Moving from Iowa to North Dakota
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Des Moines and Fargo it is about 464 miles and about 8 hours; the 4 city pairs we price between the two states run from 464 to 653 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.
- ~464 miDes Moines → Fargo
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $2,088+2-bedroom, movers
- 4City routes priced
In short
About 431 people moved from Iowa to North Dakota in 2024 (Census estimate, ±541), and about 148 went the other way. Between Des Moines and Fargo it is about 464 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $2,088 – $2,784 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 58 movers based in Iowa hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Iowa to North Dakota
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 431 people a year (±541), against about 148 (±110) from North Dakota to Iowa, so North Dakota gains about 283 people a year on this exchange. Iowa is the 17th-largest of the 42 states sending people to North Dakota; North Dakota took in about 27,062 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington County | McKenzie County | 133 ±142* |
| Pottawattamie County | Grand Forks County | 48 ±72* |
| Polk County | Pierce County | 40 ±49* |
| Linn County | Ramsey County | 34 ±74* |
| Dubuque County | McKenzie County | 29 ±36* |
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 Fargo, 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 North Dakota.
Cost of moving from Iowa to North Dakota
At about 464 miles, full-service movers should land around $2,088 – $2,784 for a two-bedroom home and $2,401 – $3,202 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $1,503 – $2,004; a freight trailer is $1,002 – $1,336.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,566 – $2,088 | $1,128 – $1,503 | $752 – $1,002 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,879 – $2,506 | $1,353 – $1,804 | $902 – $1,203 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,088 – $2,784 | $1,503 – $2,004 | $1,002 – $1,336 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,401 – $3,202 | $1,729 – $2,305 | $1,153 – $1,537 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,714 – $3,619 | $1,954 – $2,606 | $1,303 – $1,737 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $3,132 – $4,176 | $2,255 – $3,007 | $1,503 – $2,004 |
Transport only, for an estimated 464 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 North Dakota
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 Fargo | ~464 mi | 3–7 days | $2,088 – $2,784 | $2,401 – $3,202 |
| Cedar Rapids to Fargo | ~492 mi | 3–7 days | $2,214 – $2,952 | $2,546 – $3,395 |
| Des Moines to Bismarck | ~589 mi | 3–7 days | $2,651 – $3,534 | $3,048 – $4,064 |
| Cedar Rapids to Bismarck | ~653 mi | 3–7 days | $2,939 – $3,918 | $3,379 – $4,506 |
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 North Dakota end, 28 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in North Dakota, moving costs in North Dakota, or the reverse trip, North Dakota 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 North Dakota moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Iowa to North Dakota?
Between the two states' main cities, Des Moines and Fargo, the distance is about 464 miles. From our model that is $2,088 – $2,784 for a two-bedroom home and $2,401 – $3,202 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $1,503 – $2,004 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $1,002 – $1,336. Across the 4 city pairs we price between Iowa and North Dakota, distances run from 464 to 653 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Iowa to North Dakota take?
Des Moines to Fargo is about 8 hours. 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 North Dakota?
Yes. A move from Iowa into North Dakota 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 North Dakota?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $1,002 – $1,336 for a two-bedroom home over 464 miles against $2,088 – $2,784 with full-service movers. A container, about $1,503 – $2,004, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Iowa to North Dakota each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 431 people (±541) moved from Iowa to North Dakota that year, against about 148 (±110) from North Dakota to Iowa. That makes Iowa the 17th-largest source of new residents for North Dakota among the states.