Moving from Arizona to Iowa
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Phoenix and Des Moines it is about 1,345 miles and 3 days on the road (about 24 hours of driving); the 14 city pairs we price between the two states run from 1,333 to 1,465 miles.
Prices from our published model (last updated ), not quotes. Distances marked ~ are estimated from city coordinates. Carriers: FMCSA Motor Carrier Census, snapshot 2026-09-24. We do not move anyone.
- ~1,345 miPhoenix → Des Moines
- 7–14 daysTypical transit
- $6,053+2-bedroom, movers
- 14City routes priced
In short
About 2,187 people moved from Arizona to Iowa in 2024 (Census estimate, ±942), and about 4,596 went the other way. Between Phoenix and Des Moines it is about 1,345 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $6,053 – $8,070 in our model, delivered in 7–14 days. 105 movers based in Arizona hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Arizona to Iowa
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 2,187 people a year (±942), against about 4,596 (±2,154) from Iowa to Arizona, so Iowa loses about 2,409 people a year on this exchange. Arizona is the 11th-largest of the 43 states sending people to Iowa; Iowa took in about 59,199 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Maricopa County | Polk County | 191 ±140 |
| Maricopa County | Johnson County | 130 ±84 |
| Maricopa County | Henry County | 109 ±141* |
| Maricopa County | Washington County | 94 ±129* |
| La Paz County | Dallas County | 94 ±103* |
US Census Bureau: ACS 2024 state-to-state migration and ACS 2016–2020 county-to-county flows; people a year with a 90% margin of error. County names link to their cost guides. * Margin as large as the estimate.
Phoenix to Des Moines, the representative route
Each state is represented by its largest city we cover. The map shows that corridor; the table further down prices every city pair between Arizona and Iowa.
Cost of moving from Arizona to Iowa
At about 1,345 miles, full-service movers should land around $6,053 – $8,070 for a two-bedroom home and $6,960 – $9,280 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $4,358 – $5,810; a freight trailer is $2,905 – $3,874.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $4,539 – $6,053 | $3,268 – $4,358 | $2,179 – $2,905 |
| 1 bedroom | $5,447 – $7,263 | $3,922 – $5,229 | $2,615 – $3,486 |
| 2 bedrooms | $6,053 – $8,070 | $4,358 – $5,810 | $2,905 – $3,874 |
| 3 bedrooms | $6,960 – $9,280 | $5,011 – $6,682 | $3,341 – $4,455 |
| 4 bedrooms | $7,868 – $10,491 | $5,665 – $7,554 | $3,777 – $5,036 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $9,079 – $12,105 | $6,537 – $8,716 | $4,358 – $5,810 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,345 miles, from our published model: distance × home-size factor × service rate, shown as −10% to +20% around the base figure. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items sit on top. How we price it.
City-to-city routes from Arizona to Iowa
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 1 has a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gilbert to Des Moines | ~1,333 mi | 7–14 days | $5,999 – $7,998 | $6,898 – $9,198 |
| Mesa to Des Moines | ~1,333 mi | 7–14 days | $5,999 – $7,998 | $6,898 – $9,198 |
| Scottsdale to Des Moines | ~1,335 mi | 7–14 days | $6,008 – $8,010 | $6,909 – $9,211 |
| Chandler to Des Moines | ~1,340 mi | 7–14 days | $6,030 – $8,040 | $6,934 – $9,246 |
| Tempe to Des Moines | ~1,340 mi | 7–14 days | $6,030 – $8,040 | $6,934 – $9,246 |
| Tucson to Des Moines | ~1,344 mi | 7–14 days | $6,048 – $8,064 | $6,955 – $9,274 |
| Phoenix to Des Moines | ~1,345 mi | 7–14 days | $6,053 – $8,070 | $6,960 – $9,280 |
| Gilbert to Cedar Rapids | ~1,453 mi | 7–14 days | $6,539 – $8,718 | $7,519 – $10,026 |
| Mesa to Cedar Rapids | ~1,453 mi | 7–14 days | $6,539 – $8,718 | $7,519 – $10,026 |
| Scottsdale to Cedar Rapids | ~1,455 mi | 7–14 days | $6,548 – $8,730 | $7,530 – $10,039 |
| Tempe to Cedar Rapids | ~1,460 mi | 7–14 days | $6,570 – $8,760 | $7,555 – $10,074 |
| Chandler to Cedar Rapids | ~1,461 mi | 7–14 days | $6,575 – $8,766 | $7,561 – $10,081 |
| Tucson to Cedar Rapids | ~1,463 mi | 7–14 days | $6,584 – $8,778 | $7,571 – $10,095 |
| Phoenix to Cedar Rapids | ~1,465 mi | 7–14 days | $6,593 – $8,790 | $7,581 – $10,108 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Arizona
52 of the 105 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 231 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 28 of 152 vehicle inspections (18.4%), about the same as the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 31 of 231 driver inspections (13.4%, against 13.0%). 1 carrier has an acute or critical violation found in an FMCSA investigation in the past 12 months.
| Carrier | Inspections | Vehicle out of service | Driver out of service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camelback Moving IncPhoenix, AZ · USDOT 1635834 | 35 | 0 of 26 | 1 of 35 |
| Just-In Time MovingMesa, AZ · USDOT 1759501 | 32 | 1 of 22 | 0 of 32 |
| Muscular Moving Men LLCPhoenix, AZ · USDOT 1829172 | 27 | 8 of 19 | 4 of 27 |
| EZ Moving and Hauling LLCPhoenix, AZ · USDOT 3222455 | 13 | 4 of 9 | 1 of 13 |
| SCM MovingFort Mohave, AZ · USDOT 671253 | 10 | 2 of 5 | 5 of 10 |
| Copperstate Moving LLCGoodyear, AZ · USDOT 2132766 | 9 | 2 of 4 | 1 of 9 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
366 listed household-goods carriers are based in Arizona, 105 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Arizona directory ranks them. At the Iowa end, 119 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Iowa, moving costs in Iowa, or the reverse trip, Iowa to Arizona. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Arizona
Arizona to Iowa moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Arizona to Iowa?
Between the two states' main cities, Phoenix and Des Moines, the distance is about 1,345 miles. From our model that is $6,053 – $8,070 for a two-bedroom home and $6,960 – $9,280 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $4,358 – $5,810 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $2,905 – $3,874. Across the 14 city pairs we price between Arizona and Iowa, distances run from 1,333 to 1,465 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Arizona to Iowa take?
Phoenix to Des Moines is 3 days on the road (about 24 hours of driving). The move itself typically takes 7 to 14 days, because at this distance it usually travels on a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households. Get the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 6 to 8 weeks, 8 to 12 in summer.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Arizona to Iowa?
Yes. A move from Arizona into Iowa is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 366 listed movers based in Arizona, 105 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Arizona.
What is the cheapest way to move from Arizona to Iowa?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $2,905 – $3,874 for a two-bedroom home over 1,345 miles against $6,053 – $8,070 with full-service movers. A container, about $4,358 – $5,810, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Arizona to Iowa each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 2,187 people (±942) moved from Arizona to Iowa that year, against about 4,596 (±2,154) from Iowa to Arizona. That makes Arizona the 11th-largest source of new residents for Iowa among the states.