Lane · STEP · Oct 2026
Watertown, SD to Chicago, IL step deck rate
$3,012step deck
+3.4% from last month
- Per mile
- $4.90
- Distance
- 614 mi
- Typical range
- $2,530–$3,494
- Transit
- 2 days
Step deck · estimated all-in cost per load · monthly
Watertown to Chicago price history
- 3 months
- +8.7%
- 1 year
- +18.7%
- 5 years
- +25.0%
Cost breakdown
- Linehaul
- $2,393
- Fuel
- $619
- All-in estimate
- $3,012
Return trip
Chicago → Watertown$3,357This direction runs 10% below the return trip. Leaving SD prices above the national average and arriving in IL prices below it.
Watertown to Chicago by truck type
| Truck type | Relative cost | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53' dry van | $2,240 | $3.65 | |
| 53' refrigerated | $2,672 | $4.35 | |
| 48' flatbed | $2,755 | $4.49 | |
| Step deck | $3,012 | $4.90 | |
| Power only | $1,950 | $3.18 | |
| Hotshot | $1,470 | $2.39 | |
| 26' box truck | $1,452 | $2.36 | |
| Sprinter van | $896 | $1.46 |
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 Watertown
| To | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $7,753 | $5.44 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $6,355 | $3.98 |
| Houston, TX | $5,326 | $4.30 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $5,968 | $4.54 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $7,175 | $5.20 |
| San Antonio, TX | $5,409 | $4.29 |
| San Diego, CA | $6,358 | $3.98 |
| Dallas, TX | $4,460 | $4.51 |
More lanes into Chicago
| From | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $3,257 | $3.85 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $8,973 | $4.35 |
| Houston, TX | $3,759 | $3.40 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $4,375 | $2.57 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $2,741 | $3.48 |
| San Antonio, TX | $4,107 | $3.32 |
| San Diego, CA | $8,863 | $4.36 |
| Dallas, TX | $3,321 | $3.53 |
About this lane
How much does it cost to ship a truckload from Watertown, SD to Chicago, IL?
A Step deck from Watertown, SD to Chicago, IL is estimated at $3,012 all-in in October 2026, or $4.90 a mile over about 614 mi. Quotes typically land between $2,530 and $3,494.
How far is Watertown, SD from Chicago, IL by truck?
About 614 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 $619 of the $3,012 estimate is fuel at the current national diesel price; the remaining $2,393 is linehaul.
Is it cheaper to ship from Chicago, IL to Watertown, SD?
The reverse direction is estimated at $3,357, which makes Watertown, SD to Chicago, IL 10% 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