Moving from Des Moines, IA to Orlando, FL
About 1,322 miles across a state line, from Iowa into Florida, 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 Des Moines, IA to Orlando, FL covers about 1,322 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $5,949 – $7,932 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 157 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 1,322 miles from Iowa to Florida. 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 $5,949 – $7,932 instead of scaling straight with distance, and also why there is more handling and a looser schedule.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 3 days on the road (about 24 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 Des Moines to Orlando
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $4,462 – $5,949 | $3,212 – $4,283 | $2,142 – $2,856 |
| 1 bedroom | $5,354 – $7,139 | $3,855 – $5,140 | $2,570 – $3,427 |
| 2 bedrooms | $5,949 – $7,932 | $4,283 – $5,711 | $2,856 – $3,807 |
| 3 bedrooms | $6,841 – $9,122 | $4,926 – $6,568 | $3,284 – $4,378 |
| 4 bedrooms | $7,734 – $10,312 | $5,568 – $7,424 | $3,712 – $4,950 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $8,924 – $11,898 | $6,425 – $8,567 | $4,283 – $5,711 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,322 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, Des Moines to Orlando
1,322 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $6,610. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $5,949 to $7,932, 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 Des Moines to Orlando
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 157 people a year (±104) moved from Polk County, IA, home to Des Moines, to Orange County, FL, home to Orlando. Too few went the other way to estimate. Movers from Polk County make up 0.2% of the 88,876 people a year who moved into Orange County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 1,724 people a year (±999) moving from Iowa to Florida and about 2,158 people a year (±854) from Florida to Iowa — a net gain for Iowa of about 434 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Dallas County, IA | 4,388 ±856 |
| Warren County, IA | 1,961 ±665 |
| Story County, IA | 1,914 ±373 |
| Johnson County, IA | 859 ±254 |
| Black Hawk County, IA | 695 ±375 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Seminole County, FL | 10,288 ±1,351 |
| Miami-Dade County, FL | 5,872 ±1,121 |
| Osceola County, FL | 5,759 ±1,185 |
| Broward County, FL | 4,137 ±961 |
| Polk County, FL | 2,770 ±833 |
Licensed movers at each end
11 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Des Moines (33 counting those licensed only inside Iowa). 5 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 0.0% of their 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lint Van Lines IncUSDOT 543541 | Des Moines · 5 mi | 27 trucks | 1 | — |
| Duplicate- You First MovingUSDOT 3253628 | Urbandale · 7 mi | 5 trucks | 0 | — |
| All My Sons Moving & Storage of Des Moines LLCUSDOT 3528959 | Des Moines · 5 mi | 3 trucks | 2 | 0.0% of 1 |
| All Mighty Movers LLCUSDOT 2468266 | Des Moines · 1 mi | 2 trucks | 1 | — |
| Dedicated Movers of Iowa LLCUSDOT 4536957 | Des Moines · 4 mi | 2 trucks | 0 | — |
| Combined Relocation Services LLCUSDOT 1666941 | Huxley · 21 mi | 2 trucks | 0 | — |
How these figures are calculated
At the Orlando end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Orlando: 1st Class Moving and Storage (Orlando, 16 trucks), Sebastian Moving and More LLC (Apopka, 16 trucks), Two Men and A Truck Seminole County (Casselberry, 14 trucks), Central Moving & Storage Inc (Orlando, 11 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Iowa into Florida, 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 Des Moines to Orlando
Insist on a survey
Over 1,322 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 1,322 miles of handling.
Arriving in Orlando
A local move inside Orlando later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $455 – $733 for a two-bedroom home and $759 – $1,344 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Orlando are Tampa (about 90 mi), Saint Petersburg (about 110 mi), Gainesville (about 114 mi).
Other routes from Des Moines
All routes from Des Moines, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines to Cedar Rapids, IA | ~122 mi | $549 – $732 |
| Des Moines to Omaha, NE | ~142 mi | $639 – $852 |
| Des Moines to Lincoln, NE | ~197 mi | $887 – $1,182 |
| Des Moines to Overland Park, KS | ~220 mi | $990 – $1,320 |
| Des Moines to Sioux Falls, SD | ~243 mi | $1,094 – $1,458 |
| Des Moines to Minneapolis, MN | ~274 mi | $1,233 – $1,644 |
| Des Moines to Chicago, IL | ~361 mi | $1,625 – $2,166 |
| Des Moines to Greenville, SC | ~893 mi | $4,019 – $5,358 |
Also moving to Orlando: from Tampa, FL, from Saint Petersburg, FL, from Gainesville, FL, from Port Saint Lucie, FL.
Des Moines to Orlando moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Des Moines to Orlando?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 1,322 miles cost about $4,462 – $5,949 for a studio, $5,949 – $7,932 for a two-bedroom home and $6,841 – $9,122 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Des Moines to Orlando take?
The drive is 3 days on the road (about 24 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 Des Moines to Orlando?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $2,856 – $3,807 for a two-bedroom home, against $5,949 – $7,932 with full-service movers; a moving container is $4,283 – $5,711.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Des Moines to Orlando?
Yes. Des Moines is in Iowa and Orlando is in Florida, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 11 listed movers within 30 miles of Des Moines hold it.
How many people move from Des Moines to Orlando each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 157 people a year (margin of error ±104) moved from Polk County, which contains Des Moines, to Orange County, which contains Orlando.
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.