- Road distance
- about 1,800 miles
- Usual corridor
- I-55, I-44 and I-40, then I-17 south
- Driving alone
- at least 4 days for a loaded truck
- Chicago loading
- Parking, elevator and building rules settled before the truck arrives
What it costs to move from Chicago to Arizona
| Home | Typical weight | Linehaul planning range |
|---|---|---|
| Few items | about 1,200 lb | $1,100 to $1,750 |
| Studio | about 2,000 lb | $1,350 to $2,100 |
| 1 bedroom | about 3,000 lb | $2,000 to $3,200 |
| 2 bedroom | about 5,500 lb | $3,650 to $5,850 |
| 3 bedroom | about 8,500 lb | $5,650 to $9,050 |
| 4 bedroom | about 12,000 lb | $7,950 to $12,750 |
A family moving from a Chicago-area house with a basement often gets to a Valley home without one. It pays to sort before your survey, because you will have less storage at the far end and you pay for each pound on the way there.
Delivering in the Valley
Most of the Phoenix metro has good truck access, though many subdivisions have HOA rules on where a truck can park and when it can unload. Ask for those rules when you get your closing date. Gated communities may need the crew's details in advance.
Scottsdale, Gilbert, Chandler and Mesa are all part of the same metro delivery area. Tucson adds about 115 miles beyond Phoenix.
Handling Arizona heat
Phoenix regularly tops 100 degrees in summer, and a loaded trailer gets far hotter than that. Plan accordingly:
- Carry them yourself: candles, cosmetics, medication, photographs, records and computer drives.
- Book the early slot: unloading in the morning is safer for the crew and easier on your things.
- Run the air conditioning first: cool the house before furniture arrives, because wood and upholstery react to rapid temperature swings.
- Pack paint and aerosols out: these aren't allowed on the truck in any case.
October through April is a much easier delivery window, and it is also when many Chicago households prefer to arrive.
If you need a gap between homes, ask about storage in transit, and make sure any storage is climate controlled. Our moving to Arizona guide covers what else changes.