Moving from Iowa to Minnesota
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Des Moines and Minneapolis it is about 274 miles and about 5 hours; the 6 city pairs we price between the two states run from 171 to 274 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.
- ~274 miDes Moines → Minneapolis
- 1–3 daysTypical transit
- $1,233+2-bedroom, movers
- 6City routes priced
In short
About 5,965 people moved from Iowa to Minnesota in 2024 (Census estimate, ±1,581), and about 5,086 went the other way. Between Des Moines and Minneapolis it is about 274 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $1,233 – $1,644 in our model, delivered in 1–3 days. 58 movers based in Iowa hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Iowa to Minnesota
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 5,965 people a year (±1,581), against about 5,086 (±1,099) from Minnesota to Iowa, so Minnesota gains about 879 people a year on this exchange. Iowa is the 5th-largest of the 47 states sending people to Minnesota; Minnesota took in about 104,339 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Boone County | Dakota County | 318 ±462* |
| Polk County | Hennepin County | 293 ±132 |
| Johnson County | Hennepin County | 272 ±178 |
| Story County | Hennepin County | 164 ±81 |
| Woodbury County | Ramsey County | 149 ±138 |
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.
Des Moines to Minneapolis, 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 Iowa and Minnesota.
Cost of moving from Iowa to Minnesota
At about 274 miles, full-service movers should land around $1,233 – $1,644 for a two-bedroom home and $1,418 – $1,891 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $888 – $1,184; a freight trailer is $592 – $789.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $925 – $1,233 | $666 – $888 | $444 – $592 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,110 – $1,480 | $799 – $1,065 | $533 – $710 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,233 – $1,644 | $888 – $1,184 | $592 – $789 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,418 – $1,891 | $1,021 – $1,361 | $681 – $907 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,603 – $2,137 | $1,154 – $1,539 | $769 – $1,026 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,850 – $2,466 | $1,332 – $1,776 | $888 – $1,184 |
Transport only, for an estimated 274 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 Iowa to Minnesota
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 2 have a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids to Rochester | ~171 mi | 1–3 days | $770 – $1,026 | $885 – $1,180 |
| Des Moines to Rochester | ~208 mi | 1–3 days | $936 – $1,248 | $1,076 – $1,435 |
| Cedar Rapids to Saint Paul | ~254 mi | 1–3 days | $1,143 – $1,524 | $1,314 – $1,753 |
| Cedar Rapids to Minneapolis | ~259 mi | 1–3 days | $1,166 – $1,554 | $1,340 – $1,787 |
| Des Moines to Saint Paul | ~273 mi | 1–3 days | $1,229 – $1,638 | $1,413 – $1,884 |
| Des Moines to Minneapolis | ~274 mi | 1–3 days | $1,233 – $1,644 | $1,418 – $1,891 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Iowa
35 of the 58 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 540 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 64 of 257 vehicle inspections (24.9%), above the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 26 of 538 driver inspections (4.8%, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tucker Freight Lines IncDubuque, IA · USDOT 1674 | 328 | 46 of 155 | 3 of 328 |
| Boost Express Van Lines IncDavenport, IA · USDOT 2453637 | 32 | 7 of 14 | 3 of 32 |
| Mihm Transfer IncFort Atkinson, IA · USDOT 2170310 | 24 | 1 of 6 | 0 of 24 |
| C & K Transfer LLCGrinnell, IA · USDOT 206 | 21 | 1 of 5 | 1 of 21 |
| Maher Bros Transfer and Storage IncCedar Rapids, IA · USDOT 87390 | 19 | 0 of 9 | 2 of 19 |
| Dubuque Moving & Storage IncDubuque, IA · USDOT 1071770 | 18 | 2 of 11 | 0 of 18 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
119 listed household-goods carriers are based in Iowa, 58 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Iowa directory ranks them. At the Minnesota end, 273 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Minnesota, moving costs in Minnesota, or the reverse trip, Minnesota to Iowa. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Iowa
Iowa to Minnesota moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Iowa to Minnesota?
Between the two states' main cities, Des Moines and Minneapolis, the distance is about 274 miles. From our model that is $1,233 – $1,644 for a two-bedroom home and $1,418 – $1,891 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $888 – $1,184 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $592 – $789. Across the 6 city pairs we price between Iowa and Minnesota, distances run from 171 to 274 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Iowa to Minnesota take?
Des Moines to Minneapolis is about 5 hours. The move itself typically takes 1 to 3 days, because at this distance it usually travels on a dedicated truck, because the corridor is too short to be worth consolidating. Get the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 2 to 4 weeks, 4 to 6 in summer.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Iowa to Minnesota?
Yes. A move from Iowa into Minnesota is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 119 listed movers based in Iowa, 58 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Iowa.
What is the cheapest way to move from Iowa to Minnesota?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $592 – $789 for a two-bedroom home over 274 miles against $1,233 – $1,644 with full-service movers. A container, about $888 – $1,184, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Iowa to Minnesota each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 5,965 people (±1,581) moved from Iowa to Minnesota that year, against about 5,086 (±1,099) from Minnesota to Iowa. That makes Iowa the 5th-largest source of new residents for Minnesota among the states.