Moving from Missouri to Pennsylvania
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Saint Louis and Philadelphia it is about 942 miles and 2 days on the road (about 17 hours of driving); the 20 city pairs we price between the two states run from 649 to 1,206 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.
- ~942 miSaint Louis → Philadelphia
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $4,239+2-bedroom, movers
- 20City routes priced
In short
About 1,339 people moved from Missouri to Pennsylvania in 2024 (Census estimate, ±678), and about 1,195 went the other way. Between Saint Louis and Philadelphia it is about 942 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $4,239 – $5,652 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 132 movers based in Missouri hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Missouri to Pennsylvania
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 1,339 people a year (±678), against about 1,195 (±620) from Pennsylvania to Missouri, so Pennsylvania gains about 144 people a year on this exchange. Missouri is the 30th-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 |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis City | Dauphin County | 110 ±162* |
| St. Louis County | Montgomery County | 106 ±156* |
| Boone County | Allegheny County | 103 ±146* |
| Johnson County | Cumberland County | 94 ±115* |
| St. Louis City | Allegheny County | 89 ±97* |
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.
Saint Louis 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 Missouri and Pennsylvania.
Cost of moving from Missouri to Pennsylvania
At about 942 miles, full-service movers should land around $4,239 – $5,652 for a two-bedroom home and $4,875 – $6,500 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $3,052 – $4,069; a freight trailer is $2,035 – $2,713.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,179 – $4,239 | $2,289 – $3,052 | $1,526 – $2,035 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,815 – $5,087 | $2,747 – $3,662 | $1,831 – $2,442 |
| 2 bedrooms | $4,239 – $5,652 | $3,052 – $4,069 | $2,035 – $2,713 |
| 3 bedrooms | $4,875 – $6,500 | $3,510 – $4,680 | $2,340 – $3,120 |
| 4 bedrooms | $5,511 – $7,348 | $3,968 – $5,290 | $2,645 – $3,527 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $6,359 – $8,478 | $4,578 – $6,104 | $3,052 – $4,069 |
Transport only, for an estimated 942 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 Missouri 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Louis to Pittsburgh | ~649 mi | 3–7 days | $2,921 – $3,894 | $3,359 – $4,478 |
| Saint Louis to Erie | ~681 mi | 3–7 days | $3,065 – $4,086 | $3,524 – $4,699 |
| Columbia to Pittsburgh | ~773 mi | 3–7 days | $3,479 – $4,638 | $4,000 – $5,334 |
| Columbia to Erie | ~792 mi | 3–7 days | $3,564 – $4,752 | $4,099 – $5,465 |
| Saint Louis to Harrisburg | ~837 mi | 3–7 days | $3,767 – $5,022 | $4,331 – $5,775 |
| Springfield to Pittsburgh | ~873 mi | 3–7 days | $3,929 – $5,238 | $4,518 – $6,024 |
| Kansas City to Pittsburgh | ~908 mi | 3–7 days | $4,086 – $5,448 | $4,699 – $6,265 |
| Springfield to Erie | ~909 mi | 3–7 days | $4,091 – $5,454 | $4,704 – $6,272 |
| Kansas City to Erie | ~918 mi | 3–7 days | $4,131 – $5,508 | $4,751 – $6,334 |
| Saint Louis to Allentown | ~926 mi | 3–7 days | $4,167 – $5,556 | $4,792 – $6,389 |
| Saint Louis to Philadelphia | ~942 mi | 3–7 days | $4,239 – $5,652 | $4,875 – $6,500 |
| Columbia to Harrisburg | ~963 mi | 3–7 days | $4,334 – $5,778 | $4,984 – $6,645 |
| Columbia to Allentown | ~1,051 mi | 3–7 days | $4,730 – $6,306 | $5,439 – $7,252 |
| Springfield to Harrisburg | ~1,059 mi | 3–7 days | $4,766 – $6,354 | $5,480 – $7,307 |
| Columbia to Philadelphia | ~1,069 mi | 3–7 days | $4,811 – $6,414 | $5,532 – $7,376 |
| Kansas City to Harrisburg | ~1,099 mi | 3–7 days | $4,946 – $6,594 | $5,687 – $7,583 |
| Springfield to Allentown | ~1,148 mi | 3–7 days | $5,166 – $6,888 | $5,941 – $7,921 |
| Springfield to Philadelphia | ~1,161 mi | 3–7 days | $5,225 – $6,966 | $6,008 – $8,011 |
| Kansas City to Allentown | ~1,186 mi | 3–7 days | $5,337 – $7,116 | $6,138 – $8,183 |
| Kansas City to Philadelphia | ~1,206 mi | 7–14 days | $5,427 – $7,236 | $6,241 – $8,321 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Missouri
51 of the 132 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 2,422 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 298 of 1,266 vehicle inspections (23.5%), above the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 131 of 2,416 driver inspections (5.4%, against 13.0%). 1 carrier has an acute or critical violation found in an FMCSA investigation in the past 12 months.
| Carrier | Inspections | Vehicle out of service | Driver out of service |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Van LinesFenton, MO · USDOT 77949 | 2,112 | 268 of 1,102 | 71 of 2,110 |
| Carlyle Van Lines IncWarrensburg, MO · USDOT 279780 | 78 | 10 of 35 | 5 of 78 |
| Day Transfer Company IncCape Girardeau, MO · USDOT 2441154 | 45 | 11 of 27 | 6 of 45 |
| Modern Piano MovingSullivan, MO · USDOT 454870 | 19 | 0 of 8 | 1 of 19 |
| Pack and Load Moving and Storage LLCSaint Louis, MO · USDOT 4345256 | 15 | 0 of 8 | 7 of 15 |
| All My Sons Moving & Storage of Kansas LLCKansas City, MO · USDOT 1980643 | 11 | 0 of 8 | 0 of 11 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
238 listed household-goods carriers are based in Missouri, 132 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Missouri 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 Missouri. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Missouri
Missouri to Pennsylvania moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Missouri to Pennsylvania?
Between the two states' main cities, Saint Louis and Philadelphia, the distance is about 942 miles. From our model that is $4,239 – $5,652 for a two-bedroom home and $4,875 – $6,500 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $3,052 – $4,069 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $2,035 – $2,713. Across the 20 city pairs we price between Missouri and Pennsylvania, distances run from 649 to 1,206 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Missouri to Pennsylvania take?
Saint Louis to Philadelphia is 2 days on the road (about 17 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 Missouri to Pennsylvania?
Yes. A move from Missouri into Pennsylvania is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 238 listed movers based in Missouri, 132 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Missouri.
What is the cheapest way to move from Missouri to Pennsylvania?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $2,035 – $2,713 for a two-bedroom home over 942 miles against $4,239 – $5,652 with full-service movers. A container, about $3,052 – $4,069, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Missouri to Pennsylvania each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 1,339 people (±678) moved from Missouri to Pennsylvania that year, against about 1,195 (±620) from Pennsylvania to Missouri. That makes Missouri the 30th-largest source of new residents for Pennsylvania among the states.