Moving to Chicago, IL in a U-Haul truck? First learn about your new city!

U-Haul has named Chicago the #2 Top Destination City in our 2014 Migration Trends Report 
Read more about things to do while living in Chicago

Chicago is a bustling city with a gorgeous downtown skyline that overlooks Lake Michigan. It is the third largest city in the United States and harbors nearly 3 million residents. Many individuals know Chicago to be 'The Windy City,' but locals often refer to it as 'Chi-Town.' Regardless of what you call it, Chicago is a desirable city and was even ranked the #2 Top Destination City on our 2014 migration trend report. Whether you are moving here temporarily or for long-term, there are many must-see attractions. These include Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, Cloud Gate AKA the Bean, Shedd Aquarium, the Skydeck and much more.

This creative city has so much to offer, making it a great place for artists to explore their talents. If you are looking for a studio in the city that focuses on creating a closer community of artists U-Haul Artist Lofts of Chicago is the place to be. It offers luxuries such as high vaulted ceilings, smooth wooden floors and exposed brick walls. It even has views of the Chicago River for you to draw inspiration from. The urban lofts come in many sizes, so you can choose the loft that is right for you or your business. Welcome to our city!

Helpful Tips for Moving to and Living in Chicago, IL

Thousands of people move to Chicago each year, and with more than 90 truck rental locations in the city, U-Haul has you covered! Here are some helpful tips to assist you on your journey of relocating to Chicago. 

• When to Move - Although you're probably going to move based on when you "need" to or when you can get a new house/apartment/etc., try to avoid moving around April 1st and October 1st. In Chicago, these are traditional "moving days" and traffic can be especially busy.
• Neighborhoods and street layouts - When moving to Chicago, consider what neighborhood will fit you best. There are many diverse neighborhoods in Chicago, the cleaner and safer ones typically near the downtown area. After you have decided on a neighborhood, make sure you are aware of the navigation in the city. The roads are based on a grid system around W Madison and N State St, which means roads typically go either north/south or east/west. Addresses are based off of how far they are from these two streets. Aside from the grid system, there are a few streets in northern and southern Chicago that run diagonally, creating "six corner" intersections which can be confusing. Try to avoid driving your large moving vehicel on these diagonal streets if you aren't familiar with them.
• Plan for parking - Many communities sport 'no parking' signs during specific hours. If you are moving to a community where parking is limited, request or reserve a spot prior to your move-in date. Also, much of the city relies on parallel parking. If you need to brush up on your parallel parking skills, you might want to do so before you are behind the wheel of a 20 ft moving truck
• Transportation once you're here - After the big move to Chi-Town, you can often do away with having a vehicle. Chicago has one the best public transportation systems in the country. With that being said, it is also wise to avoid travel and moving during major events, such as Cubs games, since the city will be especially busy then.
• Did you know - Chicago has more than 550 parks and over 19 miles of lakefront bicycle paths. This is the perfect way to get some fresh air, stay in shape and maybe even make some new friends. Enjoy it while the weather is warm!

Find nearby storage units, Moving Help®, and truck rental locations in Chicago.