Moving from Mississippi to Iowa
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Jackson and Des Moines it is about 780 miles and 2 days on the road (about 14 hours of driving); the 4 city pairs we price between the two states run from 780 to 951 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.
- ~780 miJackson → Des Moines
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $3,510+2-bedroom, movers
- 4City routes priced
In short
About 83 people moved from Mississippi to Iowa in 2024 (Census estimate, ±103), and about 0 went the other way. Between Jackson and Des Moines it is about 780 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $3,510 – $4,680 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 41 movers based in Mississippi hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Mississippi to Iowa
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 83 people a year (±103), against about 0 (±226) from Iowa to Mississippi, so Iowa gains about 83 people a year on this exchange. Mississippi is the 37th-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 |
|---|---|---|
| DeSoto County | Scott County | 82 ±108* |
| Harrison County | Polk County | 58 ±88* |
| Adams County | Buena Vista County | 57 ±70* |
| Lowndes County | Black Hawk County | 29 ±47* |
| Neshoba County | Scott County | 27 ±47* |
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.
Jackson 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 Mississippi and Iowa.
Cost of moving from Mississippi to Iowa
At about 780 miles, full-service movers should land around $3,510 – $4,680 for a two-bedroom home and $4,036 – $5,382 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $2,527 – $3,370; a freight trailer is $1,685 – $2,246.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,633 – $3,510 | $1,895 – $2,527 | $1,264 – $1,685 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,159 – $4,212 | $2,274 – $3,033 | $1,516 – $2,022 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,510 – $4,680 | $2,527 – $3,370 | $1,685 – $2,246 |
| 3 bedrooms | $4,036 – $5,382 | $2,906 – $3,875 | $1,938 – $2,583 |
| 4 bedrooms | $4,563 – $6,084 | $3,285 – $4,380 | $2,190 – $2,920 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $5,265 – $7,020 | $3,791 – $5,054 | $2,527 – $3,370 |
Transport only, for an estimated 780 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 Mississippi 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson to Des Moines | ~780 mi | 3–7 days | $3,510 – $4,680 | $4,036 – $5,382 |
| Jackson to Cedar Rapids | ~785 mi | 3–7 days | $3,533 – $4,710 | $4,062 – $5,416 |
| Gulfport to Cedar Rapids | ~950 mi | 3–7 days | $4,275 – $5,700 | $4,916 – $6,555 |
| Gulfport to Des Moines | ~951 mi | 3–7 days | $4,280 – $5,706 | $4,921 – $6,562 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Mississippi
23 of the 41 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 502 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 55 of 250 vehicle inspections (22.0%), above the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 21 of 502 driver inspections (4.2%, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Fayard Moving & Warehousing LLCGulfport, MS · USDOT 1043597 | 235 | 33 of 109 | 2 of 235 |
| Morgan Van Lines IncBooneville, MS · USDOT 151057 | 180 | 14 of 87 | 2 of 180 |
| Long's Transfer & Storage IncPascagoula, MS · USDOT 243834 | 22 | 0 of 17 | 0 of 22 |
| Armstrong RelocationMadison, MS · USDOT 1925341 | 6 | 0 of 4 | 2 of 6 |
| Two Men and A TruckGulfport, MS · USDOT 2362630 | 6 | 0 of 3 | 1 of 6 |
| Flat Rate Moving Tupelo LLCTupelo, MS · USDOT 3628153 | 6 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 6 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
52 listed household-goods carriers are based in Mississippi, 41 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Mississippi 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 Mississippi. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Mississippi
Mississippi to Iowa moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Mississippi to Iowa?
Between the two states' main cities, Jackson and Des Moines, the distance is about 780 miles. From our model that is $3,510 – $4,680 for a two-bedroom home and $4,036 – $5,382 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $2,527 – $3,370 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $1,685 – $2,246. Across the 4 city pairs we price between Mississippi and Iowa, distances run from 780 to 951 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Mississippi to Iowa take?
Jackson to Des Moines is 2 days on the road (about 14 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 Mississippi to Iowa?
Yes. A move from Mississippi into Iowa is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 52 listed movers based in Mississippi, 41 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Mississippi.
What is the cheapest way to move from Mississippi to Iowa?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $1,685 – $2,246 for a two-bedroom home over 780 miles against $3,510 – $4,680 with full-service movers. A container, about $2,527 – $3,370, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Mississippi to Iowa each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 83 people (±103) moved from Mississippi to Iowa that year, against about 0 (±226) from Iowa to Mississippi. That makes Mississippi the 37th-largest source of new residents for Iowa among the states.