Moving from Los Angeles, CA to Des Moines, IA
About 1,673 miles across a state line, from California into Iowa, so the federal interstate rules apply from the first quote.
Distance estimated from city coordinates; the calculator measures your exact route. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Los Angeles, CA to Des Moines, IA covers about 1,673 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $7,529 – $10,038 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 156 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 1,673 miles from California to Iowa. Almost all of these move as consolidated freight: your goods share a trailer and the carrier quotes 7 to 14 days rather than a date. It is why a two-bedroom home here runs $7,529 – $10,038 instead of scaling straight with distance, and also why there is more handling and a looser schedule.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 4 days on the road (about 30 hours of driving)
- Usually moves on
- a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households
- Book ahead
- 6 to 8 weeks
Cost of moving from Los Angeles to Des Moines
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $5,646 – $7,529 | $4,065 – $5,421 | $2,710 – $3,614 |
| 1 bedroom | $6,776 – $9,034 | $4,878 – $6,505 | $3,252 – $4,336 |
| 2 bedrooms | $7,529 – $10,038 | $5,421 – $7,227 | $3,614 – $4,818 |
| 3 bedrooms | $8,658 – $11,544 | $6,234 – $8,311 | $4,156 – $5,541 |
| 4 bedrooms | $9,787 – $13,049 | $7,047 – $9,396 | $4,698 – $6,264 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $11,293 – $15,057 | $8,131 – $10,841 | $5,421 – $7,227 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,673 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.
Worked example: a two-bedroom home, Los Angeles to Des Moines
1,673 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $8,365. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $7,529 to $10,038, transport only. Every parameter is on the methodology page; moving cost per mile explains why the rate falls with distance.
How many people move from Los Angeles to Des Moines
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 156 people a year (±119) moved from Los Angeles County, CA, home to Los Angeles, to Polk County, IA, home to Des Moines. Going the other way: about 57 people a year (±58). Movers from Los Angeles County make up 0.6% of the 25,352 people a year who moved into Polk County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 2,485 people a year (±1,155) moving from California to Iowa and about 1,147 people a year (±543) from Iowa to California — a net gain for Iowa of about 1,338 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Orange County, CA | 38,761 ±2,562 |
| San Bernardino County, CA | 34,920 ±2,839 |
| Riverside County, CA | 23,292 ±2,434 |
| Clark County, NV | 12,873 ±1,782 |
| Kern County, CA | 10,503 ±1,253 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Dallas County, IA | 2,686 ±651 |
| Story County, IA | 2,109 ±459 |
| Warren County, IA | 1,438 ±390 |
| Black Hawk County, IA | 914 ±314 |
| Boone County, IA | 691 ±258 |
Licensed movers at each end
163 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Los Angeles (524 counting those licensed only inside California). 106 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 12.9% of their 738 vehicle inspections ended with a truck put out of service. The largest by registered fleet:
| Carrier | Based in | Size | Inspections, 24 mo | Vehicle out of service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Move Happy AcmeUSDOT 3136064 | Los Angeles · 2 mi | 31 trucks | 61 | 20.5% of 39 |
| Best California MoversUSDOT 3489907 | North Hollywood · 14 mi | 22 trucks | 91 | 1.4% of 70 |
| Wetzel & Sons Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 2275944 | Pacoima · 17 mi | 17 trucks | 9 | 0.0% of 7 |
| Altar Boys MovingUSDOT 2824890 | Pacoima · 17 mi | 15 trucks | 63 | 9.1% of 33 |
| Pro Movers IncUSDOT 2211293 | Anaheim · 26 mi | 13 trucks | 4 | 0.0% of 2 |
| Lucky Transportation CompanyUSDOT 586392 | City Industry · 20 mi | 12 trucks | 21 | 0.0% of 14 |
How these figures are calculated
At the Des Moines end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Des Moines: Lint Van Lines Inc (Des Moines, 27 trucks), The Affordable Movers (West Des Moines, 6 trucks), Duplicate- You First Moving (Urbandale, 5 trucks), Iowa Movers LLC (Clive, 5 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from California into Iowa, 49 CFR Part 375 applies: a written estimate before loading, no more than 110% of a non-binding estimate collected at delivery, and full-value protection unless you choose released value in writing. See binding vs non-binding estimates and valuation explained.
Before you book Los Angeles to Des Moines
Insist on a survey
Over 1,673 miles the price is driven almost entirely by weight. A quote given without a video or in-home survey is a guess that gets revised upward on loading day, and at this distance the revision is expensive.
Keep full-value protection
It is the default on an interstate move. Signing it away for released value means 60 cents per pound, about $18 for a 30 lb television, after 1,673 miles of handling.
Arriving in Des Moines
A local move inside Des Moines later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $505 – $831 for a two-bedroom home and $849 – $1,533 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Des Moines are Cedar Rapids (about 122 mi), Omaha (about 142 mi), Lincoln (about 197 mi).
Other routes from Los Angeles
All routes from Los Angeles, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles to Oxnard, CA | ~65 mi | $515 – $859 |
| Los Angeles to Bakersfield, CA | ~117 mi | $527 – $702 |
| Los Angeles to San Diego, CA | 126 mi | $567 – $756 |
| Los Angeles to Las Vegas, NV | 271 mi | $1,220 – $1,626 |
| Los Angeles to Modesto, CA | ~340 mi | $1,530 – $2,040 |
| Los Angeles to Phoenix, AZ | 374 mi | $1,683 – $2,244 |
| Los Angeles to San Francisco, CA | 383 mi | $1,724 – $2,298 |
| Los Angeles to Saint George, UT | ~391 mi | $1,760 – $2,346 |
Also moving to Des Moines: from Cedar Rapids, IA, from Omaha, NE, from Kansas City, MO, from Overland Park, KS.
Los Angeles to Des Moines moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Los Angeles to Des Moines?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 1,673 miles cost about $5,646 – $7,529 for a studio, $7,529 – $10,038 for a two-bedroom home and $8,658 – $11,544 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Los Angeles to Des Moines take?
The drive is 4 days on the road (about 30 hours of driving), but the move usually takes 7 to 14 days because it moves on a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 6 to 8 weeks, 8 to 12 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from Los Angeles to Des Moines?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $3,614 – $4,818 for a two-bedroom home, against $7,529 – $10,038 with full-service movers; a moving container is $5,421 – $7,227.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Los Angeles to Des Moines?
Yes. Los Angeles is in California and Des Moines is in Iowa, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 163 listed movers within 30 miles of Los Angeles hold it.
How many people move from Los Angeles to Des Moines each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 156 people a year (margin of error ±119) moved from Los Angeles County, which contains Los Angeles, to Polk County, which contains Des Moines.
Sources for this page
The published cost model; US Census Bureau ACS migration flows (± is the 90% margin of error); the FMCSA Motor Carrier Census and Safety Measurement System; 49 CFR Part 375. Data last refreshed September 24, 2026.