Moving from Atlanta, GA to Des Moines, IA
About 862 miles across a state line, from Georgia 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 Atlanta, GA to Des Moines, IA covers about 862 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $3,879 – $5,172 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 3 to 7 days. About 20 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
At 862 miles between Georgia and Iowa, this sits in the range where carriers differ most. Some run it dedicated with a firm date; others consolidate it with other shipments and quote a window of 3 to 7 days. The price gap between those two is real — a two-bedroom home runs $3,879 – $5,172 full-service — so ask which one you are buying.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 2 days on the road (about 16 hours of driving)
- Usually moves on
- either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load
- Book ahead
- 4 to 6 weeks
Cost of moving from Atlanta to Des Moines
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,909 – $3,879 | $2,095 – $2,793 | $1,396 – $1,862 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,491 – $4,655 | $2,514 – $3,351 | $1,676 – $2,234 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,879 – $5,172 | $2,793 – $3,724 | $1,862 – $2,483 |
| 3 bedrooms | $4,461 – $5,948 | $3,212 – $4,282 | $2,141 – $2,855 |
| 4 bedrooms | $5,043 – $6,724 | $3,631 – $4,841 | $2,420 – $3,227 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $5,819 – $7,758 | $4,189 – $5,586 | $2,793 – $3,724 |
Transport only, for an estimated 862 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, Atlanta to Des Moines
862 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $4,310. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $3,879 to $5,172, 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 Atlanta to Des Moines
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 20 people a year (±24) moved from Fulton County, GA, home to Atlanta, to Polk County, IA, home to Des Moines. The margin of error is as large as the estimate, so read it as a handful of households rather than a count. Too few went the other way to estimate. Movers from Fulton County make up 0.1% 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 289 people a year (±261) moving from Georgia to Iowa and about 1,004 people a year (±687) from Iowa to Georgia — a net gain for Georgia of about 715 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| DeKalb County, GA | 14,205 ±1,333 |
| Cobb County, GA | 10,929 ±1,229 |
| Clayton County, GA | 7,292 ±1,451 |
| Gwinnett County, GA | 4,421 ±716 |
| Forsyth County, GA | 3,851 ±812 |
| 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
125 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Atlanta (454 counting those licensed only inside Georgia). 74 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 7.7% of their 155 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulldog Movers IncUSDOT 1187702 | Doraville · 13 mi | 57 trucks | 16 | 0.0% of 5 |
| Atlanta Peach Movers IncUSDOT 797586 | Doraville · 14 mi | 39 trucks | 20 | 0.0% of 11 |
| Colonial Van Lines IncUSDOT 1727120 | Atlanta · 9 mi | 27 trucks | 9 | 33.3% of 3 |
| General Movers LLCUSDOT 1914057 | Lithonia · 16 mi | 25 trucks | 6 | 0.0% of 3 |
| Wirks Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 1942465 | Marietta · 20 mi | 24 trucks | 26 | 0.0% of 6 |
| USA Family Moving of Atlanta LLCUSDOT 3447326 | Alpharetta · 25 mi | 22 trucks | 4 | — |
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 Georgia 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 Atlanta to Des Moines
Ask: dedicated or consolidated?
This is the distance where carriers split. A dedicated truck costs more and delivers on a date; a consolidated load costs less and delivers in a window. Decide which you are buying before you compare prices.
Get it binding or not-to-exceed
A non-binding estimate is a guess with no ceiling. On 862 miles the gap between a guess and a weighed load is measured in four figures.
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 Atlanta
All routes from Atlanta, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta to Columbus, GA | ~105 mi | $473 – $630 |
| Atlanta to Chattanooga, TN | ~121 mi | $545 – $726 |
| Atlanta to Greenville, SC | ~159 mi | $716 – $954 |
| Atlanta to Birmingham, AL | ~163 mi | $734 – $978 |
| Atlanta to Augusta, GA | ~164 mi | $738 – $984 |
| Atlanta to Montgomery, AL | ~171 mi | $770 – $1,026 |
| Atlanta to Knoxville, TN | ~180 mi | $810 – $1,080 |
| Atlanta to Columbia, SC | ~225 mi | $1,013 – $1,350 |
Also moving to Des Moines: from Cedar Rapids, IA, from Omaha, NE, from Kansas City, MO, from Overland Park, KS.
Atlanta to Des Moines moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Atlanta to Des Moines?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 862 miles cost about $2,909 – $3,879 for a studio, $3,879 – $5,172 for a two-bedroom home and $4,461 – $5,948 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Atlanta to Des Moines take?
The drive is 2 days on the road (about 16 hours of driving), but the move usually takes 3 to 7 days because it moves on either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load, depending on the carrier and the season. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from Atlanta to Des Moines?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $1,862 – $2,483 for a two-bedroom home, against $3,879 – $5,172 with full-service movers; a moving container is $2,793 – $3,724.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Atlanta to Des Moines?
Yes. Atlanta is in Georgia and Des Moines is in Iowa, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 125 listed movers within 30 miles of Atlanta hold it.
How many people move from Atlanta to Des Moines each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 20 people a year (margin of error ±24) moved from Fulton County, which contains Atlanta, 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.