Lane · VAN · Oct 2026
Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA freight rate
$6,743dry van
+5.6% from last month
- Per mile
- $3.03
- Distance
- 2,224 mi
- Typical range
- $6,002–$7,485
- Transit
- 5 days
Dry van · estimated all-in cost per load · monthly
Chicago to San Francisco price history
- 3 months
- +13.9%
- 1 year
- +24.7%
- 5 years
- +32.9%
Cost breakdown
- Linehaul
- $4,698
- Fuel
- $2,045
- All-in estimate
- $6,743
Return trip
San Francisco → Chicago$7,358This direction runs 8% below the return trip. Leaving IL prices above the national average and arriving in CA prices below it.
Chicago to San Francisco by truck type
| Truck type | Relative cost | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53' dry van | $6,743 | $3.03 | |
| 53' refrigerated | $8,032 | $3.61 | |
| 48' flatbed | $8,075 | $3.63 | |
| Step deck | $8,784 | $3.95 | |
| Power only | $6,000 | $2.70 | |
| Hotshot | $4,530 | $2.04 | |
| 26' box truck | $4,423 | $1.99 | |
| Sprinter van | $2,697 | $1.21 |
Live market check
Get live dry van quotes on this lane
The index is an estimate. For a price you can act on, ask connected freight providers for a live 53' dry van rate, or send the load details and get quoted for any truck type.
More lanes from Chicago
| To | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $4,023 | $4.75 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $6,306 | $3.06 |
| Houston, TX | $3,830 | $3.46 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $5,882 | $3.45 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $3,619 | $4.60 |
| San Antonio, TX | $4,196 | $3.39 |
| San Diego, CA | $6,227 | $3.06 |
| Dallas, TX | $3,369 | $3.58 |
More lanes into San Francisco
| From | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $7,499 | $2.44 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $2,066 | $4.80 |
| Houston, TX | $4,732 | $2.40 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $1,826 | $2.29 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $6,535 | $2.17 |
| San Antonio, TX | $4,340 | $2.43 |
| San Diego, CA | $2,461 | $4.39 |
| Dallas, TX | $4,338 | $2.43 |
About this lane
How much does it cost to ship a truckload from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA?
A 53' dry van from Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA is estimated at $6,743 all-in in October 2026, or $3.03 a mile over about 2,224 mi. Quotes typically land between $6,002 and $7,485.
How far is Chicago, IL from San Francisco, CA by truck?
About 2,224 mi by road, estimated from the straight-line distance. A solo driver covers it in roughly 5 days of transit.
How much of the price is fuel?
About $2,045 of the $6,743 estimate is fuel at the current national diesel price; the remaining $4,698 is linehaul.
Is it cheaper to ship from San Francisco, CA to Chicago, IL?
The reverse direction is estimated at $7,358, which makes Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA 8% cheaper. Direction matters because trucks are scarcer leaving some markets than others.
Figures are estimates for a standard full load. Get a firm quote for this lane →