Moving from Oregon to Iowa
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Portland and Des Moines it is about 1,716 miles and 4 days on the road (about 31 hours of driving); the 6 city pairs we price between the two states run from 1,716 to 1,847 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.
- ~1,716 miPortland → Des Moines
- 7–14 daysTypical transit
- $7,722+2-bedroom, movers
- 6City routes priced
In short
About 177 people moved from Oregon to Iowa in 2024 (Census estimate, ±218), and about 214 went the other way. Between Portland and Des Moines it is about 1,716 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $7,722 – $10,296 in our model, delivered in 7–14 days. 77 movers based in Oregon hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Oregon to Iowa
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 177 people a year (±218), against about 214 (±214) from Iowa to Oregon, so Iowa loses about 37 people a year on this exchange. Oregon is the 34th-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 |
|---|---|---|
| Multnomah County | Scott County | 37 ±39* |
| Multnomah County | Polk County | 36 ±66* |
| Polk County | Polk County | 29 ±44* |
| Marion County | Polk County | 27 ±30* |
| Washington County | Pottawattamie County | 22 ±36* |
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 Oregon and Iowa.
Cost of moving from Oregon to Iowa
At about 1,716 miles, full-service movers should land around $7,722 – $10,296 for a two-bedroom home and $8,880 – $11,840 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $5,560 – $7,413; a freight trailer is $3,707 – $4,942.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $5,792 – $7,722 | $4,170 – $5,560 | $2,780 – $3,707 |
| 1 bedroom | $6,950 – $9,266 | $5,004 – $6,672 | $3,336 – $4,448 |
| 2 bedrooms | $7,722 – $10,296 | $5,560 – $7,413 | $3,707 – $4,942 |
| 3 bedrooms | $8,880 – $11,840 | $6,394 – $8,525 | $4,263 – $5,683 |
| 4 bedrooms | $10,039 – $13,385 | $7,228 – $9,637 | $4,819 – $6,425 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $11,583 – $15,444 | $8,340 – $11,120 | $5,560 – $7,413 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,716 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 Oregon 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 Des Moines | ~1,716 mi | 7–14 days | $7,722 – $10,296 | $8,880 – $11,840 |
| Salem to Des Moines | ~1,737 mi | 7–14 days | $7,817 – $10,422 | $8,989 – $11,985 |
| Eugene to Des Moines | ~1,743 mi | 7–14 days | $7,844 – $10,458 | $9,020 – $12,027 |
| Portland to Cedar Rapids | ~1,815 mi | 7–14 days | $8,168 – $10,890 | $9,393 – $12,524 |
| Salem to Cedar Rapids | ~1,838 mi | 7–14 days | $8,271 – $11,028 | $9,512 – $12,682 |
| Eugene to Cedar Rapids | ~1,847 mi | 7–14 days | $8,312 – $11,082 | $9,558 – $12,744 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Oregon
50 of the 77 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 342 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 39 of 225 vehicle inspections (17.3%), below the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 60 of 336 driver inspections (17.9%, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Service MovingPortland, OR · USDOT 1863079 | 78 | 8 of 46 | 6 of 78 |
| PDX Movers LLCTualatin, OR · USDOT 2353055 | 34 | 3 of 29 | 0 of 34 |
| Terminal Transfer IncPortland, OR · USDOT 59571 | 22 | 4 of 16 | 0 of 22 |
| CBC MovingPortland, OR · USDOT 1598972 | 16 | 2 of 7 | 4 of 16 |
| Gentle John's Moving & StorageClackamas, OR · USDOT 3443547 | 13 | 0 of 9 | 2 of 8 |
| Willamette Valley Moving IncPortland, OR · USDOT 945885 | 12 | 0 of 5 | 0 of 12 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
167 listed household-goods carriers are based in Oregon, 77 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Oregon 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 Oregon. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Oregon
Oregon to Iowa moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Oregon to Iowa?
Between the two states' main cities, Portland and Des Moines, the distance is about 1,716 miles. From our model that is $7,722 – $10,296 for a two-bedroom home and $8,880 – $11,840 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $5,560 – $7,413 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $3,707 – $4,942. Across the 6 city pairs we price between Oregon and Iowa, distances run from 1,716 to 1,847 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Oregon to Iowa take?
Portland to Des Moines is 4 days on the road (about 31 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 Oregon to Iowa?
Yes. A move from Oregon into Iowa is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 167 listed movers based in Oregon, 77 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Oregon.
What is the cheapest way to move from Oregon to Iowa?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $3,707 – $4,942 for a two-bedroom home over 1,716 miles against $7,722 – $10,296 with full-service movers. A container, about $5,560 – $7,413, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Oregon to Iowa each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 177 people (±218) moved from Oregon to Iowa that year, against about 214 (±214) from Iowa to Oregon. That makes Oregon the 34th-largest source of new residents for Iowa among the states.