Moving from Pennsylvania to Iowa
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Philadelphia and Des Moines it is about 1,132 miles and 3 days on the road (about 21 hours of driving); the 10 city pairs we price between the two states run from 693 to 1,132 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.
- ~1,132 miPhiladelphia → Des Moines
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $5,094+2-bedroom, movers
- 10City routes priced
In short
About 936 people moved from Pennsylvania to Iowa in 2024 (Census estimate, ±651), and about 3,205 went the other way. Between Philadelphia and Des Moines it is about 1,132 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $5,094 – $6,792 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 223 movers based in Pennsylvania hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Pennsylvania to Iowa
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 936 people a year (±651), against about 3,205 (±1,713) from Iowa to Pennsylvania, so Iowa loses about 2,269 people a year on this exchange. Pennsylvania is the 13th-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 |
|---|---|---|
| Centre County | Story County | 90 ±124* |
| Philadelphia County | Polk County | 54 ±64* |
| Chester County | Polk County | 40 ±75* |
| Lehigh County | Woodbury County | 35 ±54* |
| Huntingdon County | Webster County | 29 ±42* |
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.
Philadelphia 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 Pennsylvania and Iowa.
Cost of moving from Pennsylvania to Iowa
At about 1,132 miles, full-service movers should land around $5,094 – $6,792 for a two-bedroom home and $5,858 – $7,811 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $3,668 – $4,890; a freight trailer is $2,445 – $3,260.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,821 – $5,094 | $2,751 – $3,668 | $1,834 – $2,445 |
| 1 bedroom | $4,585 – $6,113 | $3,301 – $4,401 | $2,201 – $2,934 |
| 2 bedrooms | $5,094 – $6,792 | $3,668 – $4,890 | $2,445 – $3,260 |
| 3 bedrooms | $5,858 – $7,811 | $4,218 – $5,624 | $2,812 – $3,749 |
| 4 bedrooms | $6,622 – $8,830 | $4,768 – $6,357 | $3,179 – $4,238 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $7,641 – $10,188 | $5,502 – $7,335 | $3,668 – $4,890 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,132 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 Pennsylvania 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie to Cedar Rapids | ~693 mi | 3–7 days | $3,119 – $4,158 | $3,586 – $4,782 |
| Pittsburgh to Cedar Rapids | ~717 mi | 3–7 days | $3,227 – $4,302 | $3,710 – $4,947 |
| Erie to Des Moines | ~813 mi | 3–7 days | $3,659 – $4,878 | $4,207 – $5,610 |
| Pittsburgh to Des Moines | ~832 mi | 3–7 days | $3,744 – $4,992 | $4,306 – $5,741 |
| Harrisburg to Cedar Rapids | ~906 mi | 3–7 days | $4,077 – $5,436 | $4,689 – $6,251 |
| Allentown to Cedar Rapids | ~985 mi | 3–7 days | $4,433 – $5,910 | $5,097 – $6,797 |
| Philadelphia to Cedar Rapids | ~1,016 mi | 3–7 days | $4,572 – $6,096 | $5,258 – $7,010 |
| Harrisburg to Des Moines | ~1,023 mi | 3–7 days | $4,604 – $6,138 | $5,294 – $7,059 |
| Allentown to Des Moines | ~1,103 mi | 3–7 days | $4,964 – $6,618 | $5,708 – $7,611 |
| Philadelphia to Des Moines | ~1,132 mi | 3–7 days | $5,094 – $6,792 | $5,858 – $7,811 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Pennsylvania
139 of the 223 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 783 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 63 of 422 vehicle inspections (14.9%), below the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 130 of 783 driver inspections (16.6%, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Hills Transfer & Storage IncGreensburg, PA · USDOT 85531 | 35 | 3 of 20 | 0 of 35 |
| J Cawley Moving LLCHanover Township, PA · USDOT 2117707 | 28 | 0 of 21 | 1 of 28 |
| Bright Eye Movers and Cleaners LLCCamp Hill, PA · USDOT 3597545 | 27 | 5 of 15 | 17 of 27 |
| Superior Moving & Storage IncPhiladelphia, PA · USDOT 390115 | 26 | 2 of 14 | 4 of 26 |
| South Hills Movers IncBethel Park, PA · USDOT 98045 | 26 | 0 of 4 | 1 of 26 |
| We-Haul Moving LLCBethlehem, PA · USDOT 967376 | 25 | 2 of 12 | 2 of 25 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
355 listed household-goods carriers are based in Pennsylvania, 223 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania to Iowa moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Pennsylvania to Iowa?
Between the two states' main cities, Philadelphia and Des Moines, the distance is about 1,132 miles. From our model that is $5,094 – $6,792 for a two-bedroom home and $5,858 – $7,811 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $3,668 – $4,890 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $2,445 – $3,260. Across the 10 city pairs we price between Pennsylvania and Iowa, distances run from 693 to 1,132 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Pennsylvania to Iowa take?
Philadelphia to Des Moines is 3 days on the road (about 21 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 Pennsylvania to Iowa?
Yes. A move from Pennsylvania into Iowa is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 355 listed movers based in Pennsylvania, 223 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Pennsylvania.
What is the cheapest way to move from Pennsylvania to Iowa?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $2,445 – $3,260 for a two-bedroom home over 1,132 miles against $5,094 – $6,792 with full-service movers. A container, about $3,668 – $4,890, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Pennsylvania to Iowa each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 936 people (±651) moved from Pennsylvania to Iowa that year, against about 3,205 (±1,713) from Iowa to Pennsylvania. That makes Pennsylvania the 13th-largest source of new residents for Iowa among the states.