The Route: Scottsdale to Chicago

The drive from Scottsdale to Chicago runs about 1,750 miles. Most crews head north out of the Valley on I-17 to Flagstaff, run east on I-40 across northern Arizona, New Mexico, and the Texas Panhandle to Oklahoma City, and then take I-44 northeast through Missouri and I-55 north into Illinois and Chicago. On a household move this size, we usually quote a delivery window of about 5 to 8 days, depending on how much you are shipping and when you book.

Chicago is a major change from Scottsdale. It is one of the largest metro areas in the country, with a dense city core, a big transit system, and four full seasons that include long, cold winters. Scottsdale people who move here usually come for a job, family, or the city itself, and most say the first winter is the biggest adjustment.

As a licensed interstate mover, Camelback Moving, a trusted Scottsdale moving company, coordinates the full move from your door in Scottsdale to your new address in Chicago, whether that is a high-rise in the Loop, a greystone in Lincoln Park, or a house in the suburbs.

Route at a glance:
Distance: about 1,750 miles. Transit: 5 to 8 days. Primary route: I-17 North to I-40 East to I-44 East to I-55 North. Availability: year-round.

Full-Service Moving, Start to Finish

Whether you are moving a one-bedroom condo in Old Town or a five-bedroom house in north Scottsdale, the scope of what we handle stays the same on a long-distance job.

Full-Service Loading & Unloading
Our crew loads every item at your Scottsdale home and delivers it to your Chicago address. We do not hand your shipment off to a subcontractor partway down the road. The team accountable for your move is our own from start to finish.

Professional Packing
We bring the materials, pack fragile items in double-wall boxes, and wrap furniture in moving blankets. If you would rather pack yourself, our moving supplies page has what you need.

Residential Moves
Apartments, condos, townhomes, single-family houses, and gated communities. Our crews train specifically for long-distance work, not just local jobs across town.

Commercial & Office Relocation
Moving a business from Scottsdale to Chicago? Our commercial moving team works around your calendar to keep downtime short.

Labor-Only Service
Renting your own truck? We can provide loading and unloading labor at either end without the full-service price.

Storage in Transit
If your Chicago closing slips or the new place is not ready on arrival day, our warehouse and storage facility holds your belongings until you are.

What Matters on a 1750-Mile Move

Published rates, no hidden fees
Our pricing is posted online before you ever pick up the phone. The number we quote is the number you pay.

Trained in-house crews
Every mover goes through our onsite training school before their first job. We do not use day laborers for interstate work. The people loading your home in Scottsdale are employees we hired and trained.

City access and permits
Chicago has permit-controlled street parking, high-rise buildings with strict elevator windows, and narrow alleys. Tell us about your address when you book and we plan the truck, the crew, and the timing around it.

Owner oversight
Our president and commercial director are in the office seven days a week. Decisions get made the same day instead of routed up a chain.

Post-move follow-up
Every customer gets a call after the move. You can read what people say about working with us in our customer reviews.

Valuation & insurance options
We offer several valuation and insurance options for interstate moves and walk you through the differences before you sign anything. If you are shipping art, a piano, or other high-value pieces, ask about them early.

70,893 completed moves since 2005. Between 500 and 600 relocations a month. More about our company.

Getting to Know Chicago

Chicago is the third-largest city in the country, with about 2.7 million people in the city and roughly 9 million in the metro area. It sits on the edge of Lake Michigan, and the lakefront, the river, and the neighborhoods give the city a distinct character. For Scottsdale transplants, the big adjustments are the density, the transit, and the weather.

The climate is the headline. Chicago has four full seasons, with hot, humid summers in the mid 80s and winters that bring snow, ice, and wind, with January highs near freezing. Spring and fall are short but pleasant, and many residents spend those seasons by the lake.

The job market is one of the broadest in the country. Finance and trading, healthcare, education, logistics, food and consumer goods, and a growing tech sector all hire here. McDonald’s, Abbott, United Airlines, Northwestern Medicine, the University of Chicago, and CME Group are among the better-known employers, and O’Hare is one of the busiest airports in the world. Illinois has a flat state income tax and relatively high property taxes, so it is worth comparing the total cost of living before choosing a neighborhood or suburb.

Neighborhoods worth knowing:

  • Lincoln Park & Lakeview. Popular, walkable neighborhoods with brownstones, parks, and the lakefront. Street parking is tight.
  • River North, the Loop & South Loop. High-rise living near downtown with strict elevator and loading rules.
  • Wicker Park & Logan Square. Younger, artsy neighborhoods with restaurants and a strong music scene.
  • Evanston & the North Shore. Lakefront suburbs north of the city with strong schools.
  • Oak Park & Hinsdale. Established western suburbs with historic homes and easy train access.
  • Naperville, Schaumburg & the western suburbs. Newer homes, larger lots, and a more car-centered lifestyle, closer to what Scottsdale people are used to.

Chicago quick facts: city population about 2.7 million, with the metro area at roughly 9 million. Average summer high in the mid 80s, with January highs near freezing and regular snow. O’Hare and Midway are the two main airports. Major employers include McDonald’s, Abbott, United Airlines, Northwestern Medicine, and the University of Chicago.

Why Choose Camelback Moving?

When you are moving a household about 1,750 miles, the crew you hire matters more than it does on a quick local job. Here is how we work.

We Are Based Here: We have been moving families as Phoenix movers since 2005. You can find us at 7345 E Evans Rd, Suite 28, in Scottsdale and at 2330 N. 31st Ave. in Phoenix. We are your neighbors.

Trained Crews Only: We never use day laborers. Every mover on your job has passed our onsite training school.

Hands-On Ownership: Our president and commercial director are in the office daily and oversee operations directly.

Accountability: Every customer gets a follow-up call after the move to make sure it went the way it should have.

Properly Licensed: We are a registered interstate carrier, US DOT #1635834, which you can verify on the FMCSA website.

Before You Go: A Practical Checklist

A cross-country move needs more lead time than a local one. Here is what to sort out before your Scottsdale to Chicago move.

  1. Book six to eight weeks out, and earlier if you are moving between May and August, when both Arizona and the Chicago area hit their busy season at the same time.
  2. Update your address with USPS, your bank, your employer, and your insurers. Illinois asks new residents to register their vehicles and get an Illinois driver’s license within a short window, so check the current deadlines with the Secretary of State.
  3. Ask your Scottsdale HOA or gated community about move-out rules, including gate codes, move windows, and truck size limits, and ask your Chicago building about elevator reservations and proof-of-insurance requirements.
  4. Check street parking and permit rules at your new address. Many Chicago blocks need a permit to reserve curb space for a moving truck, and that can take time to arrange.
  5. If you are moving between late fall and early spring, plan for winter weather. The route crosses high country and the plains, where snow, ice, and wind can slow the truck, and Chicago itself can get heavy snow.
  6. Review our valuation and insurance options before signing. Released value coverage is included by default, but it pays by weight rather than replacement value, so it may not be enough for higher-value items.
  7. Declutter before you pack. Long-distance pricing is tied to weight, so anything you decide not to bring is money back in your pocket.
  8. Use our full moving checklist to stay on top of utility transfers, school enrollment, and registration changes.
  9. Keep the essentials with you in the car or carry-on: medications, chargers, documents, and a few days of clothes.

Top 10 Moving Tips and How to Avoid Moving Scams.