Moving from Iowa to Virginia
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Des Moines and Virginia Beach it is about 1,163 miles and 3 days on the road (about 21 hours of driving); the 10 city pairs we price between the two states run from 927 to 1,163 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.
- ~1,163 miDes Moines → Virginia Beach
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $5,234+2-bedroom, movers
- 10City routes priced
In short
About 465 people moved from Iowa to Virginia in 2024 (Census estimate, ±381), and about 409 went the other way. Between Des Moines and Virginia Beach it is about 1,163 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $5,234 – $6,978 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 58 movers based in Iowa hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Iowa to Virginia
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 465 people a year (±381), against about 409 (±295) from Virginia to Iowa, so Virginia gains about 56 people a year on this exchange. Iowa is the 45th-largest of the 49 states sending people to Virginia; Virginia took in about 265,444 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Linn County | Loudoun County | 181 ±291* |
| Washington County | Virginia Beach City | 95 ±147* |
| Polk County | Virginia Beach City | 95 ±146* |
| Scott County | Stafford County | 90 ±124* |
| Butler County | Spotsylvania County | 80 ±114* |
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 Virginia Beach, 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 Virginia.
Cost of moving from Iowa to Virginia
At about 1,163 miles, full-service movers should land around $5,234 – $6,978 for a two-bedroom home and $6,019 – $8,025 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $3,768 – $5,024; a freight trailer is $2,512 – $3,349.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,925 – $5,234 | $2,826 – $3,768 | $1,884 – $2,512 |
| 1 bedroom | $4,710 – $6,280 | $3,391 – $4,522 | $2,261 – $3,014 |
| 2 bedrooms | $5,234 – $6,978 | $3,768 – $5,024 | $2,512 – $3,349 |
| 3 bedrooms | $6,019 – $8,025 | $4,333 – $5,778 | $2,889 – $3,852 |
| 4 bedrooms | $6,804 – $9,071 | $4,899 – $6,531 | $3,266 – $4,354 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $7,850 – $10,467 | $5,652 – $7,536 | $3,768 – $5,024 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,163 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 Virginia
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 Arlington | ~927 mi | 3–7 days | $4,172 – $5,562 | $4,797 – $6,396 |
| Cedar Rapids to Richmond | ~950 mi | 3–7 days | $4,275 – $5,700 | $4,916 – $6,555 |
| Des Moines to Arlington | ~1,038 mi | 3–7 days | $4,671 – $6,228 | $5,372 – $7,162 |
| Cedar Rapids to Norfolk | ~1,041 mi | 3–7 days | $4,685 – $6,246 | $5,387 – $7,183 |
| Cedar Rapids to Chesapeake | ~1,047 mi | 3–7 days | $4,712 – $6,282 | $5,418 – $7,224 |
| Des Moines to Richmond | ~1,055 mi | 3–7 days | $4,748 – $6,330 | $5,460 – $7,280 |
| Cedar Rapids to Virginia Beach | ~1,059 mi | 3–7 days | $4,766 – $6,354 | $5,480 – $7,307 |
| Des Moines to Norfolk | ~1,145 mi | 3–7 days | $5,153 – $6,870 | $5,925 – $7,901 |
| Des Moines to Chesapeake | ~1,150 mi | 3–7 days | $5,175 – $6,900 | $5,951 – $7,935 |
| Des Moines to Virginia Beach | ~1,163 mi | 3–7 days | $5,234 – $6,978 | $6,019 – $8,025 |
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 Virginia end, 411 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Virginia, moving costs in Virginia, or the reverse trip, Virginia 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 Virginia moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Iowa to Virginia?
Between the two states' main cities, Des Moines and Virginia Beach, the distance is about 1,163 miles. From our model that is $5,234 – $6,978 for a two-bedroom home and $6,019 – $8,025 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $3,768 – $5,024 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $2,512 – $3,349. Across the 10 city pairs we price between Iowa and Virginia, distances run from 927 to 1,163 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Iowa to Virginia take?
Des Moines to Virginia Beach 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 Virginia?
Yes. A move from Iowa into Virginia 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 Virginia?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $2,512 – $3,349 for a two-bedroom home over 1,163 miles against $5,234 – $6,978 with full-service movers. A container, about $3,768 – $5,024, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Iowa to Virginia each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 465 people (±381) moved from Iowa to Virginia that year, against about 409 (±295) from Virginia to Iowa. That makes Iowa the 45th-largest source of new residents for Virginia among the states.