Moving from Iowa to Montana
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Des Moines and Billings it is about 928 miles and 2 days on the road (about 17 hours of driving); the 4 city pairs we price between the two states run from 928 to 1,338 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.
- ~928 miDes Moines → Billings
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $4,176+2-bedroom, movers
- 4City routes priced
In short
About 104 people moved from Iowa to Montana in 2024 (Census estimate, ±104). Between Des Moines and Billings it is about 928 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $4,176 – $5,568 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 58 movers based in Iowa hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Iowa to Montana
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 104 people a year (±104). Iowa is the 35th-largest of the 45 states sending people to Montana; Montana took in about 35,735 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Audubon County | Missoula County | 35 ±55* |
| Des Moines County | Yellowstone County | 29 ±45* |
| Winneshiek County | Missoula County | 24 ±38* |
| Boone County | Deer Lodge County | 14 ±35* |
| Polk County | Cascade County | 13 ±23* |
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 Billings, 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 Montana.
Cost of moving from Iowa to Montana
At about 928 miles, full-service movers should land around $4,176 – $5,568 for a two-bedroom home and $4,802 – $6,403 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $3,007 – $4,009; a freight trailer is $2,004 – $2,673.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,132 – $4,176 | $2,255 – $3,007 | $1,503 – $2,004 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,758 – $5,011 | $2,706 – $3,608 | $1,804 – $2,405 |
| 2 bedrooms | $4,176 – $5,568 | $3,007 – $4,009 | $2,004 – $2,673 |
| 3 bedrooms | $4,802 – $6,403 | $3,458 – $4,610 | $2,305 – $3,074 |
| 4 bedrooms | $5,429 – $7,238 | $3,909 – $5,212 | $2,606 – $3,474 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $6,264 – $8,352 | $4,510 – $6,013 | $3,007 – $4,009 |
Transport only, for an estimated 928 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 Montana
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines to Billings | ~928 mi | 3–7 days | $4,176 – $5,568 | $4,802 – $6,403 |
| Cedar Rapids to Billings | ~1,022 mi | 3–7 days | $4,599 – $6,132 | $5,289 – $7,052 |
| Des Moines to Missoula | ~1,246 mi | 7–14 days | $5,607 – $7,476 | $6,448 – $8,597 |
| Cedar Rapids to Missoula | ~1,338 mi | 7–14 days | $6,021 – $8,028 | $6,924 – $9,232 |
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 Montana end, 30 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Montana, moving costs in Montana, or the reverse trip, Montana 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 Montana moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Iowa to Montana?
Between the two states' main cities, Des Moines and Billings, the distance is about 928 miles. From our model that is $4,176 – $5,568 for a two-bedroom home and $4,802 – $6,403 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $3,007 – $4,009 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $2,004 – $2,673. Across the 4 city pairs we price between Iowa and Montana, distances run from 928 to 1,338 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Iowa to Montana take?
Des Moines to Billings is 2 days on the road (about 17 hours of driving). The move itself typically takes 3 to 7 days, because at this distance it usually travels on either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load, depending on the carrier and the season. Get the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Iowa to Montana?
Yes. A move from Iowa into Montana 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 Montana?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $2,004 – $2,673 for a two-bedroom home over 928 miles against $4,176 – $5,568 with full-service movers. A container, about $3,007 – $4,009, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Iowa to Montana each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 104 people (±104) moved from Iowa to Montana that year. That makes Iowa the 35th-largest source of new residents for Montana among the states.