Moving from Iowa to Pennsylvania
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Des Moines and Philadelphia it is about 1,132 miles and 3 days on the road (about 21 hours of driving); the 10 city pairs we price between the two states run from 693 to 1,132 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.
- ~1,132 miDes Moines → Philadelphia
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $5,094+2-bedroom, movers
- 10City routes priced
In short
About 3,205 people moved from Iowa to Pennsylvania in 2024 (Census estimate, ±1,713), and about 936 went the other way. Between Des Moines and Philadelphia it is about 1,132 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $5,094 – $6,792 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 58 movers based in Iowa hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Iowa to Pennsylvania
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 3,205 people a year (±1,713), against about 936 (±651) from Pennsylvania to Iowa, so Pennsylvania gains about 2,269 people a year on this exchange. Iowa is the 18th-largest of the 49 states sending people to Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania took in about 234,568 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Warren County | Northumberland County | 109 ±151* |
| Wapello County | Philadelphia County | 87 ±114* |
| Johnson County | Lancaster County | 68 ±107* |
| Jasper County | Dauphin County | 67 ±110* |
| Story County | Dauphin County | 64 ±77* |
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 Philadelphia, 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 Pennsylvania.
Cost of moving from Iowa to Pennsylvania
At about 1,132 miles, full-service movers should land around $5,094 – $6,792 for a two-bedroom home and $5,858 – $7,811 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $3,668 – $4,890; a freight trailer is $2,445 – $3,260.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,821 – $5,094 | $2,751 – $3,668 | $1,834 – $2,445 |
| 1 bedroom | $4,585 – $6,113 | $3,301 – $4,401 | $2,201 – $2,934 |
| 2 bedrooms | $5,094 – $6,792 | $3,668 – $4,890 | $2,445 – $3,260 |
| 3 bedrooms | $5,858 – $7,811 | $4,218 – $5,624 | $2,812 – $3,749 |
| 4 bedrooms | $6,622 – $8,830 | $4,768 – $6,357 | $3,179 – $4,238 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $7,641 – $10,188 | $5,502 – $7,335 | $3,668 – $4,890 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,132 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 Pennsylvania
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids to Erie | ~693 mi | 3–7 days | $3,119 – $4,158 | $3,586 – $4,782 |
| Cedar Rapids to Pittsburgh | ~717 mi | 3–7 days | $3,227 – $4,302 | $3,710 – $4,947 |
| Des Moines to Erie | ~813 mi | 3–7 days | $3,659 – $4,878 | $4,207 – $5,610 |
| Des Moines to Pittsburgh | ~832 mi | 3–7 days | $3,744 – $4,992 | $4,306 – $5,741 |
| Cedar Rapids to Harrisburg | ~906 mi | 3–7 days | $4,077 – $5,436 | $4,689 – $6,251 |
| Cedar Rapids to Allentown | ~985 mi | 3–7 days | $4,433 – $5,910 | $5,097 – $6,797 |
| Cedar Rapids to Philadelphia | ~1,016 mi | 3–7 days | $4,572 – $6,096 | $5,258 – $7,010 |
| Des Moines to Harrisburg | ~1,023 mi | 3–7 days | $4,604 – $6,138 | $5,294 – $7,059 |
| Des Moines to Allentown | ~1,103 mi | 3–7 days | $4,964 – $6,618 | $5,708 – $7,611 |
| Des Moines to Philadelphia | ~1,132 mi | 3–7 days | $5,094 – $6,792 | $5,858 – $7,811 |
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 Pennsylvania end, 355 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Pennsylvania, moving costs in Pennsylvania, or the reverse trip, Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Iowa to Pennsylvania?
Between the two states' main cities, Des Moines and Philadelphia, the distance is about 1,132 miles. From our model that is $5,094 – $6,792 for a two-bedroom home and $5,858 – $7,811 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $3,668 – $4,890 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $2,445 – $3,260. Across the 10 city pairs we price between Iowa and Pennsylvania, distances run from 693 to 1,132 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Iowa to Pennsylvania take?
Des Moines to Philadelphia is 3 days on the road (about 21 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 Pennsylvania?
Yes. A move from Iowa into Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $2,445 – $3,260 for a two-bedroom home over 1,132 miles against $5,094 – $6,792 with full-service movers. A container, about $3,668 – $4,890, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Iowa to Pennsylvania each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 3,205 people (±1,713) moved from Iowa to Pennsylvania that year, against about 936 (±651) from Pennsylvania to Iowa. That makes Iowa the 18th-largest source of new residents for Pennsylvania among the states.