Moving from Minnesota to Iowa
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Minneapolis and Des Moines it is about 274 miles and about 5 hours; the 6 city pairs we price between the two states run from 171 to 274 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.
- ~274 miMinneapolis → Des Moines
- 1–3 daysTypical transit
- $1,233+2-bedroom, movers
- 6City routes priced
In short
About 5,086 people moved from Minnesota to Iowa in 2024 (Census estimate, ±1,099), and about 5,965 went the other way. Between Minneapolis and Des Moines it is about 274 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $1,233 – $1,644 in our model, delivered in 1–3 days. 92 movers based in Minnesota hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Minnesota to Iowa
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 5,086 people a year (±1,099), against about 5,965 (±1,581) from Iowa to Minnesota, so Iowa loses about 879 people a year on this exchange. Minnesota is the 3rd-largest of the 43 states sending people to Iowa; Iowa took in about 59,199 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis County | Johnson County | 433 ±532* |
| Ramsey County | Polk County | 375 ±321 |
| Hennepin County | Story County | 254 ±100 |
| Dakota County | Story County | 243 ±110 |
| Rock County | Tama County | 207 ±76 |
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.
Minneapolis 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 Minnesota and Iowa.
Cost of moving from Minnesota to Iowa
At about 274 miles, full-service movers should land around $1,233 – $1,644 for a two-bedroom home and $1,418 – $1,891 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $888 – $1,184; a freight trailer is $592 – $789.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $925 – $1,233 | $666 – $888 | $444 – $592 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,110 – $1,480 | $799 – $1,065 | $533 – $710 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,233 – $1,644 | $888 – $1,184 | $592 – $789 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,418 – $1,891 | $1,021 – $1,361 | $681 – $907 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,603 – $2,137 | $1,154 – $1,539 | $769 – $1,026 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,850 – $2,466 | $1,332 – $1,776 | $888 – $1,184 |
Transport only, for an estimated 274 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 Minnesota to Iowa
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 2 have a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester to Cedar Rapids | ~171 mi | 1–3 days | $770 – $1,026 | $885 – $1,180 |
| Rochester to Des Moines | ~208 mi | 1–3 days | $936 – $1,248 | $1,076 – $1,435 |
| Saint Paul to Cedar Rapids | ~254 mi | 1–3 days | $1,143 – $1,524 | $1,314 – $1,753 |
| Minneapolis to Cedar Rapids | ~259 mi | 1–3 days | $1,166 – $1,554 | $1,340 – $1,787 |
| Saint Paul to Des Moines | ~273 mi | 1–3 days | $1,229 – $1,638 | $1,413 – $1,884 |
| Minneapolis to Des Moines | ~274 mi | 1–3 days | $1,233 – $1,644 | $1,418 – $1,891 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Minnesota
61 of the 92 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 1,807 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 199 of 939 vehicle inspections (21.2%), above the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 44 of 1,807 driver inspections (2.4%, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay and BayEagan, MN · USDOT 125630 | 954 | 80 of 507 | 12 of 954 |
| Manning Transfer IncBlaine, MN · USDOT 116111 | 104 | 12 of 51 | 1 of 104 |
| C T XRush City, MN · USDOT 493429 | 87 | 24 of 43 | 1 of 87 |
| Polman Transfer IncWadena, MN · USDOT 116195 | 81 | 8 of 31 | 0 of 81 |
| Berger Transfer & Storage IncSaint Paul, MN · USDOT 125665 | 63 | 5 of 36 | 5 of 63 |
| Cool Fuel TransportationClearwater, MN · USDOT 242597 | 60 | 4 of 25 | 0 of 60 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
273 listed household-goods carriers are based in Minnesota, 92 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Minnesota 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 Minnesota. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Minnesota
Minnesota to Iowa moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Minnesota to Iowa?
Between the two states' main cities, Minneapolis and Des Moines, the distance is about 274 miles. From our model that is $1,233 – $1,644 for a two-bedroom home and $1,418 – $1,891 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $888 – $1,184 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $592 – $789. Across the 6 city pairs we price between Minnesota and Iowa, distances run from 171 to 274 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Minnesota to Iowa take?
Minneapolis to Des Moines is about 5 hours. The move itself typically takes 1 to 3 days, because at this distance it usually travels on a dedicated truck, because the corridor is too short to be worth consolidating. Get the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 2 to 4 weeks, 4 to 6 in summer.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Minnesota to Iowa?
Yes. A move from Minnesota into Iowa is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 273 listed movers based in Minnesota, 92 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Minnesota.
What is the cheapest way to move from Minnesota to Iowa?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $592 – $789 for a two-bedroom home over 274 miles against $1,233 – $1,644 with full-service movers. A container, about $888 – $1,184, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Minnesota to Iowa each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 5,086 people (±1,099) moved from Minnesota to Iowa that year, against about 5,965 (±1,581) from Iowa to Minnesota. That makes Minnesota the 3rd-largest source of new residents for Iowa among the states.