Moving from Maine to Iowa
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Portland and Des Moines it is about 1,391 miles and 3 days on the road (about 25 hours of driving); the 4 city pairs we price between the two states run from 1,269 to 1,477 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.
- ~1,391 miPortland → Des Moines
- 7–14 daysTypical transit
- $6,260+2-bedroom, movers
- 4City routes priced
In short
About 0 people moved from Maine to Iowa in 2024 (Census estimate, ±174), and about 0 went the other way. Between Portland and Des Moines it is about 1,391 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $6,260 – $8,346 in our model, delivered in 7–14 days. 16 movers based in Maine hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Maine to Iowa
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 0 people a year (±174), against about 0 (±179) from Iowa to Maine, so Iowa gains about 0 people a year on this exchange. Maine is the 41st-largest of the 43 states sending people to Iowa; Iowa took in about 59,199 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Penobscot County | Muscatine County | 37 ±52* |
| Cumberland County | Story County | 28 ±47* |
| Sagadahoc County | Story County | 26 ±36* |
| Cumberland County | Poweshiek County | 21 ±24* |
| York County | Jackson County | 13 ±21* |
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.
Portland to Des Moines, 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 Maine and Iowa.
Cost of moving from Maine to Iowa
At about 1,391 miles, full-service movers should land around $6,260 – $8,346 for a two-bedroom home and $7,198 – $9,598 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $4,507 – $6,009; a freight trailer is $3,005 – $4,006.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $4,695 – $6,260 | $3,380 – $4,507 | $2,253 – $3,005 |
| 1 bedroom | $5,634 – $7,511 | $4,056 – $5,408 | $2,704 – $3,605 |
| 2 bedrooms | $6,260 – $8,346 | $4,507 – $6,009 | $3,005 – $4,006 |
| 3 bedrooms | $7,198 – $9,598 | $5,183 – $6,910 | $3,455 – $4,607 |
| 4 bedrooms | $8,137 – $10,850 | $5,859 – $7,812 | $3,906 – $5,208 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $9,389 – $12,519 | $6,760 – $9,014 | $4,507 – $6,009 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,391 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 Maine to Iowa
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland to Cedar Rapids | ~1,269 mi | 7–14 days | $5,711 – $7,614 | $6,567 – $8,756 |
| Bangor to Cedar Rapids | ~1,355 mi | 7–14 days | $6,098 – $8,130 | $7,012 – $9,349 |
| Portland to Des Moines | ~1,391 mi | 7–14 days | $6,260 – $8,346 | $7,198 – $9,598 |
| Bangor to Des Moines | ~1,477 mi | 7–14 days | $6,647 – $8,862 | $7,643 – $10,191 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Maine
10 of the 16 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 25 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 2 of 14 vehicle inspections (14.3%), below the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 2 of 25 driver inspections (8.0%, against 13.0%). With fewer than 30 vehicle inspections, a single out-of-service order moves that rate by several points, so treat it as a small sample. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty Bell Moving & Storage IncSouth Portland, ME · USDOT 1846942 | 7 | 1 of 3 | 2 of 7 |
| Allen's Transfer & Storage LLCAugusta, ME · USDOT 4357146 | 6 | 0 of 4 | 0 of 6 |
| Knowlton Moving and Storage CorpWarren, ME · USDOT 2371561 | 2 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 2 |
| J C Moving LLCPortland, ME · USDOT 3266900 | 2 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 2 |
| Earle W Noyes & Sons Moving SpecialistsPortland, ME · USDOT 51022 | 2 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 2 |
| Gore Moving & Storage IncWindham, ME · USDOT 714881 | 2 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 2 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
39 listed household-goods carriers are based in Maine, 16 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Maine directory ranks them. At the Iowa end, 119 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Iowa, moving costs in Iowa, or the reverse trip, Iowa to Maine. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Maine
Maine to Iowa moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Maine to Iowa?
Between the two states' main cities, Portland and Des Moines, the distance is about 1,391 miles. From our model that is $6,260 – $8,346 for a two-bedroom home and $7,198 – $9,598 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $4,507 – $6,009 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $3,005 – $4,006. Across the 4 city pairs we price between Maine and Iowa, distances run from 1,269 to 1,477 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Maine to Iowa take?
Portland to Des Moines is 3 days on the road (about 25 hours of driving). The move itself typically takes 7 to 14 days, because at this distance it usually travels on a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households. Get the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 6 to 8 weeks, 8 to 12 in summer.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Maine to Iowa?
Yes. A move from Maine into Iowa is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 39 listed movers based in Maine, 16 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Maine.
What is the cheapest way to move from Maine to Iowa?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $3,005 – $4,006 for a two-bedroom home over 1,391 miles against $6,260 – $8,346 with full-service movers. A container, about $4,507 – $6,009, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Maine to Iowa each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 0 people (±174) moved from Maine to Iowa that year, against about 0 (±179) from Iowa to Maine. That makes Maine the 41st-largest source of new residents for Iowa among the states.