Moving from Chicago to Reno

Chicago is the center of a metro area of about 9.4 million people. The Census counts about 160 people a year moving to Washoe County from Cook County, Illinois, DuPage County, Illinois and Lake County, Illinois (2016 to 2020 estimates, with a margin of error), against about 184 a year going the other way. From there the road to Reno is 1,915 miles.

The drive: 1,915 miles from Sparks to Chicago

The routing tool puts the road at 1,915 miles and 32 h 36 min with no stops, no traffic and no weather. At 500 miles a day a driver needs four days. The map distance is 1,679 miles, so the road is about 236 miles longer than the crow flies. Your written estimate sets the delivery window; the driving time only describes the road.

By mileage the route reads I-80 for 1,757 miles, I-88 for 141 miles, I-290 for 11 miles and I-15 for 2 miles. That makes I-80 the road that matters most, at roughly 92 percent.

Chicago to Reno is almost all I-80. The route leaves the metro area on I-88 and I-290, which together account for 152 miles, then follows I-80 west through Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming and Utah. A two-mile piece of I-15 near Salt Lake City is the only other interstate before Nevada. The Illinois start has its own rhythm: Loop and near-north buildings often have dock schedules, while suburbs in DuPage and Lake counties usually have easier truck access.

Reading the road numbers

Split into 500-mile days, the 1,915 miles make three full days and a last day of about 415 miles. A pace of 59 miles per hour over the free-flow time shows how the figure is built: it assumes steady highway speeds and no stops. The clock changes too: Reno keeps Pacific Time, two hours behind your starting point.

If you follow the truck in your own vehicle, the long I-80 stretch is where fuel, food and rest stops are easiest to find.

Terrain and weather on the way

Chicago sits at 594 feet and Reno at about 4,930, a gain of roughly 4,300 feet over the whole trip. The routing tool names no mountain pass on this road. Winter is the season to plan around, since the plains and Wyoming both see blowing snow, and wind can restrict high-profile vehicles on parts of I-80. Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming and Utah each run a public road-conditions map worth checking before loading day.

Before loading day, check the state road-conditions site listed below for the start of the route and the Nevada road map (NDOT) for the finish.

Timing the trip and planning your own drive

For a 1,915-mile trip, the calendar matters more than the map. Winter storms on the plains and in Wyoming are the usual cause of delays, while June through August fills the schedule with other households, so spring and fall tend to be the calmer choices.

A route that leans on I-80 for 92 percent of its length is easy to follow and easy to delay, so the plan keeps some room in the schedule. If you drive your own vehicle, split the 1,915 miles into four days of about 500 miles and book lodging near the end of each day.

What changes when you arrive in Reno

Census figures put the median home value in Chicago at $334,100 and the median rent at $1,440 a month, while Reno city has a median home value of $548,300 and a median rent of $1,556. For household income the Census median in Reno city is $80,760, against $77,902 in Chicago. The table above puts both ends side by side.

Climate is the change people feel. Chicago averages about 34 inches of precipitation a year, with a January low of 19.4 and a July high of 85.0 degrees. Reno averages 7.3 inches, with 26.1 and 93.9 degrees and about 21 inches of snow.

After a Chicago winter, the sun and the dry air are the changes most newcomers mention first. The NOAA numbers in the table above tell the story: Reno gets about 7.4 inches of precipitation a year and about 21 inches of snow, against Chicago's 34 inches of precipitation.

How the move works with O'Brien's

O'Brien's takes your booking in Sparks. From there we coordinate the move from your Chicago address through the Bekins network, and the Reno end is ours: delivery, unpacking and, if you need it, storage. The delivery window comes from your written estimate.

The estimate is itemized, written and priced by weight. Start with a call to 775-359-6683, an online request or the free in-home estimate, which includes 10 free heavy-duty boxes to keep. You receive an itemized inventory and condition report before packing begins.

If your Reno or Sparks home is not ready on delivery day, the shipment can go into our 30,000 square foot Sparks warehouse; vault storage starts from $40 per month. Our guide to how an interstate move works explains the steps in order.

Getting settled in Reno

Nevada gives new residents 30 days to register a vehicle and 30 days to get a Nevada driver's license. Utilities, schools and county services are covered in our moving to Reno guide, and the Illinois to Reno page covers the state-level changes.