Moving From Chicago to Houston Ends on US 59
The trip is about 1,086 driving miles across four states: I-57 south through Illinois into the Missouri Bootheel, I-55 into northeast Arkansas, I-40 west into central Arkansas and I-30 to the Texas line. About 227 miles of the lane run on US 59, the final leg south through East Texas. TxDOT says its northeast Texas section is not yet built to interstate standards and is planned to become I-369.
Expect roughly 20 hours of driving. That is a road figure only, since your load shares an LTL truck; shipping time is covered in the FAQ below.
When Houston Evacuates
US 59 is also a hurricane evacuation road. During an evacuation the state can reverse its southbound lanes from south of Kingwood Drive, and southbound is the direction a Chicago shipment comes in on. A delivery planned for that week can be held up, with no weather delay fee; we reschedule as soon as conditions clear.
Pickup in Chicago and the North and Northwest Suburbs
Inside city limits, the Municipal Code keeps freight carrying vehicles off Chicago’s boulevards unless a building has no alley or side street access. When your building faces a boulevard, expect the crew to load from the alley or the cross street.
Travel on Lake Shore Drive or a boulevard requires a CDOT Truck Travel Permit, which costs $50 under the 2026 fee schedule. If a pickup needs a permit, Ship Smart provides it and the cost goes into the accessorials.
Park Ridge, Des Plaines, Niles and Northbrook are separate municipalities, so the Chicago boulevard ordinance does not reach a pickup there. Every estimate includes white glove pickup from the first floor.
Delivery in Houston: Permits, Deed Restrictions and Gatehouses
City Street Permits
Houston Public Works requires a mobility permit before anyone obstructs a street or sidewalk, and the application is due at least 10 business days before the date. Metered curb space is reserved through ParkHouston at $18.31 per space per day, plus a $100 expedite fee inside 2 business days. Ship Smart provides the permits your delivery needs; the charge sits in the delivery accessorials.
No Zoning, So Read Your Deed Restrictions
Houston is not zoned, so deed restrictions can add their own truck and parking rules, which can differ by subdivision, section or even lot. Check yours, or your HOA rules, before delivery day. If they or the street itself keep a tractor trailer from your door, curbside delivery is off the table and you need inside delivery, which brings a crew and a smaller truck.
Towers, Gatehouses and Summer Heat
Downtown, Uptown and Galleria towers may ask movers for a certificate of insurance. Ours costs $100 per building and is backed by a $1 million policy. You book the freight elevator or dock time; with a few days’ notice we can meet it most of the time. In a gated subdivision, we register the truck with the gatehouse.
Houston summers run hot and humid. Our warehouses are climate controlled, but trucks are not, so keep candles, vinyl records and similar heat sensitive things in your car. Delivery is by appointment, and a Monday to Friday window between 9 and 3 costs nothing extra.
What a Small Load to Houston Costs
Your price follows the weight and volume we pick up. Give us an accurate inventory and the quote usually lands within a couple of percent of the final bill. Minimums start at $600 to $700 for one small item. There is no deposit, and a $75 minimum cancellation fee applies only once the contract is complete.
None of the pages ranking for this lane price a load under 2,000 lb. Ship Smart prices from a single piece.
Charges that depend on your two addresses come on top: stairs after the first floor ($100 per flight in most markets, varying by city), a $100 elevator flat rate above the 4th floor, $100 for each COI, any Houston permit, and assembly at $100 per hour (simple bed frames are usually free). The online estimator or (866) 333-8018 gives your exact price.
Who Ships From Cook County to Harris County
IRS county migration data counts 991 Cook County households, 1,673 people, that moved to Harris County in 2022 to 2023, more than to any other Texas county.
From a customer who shipped from Houston to Arizona, Celeste S. wrote: “They picked up all of my things from Houston and packed it on 2 pallets according to the weight of each box. They built a crate around the boxes and wrapped it a bunch of times with padding and extra security!”
