Moving from Colorado to Iowa
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Denver and Des Moines it is about 709 miles and 2 days on the road (about 13 hours of driving); the 8 city pairs we price between the two states run from 699 to 845 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.
- ~709 miDenver → Des Moines
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $3,191+2-bedroom, movers
- 8City routes priced
In short
About 2,866 people moved from Colorado to Iowa in 2024 (Census estimate, ±1,605), and about 2,142 went the other way. Between Denver and Des Moines it is about 709 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $3,191 – $4,254 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 131 movers based in Colorado hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Colorado to Iowa
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 2,866 people a year (±1,605), against about 2,142 (±911) from Iowa to Colorado, so Iowa gains about 724 people a year on this exchange. Colorado is the 7th-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 |
|---|---|---|
| El Paso County | Polk County | 280 ±307* |
| Adams County | Polk County | 187 ±219* |
| Larimer County | Polk County | 159 ±183* |
| Fremont County | Webster County | 149 ±98 |
| Weld County | Woodbury County | 134 ±201* |
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.
Denver 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 Colorado and Iowa.
Cost of moving from Colorado to Iowa
At about 709 miles, full-service movers should land around $3,191 – $4,254 for a two-bedroom home and $3,669 – $4,892 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $2,297 – $3,063; a freight trailer is $1,531 – $2,042.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,393 – $3,191 | $1,723 – $2,297 | $1,149 – $1,531 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,871 – $3,829 | $2,067 – $2,757 | $1,378 – $1,838 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,191 – $4,254 | $2,297 – $3,063 | $1,531 – $2,042 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,669 – $4,892 | $2,642 – $3,522 | $1,761 – $2,348 |
| 4 bedrooms | $4,148 – $5,530 | $2,986 – $3,982 | $1,991 – $2,654 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $4,786 – $6,381 | $3,446 – $4,594 | $2,297 – $3,063 |
Transport only, for an estimated 709 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 Colorado 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins to Des Moines | ~699 mi | 3–7 days | $3,146 – $4,194 | $3,617 – $4,823 |
| Aurora to Des Moines | ~703 mi | 3–7 days | $3,164 – $4,218 | $3,638 – $4,851 |
| Denver to Des Moines | ~709 mi | 3–7 days | $3,191 – $4,254 | $3,669 – $4,892 |
| Colorado Springs to Des Moines | ~723 mi | 3–7 days | $3,254 – $4,338 | $3,742 – $4,989 |
| Fort Collins to Cedar Rapids | ~818 mi | 3–7 days | $3,681 – $4,908 | $4,233 – $5,644 |
| Aurora to Cedar Rapids | ~824 mi | 3–7 days | $3,708 – $4,944 | $4,264 – $5,686 |
| Denver to Cedar Rapids | ~830 mi | 3–7 days | $3,735 – $4,980 | $4,295 – $5,727 |
| Colorado Springs to Cedar Rapids | ~845 mi | 3–7 days | $3,803 – $5,070 | $4,373 – $5,830 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Colorado
74 of the 131 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 400 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 39 of 247 vehicle inspections (15.8%), below the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 66 of 399 driver inspections (16.5%, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pikes Peak Moving & Storage LLCColorado Sprgs, CO · USDOT 44799 | 64 | 12 of 46 | 12 of 64 |
| All My Sons Moving & Storage of Denver LLCDenver, CO · USDOT 900253 | 22 | 1 of 15 | 1 of 22 |
| Fatboy Slims Moving Company LLCColorado Springs, CO · USDOT 3590162 | 21 | 0 of 18 | 2 of 21 |
| Bennett's Moving Company IncColorado Springs, CO · USDOT 1321178 | 15 | 2 of 11 | 2 of 15 |
| Classic MoversCanon City, CO · USDOT 2119180 | 14 | 0 of 10 | 0 of 14 |
| Cadogan Tate AspenCarbondale, CO · USDOT 888572 | 13 | 0 of 10 | 1 of 13 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
498 listed household-goods carriers are based in Colorado, 131 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Colorado 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 Colorado. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Colorado
Colorado to Iowa moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Colorado to Iowa?
Between the two states' main cities, Denver and Des Moines, the distance is about 709 miles. From our model that is $3,191 – $4,254 for a two-bedroom home and $3,669 – $4,892 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $2,297 – $3,063 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $1,531 – $2,042. Across the 8 city pairs we price between Colorado and Iowa, distances run from 699 to 845 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Colorado to Iowa take?
Denver to Des Moines is 2 days on the road (about 13 hours of driving). The move itself typically takes 3 to 7 days, because at this distance it usually travels on either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load, depending on the carrier and the season. Get the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Colorado to Iowa?
Yes. A move from Colorado into Iowa is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 498 listed movers based in Colorado, 131 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Colorado.
What is the cheapest way to move from Colorado to Iowa?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $1,531 – $2,042 for a two-bedroom home over 709 miles against $3,191 – $4,254 with full-service movers. A container, about $2,297 – $3,063, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Colorado to Iowa each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 2,866 people (±1,605) moved from Colorado to Iowa that year, against about 2,142 (±911) from Iowa to Colorado. That makes Colorado the 7th-largest source of new residents for Iowa among the states.