Moving from Tennessee to Iowa
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Nashville and Des Moines it is about 612 miles and 2 days on the road (about 11 hours of driving); the 8 city pairs we price between the two states run from 559 to 759 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.
- ~612 miNashville → Des Moines
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $2,754+2-bedroom, movers
- 8City routes priced
In short
About 733 people moved from Tennessee to Iowa in 2024 (Census estimate, ±475), and about 403 went the other way. Between Nashville and Des Moines it is about 612 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $2,754 – $3,672 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 132 movers based in Tennessee hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Tennessee to Iowa
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 733 people a year (±475), against about 403 (±375) from Iowa to Tennessee, so Iowa gains about 330 people a year on this exchange. Tennessee is the 18th-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 |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | Scott County | 686 ±774* |
| Shelby County | Jackson County | 82 ±102* |
| Knox County | Fayette County | 66 ±66* |
| Washington County | Polk County | 64 ±90* |
| Shelby County | Plymouth County | 56 ±88* |
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.
Nashville 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 Tennessee and Iowa.
Cost of moving from Tennessee to Iowa
At about 612 miles, full-service movers should land around $2,754 – $3,672 for a two-bedroom home and $3,167 – $4,223 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $1,983 – $2,644; a freight trailer is $1,322 – $1,763.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,066 – $2,754 | $1,487 – $1,983 | $991 – $1,322 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,479 – $3,305 | $1,785 – $2,379 | $1,190 – $1,586 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,754 – $3,672 | $1,983 – $2,644 | $1,322 – $1,763 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,167 – $4,223 | $2,280 – $3,040 | $1,520 – $2,027 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,580 – $4,774 | $2,578 – $3,437 | $1,718 – $2,291 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $4,131 – $5,508 | $2,974 – $3,966 | $1,983 – $2,644 |
Transport only, for an estimated 612 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 Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville to Cedar Rapids | ~559 mi | 3–7 days | $2,516 – $3,354 | $2,893 – $3,857 |
| Memphis to Cedar Rapids | ~560 mi | 3–7 days | $2,520 – $3,360 | $2,898 – $3,864 |
| Memphis to Des Moines | ~566 mi | 3–7 days | $2,547 – $3,396 | $2,929 – $3,905 |
| Nashville to Des Moines | ~612 mi | 3–7 days | $2,754 – $3,672 | $3,167 – $4,223 |
| Knoxville to Cedar Rapids | ~685 mi | 3–7 days | $3,083 – $4,110 | $3,545 – $4,726 |
| Chattanooga to Cedar Rapids | ~687 mi | 3–7 days | $3,092 – $4,122 | $3,555 – $4,740 |
| Chattanooga to Des Moines | ~744 mi | 3–7 days | $3,348 – $4,464 | $3,850 – $5,134 |
| Knoxville to Des Moines | ~759 mi | 3–7 days | $3,416 – $4,554 | $3,928 – $5,237 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Tennessee
70 of the 132 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 480 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 50 of 273 vehicle inspections (18.3%), about the same as the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 105 of 479 driver inspections (21.9%, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talent's Moving & Storage IncChattanooga, TN · USDOT 3854391 | 52 | 9 of 34 | 10 of 52 |
| Colonial Van Lines IncClarkrange, TN · USDOT 4071435 | 33 | 4 of 16 | 1 of 33 |
| Big League Movers IncMemphis, TN · USDOT 1999318 | 31 | 3 of 20 | 12 of 31 |
| Boundless Moving and StorageCleveland, TN · USDOT 2798532 | 27 | 1 of 16 | 6 of 27 |
| Rowe Transfer IncKnoxville, TN · USDOT 1079919 | 25 | 3 of 13 | 0 of 25 |
| Justpro Moving LLCSpring Hill, TN · USDOT 3925031 | 20 | 1 of 10 | 3 of 20 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
266 listed household-goods carriers are based in Tennessee, 132 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Tennessee 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 Tennessee. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Tennessee
Tennessee to Iowa moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Tennessee to Iowa?
Between the two states' main cities, Nashville and Des Moines, the distance is about 612 miles. From our model that is $2,754 – $3,672 for a two-bedroom home and $3,167 – $4,223 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $1,983 – $2,644 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $1,322 – $1,763. Across the 8 city pairs we price between Tennessee and Iowa, distances run from 559 to 759 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Tennessee to Iowa take?
Nashville to Des Moines is 2 days on the road (about 11 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 Tennessee to Iowa?
Yes. A move from Tennessee into Iowa is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 266 listed movers based in Tennessee, 132 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Tennessee.
What is the cheapest way to move from Tennessee to Iowa?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $1,322 – $1,763 for a two-bedroom home over 612 miles against $2,754 – $3,672 with full-service movers. A container, about $1,983 – $2,644, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Tennessee to Iowa each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 733 people (±475) moved from Tennessee to Iowa that year, against about 403 (±375) from Iowa to Tennessee. That makes Tennessee the 18th-largest source of new residents for Iowa among the states.