Moving from Virginia to Iowa
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Virginia Beach and Des Moines it is about 1,163 miles and 3 days on the road (about 21 hours of driving); the 10 city pairs we price between the two states run from 927 to 1,163 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.
- ~1,163 miVirginia Beach → Des Moines
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $5,234+2-bedroom, movers
- 10City routes priced
In short
About 409 people moved from Virginia to Iowa in 2024 (Census estimate, ±295), and about 465 went the other way. Between Virginia Beach and Des Moines it is about 1,163 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $5,234 – $6,978 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 263 movers based in Virginia hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Virginia to Iowa
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 409 people a year (±295), against about 465 (±381) from Iowa to Virginia, so Iowa loses about 56 people a year on this exchange. Virginia is the 24th-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 |
|---|---|---|
| Fairfax County | Dallas County | 124 ±166* |
| Prince William County | Polk County | 101 ±135* |
| Henrico County | Johnson County | 62 ±92* |
| Prince George County | Scott County | 48 ±79* |
| Chesterfield County | Scott County | 45 ±63* |
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.
Virginia Beach 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 Virginia and Iowa.
Cost of moving from Virginia to Iowa
At about 1,163 miles, full-service movers should land around $5,234 – $6,978 for a two-bedroom home and $6,019 – $8,025 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $3,768 – $5,024; a freight trailer is $2,512 – $3,349.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,925 – $5,234 | $2,826 – $3,768 | $1,884 – $2,512 |
| 1 bedroom | $4,710 – $6,280 | $3,391 – $4,522 | $2,261 – $3,014 |
| 2 bedrooms | $5,234 – $6,978 | $3,768 – $5,024 | $2,512 – $3,349 |
| 3 bedrooms | $6,019 – $8,025 | $4,333 – $5,778 | $2,889 – $3,852 |
| 4 bedrooms | $6,804 – $9,071 | $4,899 – $6,531 | $3,266 – $4,354 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $7,850 – $10,467 | $5,652 – $7,536 | $3,768 – $5,024 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,163 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 Virginia to Iowa
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 1 has a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington to Cedar Rapids | ~927 mi | 3–7 days | $4,172 – $5,562 | $4,797 – $6,396 |
| Richmond to Cedar Rapids | ~950 mi | 3–7 days | $4,275 – $5,700 | $4,916 – $6,555 |
| Arlington to Des Moines | ~1,038 mi | 3–7 days | $4,671 – $6,228 | $5,372 – $7,162 |
| Norfolk to Cedar Rapids | ~1,041 mi | 3–7 days | $4,685 – $6,246 | $5,387 – $7,183 |
| Chesapeake to Cedar Rapids | ~1,047 mi | 3–7 days | $4,712 – $6,282 | $5,418 – $7,224 |
| Richmond to Des Moines | ~1,055 mi | 3–7 days | $4,748 – $6,330 | $5,460 – $7,280 |
| Virginia Beach to Cedar Rapids | ~1,059 mi | 3–7 days | $4,766 – $6,354 | $5,480 – $7,307 |
| Norfolk to Des Moines | ~1,145 mi | 3–7 days | $5,153 – $6,870 | $5,925 – $7,901 |
| Chesapeake to Des Moines | ~1,150 mi | 3–7 days | $5,175 – $6,900 | $5,951 – $7,935 |
| Virginia Beach to Des Moines | ~1,163 mi | 3–7 days | $5,234 – $6,978 | $6,019 – $8,025 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Virginia
107 of the 263 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 1,338 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 164 of 765 vehicle inspections (21.4%), above the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 163 of 1,338 driver inspections (12.2%, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Transfer IncChesapeake, VA · USDOT 139659 | 426 | 50 of 247 | 3 of 426 |
| JK Moving ServicesSterling, VA · USDOT 1065394 | 107 | 7 of 57 | 8 of 107 |
| Stewart Moving and StorageMidlothian, VA · USDOT 1194537 | 102 | 13 of 50 | 9 of 102 |
| Quality Services MovingLorton, VA · USDOT 819924 | 54 | 16 of 32 | 11 of 54 |
| Hampton Roads Moving & StorageSuffolk, VA · USDOT 1581633 | 46 | 10 of 25 | 2 of 46 |
| Apple MovingChesapeake, VA · USDOT 163678 | 40 | 4 of 22 | 4 of 40 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
411 listed household-goods carriers are based in Virginia, 263 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Virginia 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 Virginia. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Virginia
Virginia to Iowa moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Virginia to Iowa?
Between the two states' main cities, Virginia Beach and Des Moines, the distance is about 1,163 miles. From our model that is $5,234 – $6,978 for a two-bedroom home and $6,019 – $8,025 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $3,768 – $5,024 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $2,512 – $3,349. Across the 10 city pairs we price between Virginia and Iowa, distances run from 927 to 1,163 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Virginia to Iowa take?
Virginia Beach 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 Virginia to Iowa?
Yes. A move from Virginia into Iowa is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 411 listed movers based in Virginia, 263 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Virginia.
What is the cheapest way to move from Virginia to Iowa?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $2,512 – $3,349 for a two-bedroom home over 1,163 miles against $5,234 – $6,978 with full-service movers. A container, about $3,768 – $5,024, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Virginia to Iowa each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 409 people (±295) moved from Virginia to Iowa that year, against about 465 (±381) from Iowa to Virginia. That makes Virginia the 24th-largest source of new residents for Iowa among the states.