Lane · HOT · Oct 2026
Washington, DC to Chicago, IL hotshot rate
$1,344hotshot
+3.3% from last month
- Per mile
- $1.91
- Distance
- 704 mi
- Typical range
- $1,116–$1,572
- Transit
- 2 days
Hotshot · estimated all-in cost per load · monthly
Washington to Chicago price history
- 3 months
- +8.6%
- 1 year
- +18.7%
- 5 years
- +24.9%
Cost breakdown
- Linehaul
- $904
- Fuel
- $440
- All-in estimate
- $1,344
Return trip
Chicago → Washington$2,345This direction runs 43% below the return trip. Leaving DC prices below the national average and arriving in IL prices below it.
Washington to Chicago by truck type
| Truck type | Relative cost | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53' dry van | $2,040 | $2.90 | |
| 53' refrigerated | $2,433 | $3.46 | |
| 48' flatbed | $2,500 | $3.55 | |
| Step deck | $2,731 | $3.88 | |
| Power only | $1,782 | $2.53 | |
| Hotshot | $1,344 | $1.91 | |
| 26' box truck | $1,325 | $1.88 | |
| Sprinter van | $816 | $1.16 |
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 Washington
| To | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $917 | $3.82 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $4,326 | $1.59 |
| Houston, TX | $2,529 | $1.76 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $4,144 | $1.78 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $702 | $4.71 |
| San Antonio, TX | $2,828 | $1.73 |
| San Diego, CA | $4,260 | $1.59 |
| Dallas, TX | $2,459 | $1.77 |
More lanes into Chicago
| From | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $1,619 | $1.91 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $4,618 | $2.24 |
| Houston, TX | $1,892 | $1.71 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $2,238 | $1.31 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $1,357 | $1.72 |
| San Antonio, TX | $2,077 | $1.68 |
| San Diego, CA | $4,559 | $2.24 |
| Dallas, TX | $1,659 | $1.76 |
About this lane
How much does it cost to ship a truckload from Washington, DC to Chicago, IL?
A Hotshot from Washington, DC to Chicago, IL is estimated at $1,344 all-in in October 2026, or $1.91 a mile over about 704 mi. Quotes typically land between $1,116 and $1,572.
How far is Washington, DC from Chicago, IL by truck?
About 704 mi by road, estimated from the straight-line distance. A solo driver covers it in roughly 2 days of transit.
How much of the price is fuel?
About $440 of the $1,344 estimate is fuel at the current national diesel price; the remaining $904 is linehaul.
Is it cheaper to ship from Chicago, IL to Washington, DC?
The reverse direction is estimated at $2,345, which makes Washington, DC to Chicago, IL 43% cheaper. Direction matters because trucks are scarcer leaving some markets than others.
Lane history applies the current origin and destination adjustments to the national series back to December 2003. Methodology