180

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

Portable container

$2,940–$4,320

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

Full-service mover

$7,930–$11,790

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Palo Alto, CA → Joliet, 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 Palo Alto (origin)

Piranha Ops LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3389468
MC: 1089109
Based in: San Jose, CA 95126 (13 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 49 trucks, 100 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (510) 798-4604 Route Verify on FMCSA

Kilam INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3251388
MC: 1023623
Based in: Fremont, CA 94538 (13 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 30 trucks, 68 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (415) 740-2340 Route Verify on FMCSA

Crown Worldwide Moving And Storage LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 2970
MC: 138953
Based in: Union City, CA 94587 (14 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 25 trucks, 18 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (510) 614-4105 Route Verify on FMCSA

Lucid USA INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3488549
MC: 1147342
Based in: Newark, CA 94560 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 22 trucks, 38 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (341) 236-1056 Route Verify on FMCSA

Managed Facility Solutions

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Managed Facilities Solutions LLC

USDOT: 2974713
MC: 10809
Based in: San Jose, CA 95131 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 22 trucks, 43 drivers
USDOT registered: 2017

Call (408) 920-0110 Route Verify on FMCSA

Careful Movers

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Careful Movers INC

USDOT: 1464935
MC: 553377
Based in: Union City, CA 94587 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 14 trucks, 14 drivers
USDOT registered: 2006

Call (650) 595-8400 Route Verify on FMCSA

Arjak&agnes Sons Trucking

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3247717
MC: 1021407
Based in: Santa Clara, CA 95050 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 7 trucks, 6 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (510) 359-9498 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mav Moving LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4340425
MC: 77787146
Based in: Newark, CA 94560 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 6 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2024

Call (510) 456-5745 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 233 movers in Palo Alto

Near Joliet (destination)

Forsage INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2588231
MC: 907486
Based in: Channahon, IL 60410 (7 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 600 trucks, 600 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (630) 423-5001 Route Verify on FMCSA

Em Cargo LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3073738
MC: 62685
Based in: Lemont, IL 60439 (14 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 260 trucks, 260 drivers
USDOT registered: 2017

Call (708) 669-0406 Route Verify on FMCSA

Legacy Express Trucking INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1744355
MC: 772181
Based in: Joliet, IL 60435 (2 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 205 trucks, 165 drivers
USDOT registered: 2008

Call (708) 897-0580 Route Verify on FMCSA

Vynera Transportation INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1585417
MC: 586954
Based in: Romeoville, IL 60446 (8 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 185 trucks, 185 drivers
USDOT registered: 2006

Call (815) 630-5362 Route Verify on FMCSA

Prima Express INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 1313194
MC: 527982
Based in: Joliet, IL 60432 (6 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 165 trucks, 150 drivers
USDOT registered: 2004

Call (815) 372-9190 Route Verify on FMCSA

Tva Logistics INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2555496
MC: 890930
Based in: Plainfield, IL 60544 (8 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 150 trucks, 163 drivers
USDOT registered: 2014

Call (815) 306-0330 Route Verify on FMCSA

Road King Express INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2578534
MC: 902373
Based in: Romeoville, IL 60446 (8 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 138 trucks, 124 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (708) 377-9699 Route Verify on FMCSA

Zmile INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3342792
MC: 1067250
Based in: Romeoville, IL 60446 (8 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 120 trucks, 120 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (630) 339-2721 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 694 movers in Joliet

Related routes

Other destinations from Palo Alto

Other origins to Joliet

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Palo Alto to Joliet?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $3,170 to $4,720 for a studio, $4,760 to $7,080 for a one-bedroom, $7,930 to $11,790 for a two-bedroom, $12,680 to $18,870 for a three-bedroom and $17,440 to $25,940 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Joliet from Palo Alto?

About 2,152 road miles (1,824 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 37 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 Palo Alto to Joliet?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $2,960 to $4,180 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,940 to $4,320. 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 Palo Alto–Joliet corridor.