Popular Moving Routes in Iowa
13 routes out of 2 Iowa cities, priced by home size from one published model: 1 that stay inside the state, 11 that leave it, and a page for Iowa to every other state.
Prices are estimates from our published model (last updated ), not quotes. Distances marked ~ are estimated from city coordinates. Licensed-mover counts: FMCSA Motor Carrier Census, pulled 2026-09-23. We do not move anyone and nobody pays to be listed.
- 2Cities covered
- 13Routes priced
- 119Licensed movers based here
- $505+Local 2-bed move
In short
With full-service movers, a two-bedroom move out of Iowa costs about $2,250 – $3,000 at 500 miles, $4,500 – $6,000 at 1,000 miles and $9,000 – $12,000 at 2,000 miles, from our published model. Across town it is hourly, about $43 to $54 per mover per hour. We price 13 routes from 2 Iowa cities.
Iowa cities with route pages
Each city hub lists every route we price out of it — within Iowa, regional and long distance — with distance, transit and cost by home size.
Moving within Iowa
Every pair of Iowa cities we cover, nearest first. Under 100 miles the job is billed by the hour; past it, on distance and weight. All of them are regulated by Iowa, not the FMCSA.
| Route | Distance | Drive | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids to Des Moines | ~122 mi | 2 hr | $549 – $732 | $631 – $842 |
Leaving Iowa: the most popular routes
Measured corridors first, then the largest destination metros. Every one crosses a state line, so the federal interstate rules apply.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids to Chicago, IL | ~243 mi | 1–3 days | $1,094 – $1,458 | $1,258 – $1,677 |
| Des Moines to Chicago, IL | ~361 mi | 1–3 days | $1,625 – $2,166 | $1,868 – $2,491 |
| Des Moines to Phoenix, AZ | ~1,345 mi | 7–14 days | $6,053 – $8,070 | $6,960 – $9,280 |
| Cedar Rapids to Minneapolis, MN | ~259 mi | 1–3 days | $1,166 – $1,554 | $1,340 – $1,787 |
| Des Moines to Minneapolis, MN | ~274 mi | 1–3 days | $1,233 – $1,644 | $1,418 – $1,891 |
| Des Moines to Orlando, FL | ~1,322 mi | 7–14 days | $5,949 – $7,932 | $6,841 – $9,122 |
| Des Moines to Omaha, NE | ~142 mi | 1–3 days | $639 – $852 | $735 – $980 |
| Des Moines to Lincoln, NE | ~197 mi | 1–3 days | $887 – $1,182 | $1,019 – $1,359 |
| Des Moines to Overland Park, KS | ~220 mi | 1–3 days | $990 – $1,320 | $1,138 – $1,518 |
| Des Moines to Sioux Falls, SD | ~243 mi | 1–3 days | $1,094 – $1,458 | $1,258 – $1,677 |
| Des Moines to Greenville, SC | ~893 mi | 3–7 days | $4,019 – $5,358 | $4,621 – $6,162 |
Iowa to every other state
Nearest first, measured between each state's main city and Iowa's. Each page prices every city pair between the two states and lists the interstate carriers based in Iowa.
What moving from Iowa costs, by distance
One model for every route: hourly inside 100 miles, distance × home size × service past it. Full-service movers, transport only.
| Distance | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|
| Across town (hourly) | $505 – $831 | $849 – $1,533 |
| 500 miles | $2,250 – $3,000 | $2,588 – $3,450 |
| 1,000 miles | $4,500 – $6,000 | $5,175 – $6,900 |
| 2,000 miles | $9,000 – $12,000 | $10,350 – $13,800 |
The Iowa moving cost guide has city-by-city local rates; licensed movers in Iowa lists the largest carriers with USDOT numbers.
Iowa moving routes FAQ
How much does it cost to move within Iowa?
Across town it is hourly: about $43 to $54 per mover per hour plus around $75 travel, which puts a two-bedroom home at $505 – $831. Between Iowa cities we price 1 pair, from Cedar Rapids to Des Moines at about 122 miles ($549 – $732 for two bedrooms) to Cedar Rapids to Des Moines at about 122 miles ($549 – $732).
How much does it cost to move out of Iowa?
It depends almost entirely on distance. From our model a two-bedroom home is $2,250 – $3,000 at 500 miles, $4,500 – $6,000 at 1,000 and $9,000 – $12,000 at 2,000, with full-service movers. The nearest state by main city is Nebraska at about 142 miles; the farthest is Hawaii at about 4,595. Every Iowa-to-state page prices the exact pair.
Is a move inside Iowa regulated the same way as one that leaves it?
No. A move that stays inside Iowa is regulated by the state: what the mover must hold, how it may estimate and what valuation it must offer are set at state level. The moment the truck crosses a state line the FMCSA's rules apply — active interstate authority, a written estimate before loading, the 110% cap on non-binding estimates and an arbitration programme. Ask which set applies before you compare quotes.
How many licensed movers are based in Iowa?
119 household-goods carriers based in Iowa are active on the FMCSA register (pulled 2026-09-23). We list the largest by fleet with USDOT and MC numbers so you can read a safety record before you call.