Moving from Connecticut to Iowa
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Hartford and Des Moines it is about 1,258 miles and 3 days on the road (about 23 hours of driving); the 8 city pairs we price between the two states run from 1,094 to 1,258 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.
- ~1,258 miHartford → Des Moines
- 7–14 daysTypical transit
- $5,661+2-bedroom, movers
- 8City routes priced
In short
About 287 people moved from Connecticut to Iowa in 2024 (Census estimate, ±349), and about 309 went the other way. Between Hartford and Des Moines it is about 1,258 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $5,661 – $7,548 in our model, delivered in 7–14 days. 101 movers based in Connecticut hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Connecticut to Iowa
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 287 people a year (±349), against about 309 (±375) from Iowa to Connecticut, so Iowa loses about 22 people a year on this exchange. Connecticut is the 31st-largest of the 43 states sending people to Iowa; Iowa took in about 59,199 from other states in all. The margin of error is as large as the estimate, so read it as a handful of households rather than a count.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Fairfield County | Polk County | 88 ±123* |
| New Haven County | Johnson County | 36 ±57* |
| New London County | Carroll County | 17 ±21* |
| Hartford County | Dubuque County | 16 ±26* |
| Fairfield County | Jackson County | 8 ±14* |
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.
Hartford 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 Connecticut and Iowa.
Cost of moving from Connecticut to Iowa
At about 1,258 miles, full-service movers should land around $5,661 – $7,548 for a two-bedroom home and $6,510 – $8,680 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $4,076 – $5,435; a freight trailer is $2,717 – $3,623.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $4,246 – $5,661 | $3,057 – $4,076 | $2,038 – $2,717 |
| 1 bedroom | $5,095 – $6,793 | $3,668 – $4,891 | $2,446 – $3,261 |
| 2 bedrooms | $5,661 – $7,548 | $4,076 – $5,435 | $2,717 – $3,623 |
| 3 bedrooms | $6,510 – $8,680 | $4,687 – $6,250 | $3,125 – $4,166 |
| 4 bedrooms | $7,359 – $9,812 | $5,299 – $7,065 | $3,532 – $4,710 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $8,492 – $11,322 | $6,114 – $8,152 | $4,076 – $5,435 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,258 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 Connecticut to Iowa
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. Run any pair through the calculator for a measured distance.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stamford to Cedar Rapids | ~1,094 mi | 3–7 days | $4,923 – $6,564 | $5,661 – $7,549 |
| Bridgeport to Cedar Rapids | ~1,113 mi | 3–7 days | $5,009 – $6,678 | $5,760 – $7,680 |
| New Haven to Cedar Rapids | ~1,128 mi | 3–7 days | $5,076 – $6,768 | $5,837 – $7,783 |
| Hartford to Cedar Rapids | ~1,137 mi | 3–7 days | $5,117 – $6,822 | $5,884 – $7,845 |
| Stamford to Des Moines | ~1,213 mi | 7–14 days | $5,459 – $7,278 | $6,277 – $8,370 |
| Bridgeport to Des Moines | ~1,232 mi | 7–14 days | $5,544 – $7,392 | $6,376 – $8,501 |
| New Haven to Des Moines | ~1,247 mi | 7–14 days | $5,612 – $7,482 | $6,453 – $8,604 |
| Hartford to Des Moines | ~1,258 mi | 7–14 days | $5,661 – $7,548 | $6,510 – $8,680 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Connecticut
56 of the 101 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 372 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 36 of 209 vehicle inspections (17.2%), below the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 47 of 372 driver inspections (12.6%, against 13.0%). None has an acute or critical violation from an FMCSA investigation in the past 12 months.
| Carrier | Inspections | Vehicle out of service | Driver out of service |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984Greenwich, CT · USDOT 2396811 | 33 | 4 of 25 | 5 of 33 |
| Siracusa Group Moving AllianceNew Britain, CT · USDOT 352585 | 29 | 2 of 16 | 1 of 29 |
| Lippincott Van LinesWinsted, CT · USDOT 731441 | 27 | 4 of 17 | 3 of 27 |
| Action Moving and Storage and Logistics LLCWest Haven, CT · USDOT 806405 | 23 | 0 of 15 | 1 of 23 |
| Z T E Van LinesVernon Rockville, CT · USDOT 3313395 | 21 | 2 of 7 | 2 of 21 |
| Rt Relocation LLCCheshire, CT · USDOT 3285714 | 17 | 0 of 8 | 1 of 17 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
168 listed household-goods carriers are based in Connecticut, 101 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Connecticut 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 Connecticut. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Connecticut
Connecticut to Iowa moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Connecticut to Iowa?
Between the two states' main cities, Hartford and Des Moines, the distance is about 1,258 miles. From our model that is $5,661 – $7,548 for a two-bedroom home and $6,510 – $8,680 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $4,076 – $5,435 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $2,717 – $3,623. Across the 8 city pairs we price between Connecticut and Iowa, distances run from 1,094 to 1,258 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Connecticut to Iowa take?
Hartford to Des Moines is 3 days on the road (about 23 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 Connecticut to Iowa?
Yes. A move from Connecticut into Iowa is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 168 listed movers based in Connecticut, 101 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Connecticut.
What is the cheapest way to move from Connecticut to Iowa?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $2,717 – $3,623 for a two-bedroom home over 1,258 miles against $5,661 – $7,548 with full-service movers. A container, about $4,076 – $5,435, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Connecticut to Iowa each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 287 people (±349) moved from Connecticut to Iowa that year, against about 309 (±375) from Iowa to Connecticut. That makes Connecticut the 31st-largest source of new residents for Iowa among the states.