By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies.
Moving from Chicago, IL to Richmond, VA
Moving from Chicago, Illinois to Richmond, Virginia
If you’re moving from Chicago to Richmond, you’ll be moving from the third most populous city in United States to the capital of Virginia. One of the main differences that you’ll notice when moving from Chicago to Richmond is how much smaller Richmond is. While Chicago has a population of over 2.7 million, Richmond’s population is only 204,214. However, don’t worry about getting used to Richmond’s size! Richmond is a friendly and beautiful Southern city that is steeped in the history of the United States!
Traveling from Chicago to Richmond:
If you are going to drive when moving from Chicago to Richmond, you can expect to be on the road for about 12 and a half hours since you’ll be traveling about 800 miles. Although that’s a long trip, you’ll be able to enjoy the beauty of such states as Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia as you drive through them on your way! Then, you’ll soon be in Richmond!
The Weather in Richmond
When moving from Chicago to Richmond, you’ll begin to notice that Richmond is warmer than Chicago all year long. Summers in Richmond are hot and humid with average highs in the high 80s and low 90s while winters are fairly mild with average lows in the low 30s. Richmond also receives a fair amount of precipitation with 43.6 inches each year as well as some snow with an average of 10.6 inches annually.
Transportation in Richmond
If you plan to commute by car when moving from Chicago to Richmond, you should have no problem since driving is the easiest way to get around the city. Finding parking spaces is also usually not a problem; however, there are no parking areas in certain areas of the city. Additionally, if you are driving in older parts of the city, watch out for one-way streets as well as streets that are very narrow. If you’d like to take public transportation, the Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) does provide bus service that goes throughout the city and to certain suburbs with fares ranging from $1.50-$2.00.
Education in Richmond
If you’re moving from Chicago to Richmond, you’ll be glad to know that it has many options for education. There are several great colleges and universities located in the city including Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Richmond and Virginia College. Additionally, Virginia State University is only about 20 miles away from Richmond in a nearby suburb. If you’re moving from Chicago to Richmond with children who attend public school, they’ll be moving from Chicago Public Schools, which has an enrollment of over 404,000 students to Richmond Public Schools, which has an enrollment of over 23,000 students. Although that’s a big change, it won’t be long before your children feel like they fit right in! Additionally, more than 30 private schools are located in the city.
Recreation in Richmond
Richmond is a great place to be for history buffs! There’s so much to explore in the city about the history of our country including the Historic Downtown and the State Capitol which was designed by Thomas Jefferson!
If you love museums, you’ll love living in Richmond! There are several museums located throughout the city, but be sure to check out the Virginia Fine Arts Museum, the Museum of the Confederacy, the Black History Museum, the Science Museum of Virginia, the Edgar Allen Poe Museum and the Children’s Museum of Virginia!
If you enjoy soaking in the beauty of nature, visit the majestic Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, which includes a Rose Garden and a Healing Garden! Byrd Park is also a great place to enjoy nature with fishing lakes, a fitness trail and seasonal paddle boats!
For all the foodies out there, definitely check out Bottoms Up Pizza, which has a wide variety of delicious pizzas and Sidewalk Café, which has some of the best food in the whole city at great prices! You’ll always have fun in Richmond!
Welcome to “The River City”; you’ll love it here!
Looking for a moving company for this cross country move? U-Pack is known for easy, affordable moving. We have service centers near both cities, so we can help! Get a free moving quote to compare rates.