Bellingham, WA → Des Moines, IA · Cross-country move

Movers from Bellingham to Des Moines

About 1,747 road miles heading east. Typical two-bedroom cost $6,500–$9,680, delivery in 5–10 days, 97 carriers on the Bellingham side and 191 in Des Moines.

1,747 miroad distance
30 hours (4 driving days)driving time
5–10 daysdelivery window
$6,500–$9,6802-bedroom estimate

Photo: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States · CC BY 2.0

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Route summary

From: Bellingham, Washington
To: Des Moines, Iowa
Road distance: ≈ 1,747 miles (1,480 straight-line)
Drive time: 30 hours (4 driving days)
Delivery window: 5–10 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 97 (50 interstate)
Movers at destination: 191 (116 interstate)

Reverse: Des Moines → Bellingham

Moving from Bellingham to Des Moines is a cross-country move of roughly 1,747 road miles, heading east from Washington to Iowa.

At this distance carriers price by shipment weight and mileage rather than by the hour. A two-bedroom home (around 5,000 lb of goods) typically costs $6,500 to $9,680 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 5 to 10 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 30 hours (4 driving days).

On the Bellingham side there are 97 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (50 of them authorized for interstate work), and 191 around Des Moines (116 interstate). For an interstate move you can book from either end; movers near the origin handle loading and are usually the better first call, while a destination-side company can be useful if you need storage or delivery-day help in Des Moines.

Bellingham has a population of about 95,000 and Des Moines about 212,086. Bellingham is considerably denser (3,244 people per square mile versus 2,428), so expect tighter loading conditions, parking permits or elevator reservations at the origin and easier truck access at the destination. Labor and living costs run lower in Iowa than in Washington, which tends to make destination-side services such as unpacking or storage cheaper than the same services back home. Note that Iowa does collect a state income tax, unlike Washington, so factor that into the cost-of-living comparison.

Cost of moving from Bellingham to Des Moines

Full-service estimate for 1,747 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$2,600	$3,170	$3,870
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$3,900	$4,760	$5,810
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$6,500	$7,930	$9,680
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$10,400	$12,690	$15,480
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$14,310	$17,450	$21,290

Rental truck (DIY)

$2,400–$3,380

One-way truck for the distance, mileage and fuel included; you load and drive.

Portable container

$2,580–$3,790

Container delivered, you load, company transports; transit is slower than a mover.

Full-service mover

$6,500–$9,680

Two-bedroom reference; crew loads, hauls and unloads.

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Bellingham, WA → Des Moines, IA. Adjust the other options to see your range.

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Typical full-service range.

Estimates use market baselines described on the cost guide; your quotes will vary by inventory, access and date.

Moving companies for this route

Near Bellingham (origin)

Dulay Holding Carrier LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1568244
MC: 454925
Based in: Bellingham, WA 98226 (3 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 29 trucks, 29 drivers
USDOT registered: 2006

Call (360) 734-6755 Route Verify on FMCSA

Lp Transport LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2209719
MC: 837772
Based in: Bellingham, WA 98225 (2 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 23 trucks, 23 drivers
USDOT registered: 2011

Call (360) 988-1631 Route Verify on FMCSA

Nw Shippers

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Nw Shippers INC

USDOT: 1202083
MC: 518919
Based in: Ferndale, WA 98248 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 15 trucks, 16 drivers
USDOT registered: 2004

Call (360) 384-2500 Route Verify on FMCSA

Swans Moving And Storage Company INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 368177
MC: 438612
Based in: Bellingham, WA 98226 (3 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 12 trucks, 10 drivers
USDOT registered: 1989

Call (360) 734-0540 Route Verify on FMCSA

Johnson'S Towing INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 8277
MC: 134512
Based in: Bellingham, WA 98226 (3 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 7 trucks, 6 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (360) 733-4232 Route Verify on FMCSA

Farm Express LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2005730
MC: 755646
Based in: Ferndale, WA 98248 (10 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 7 trucks, 8 drivers
USDOT registered: 2010

Call (360) 305-5148 Route Verify on FMCSA

Crabtree Farms

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Brent Crabtree

USDOT: 957886
MC: 1336108
Based in: Everson, WA 98247 (12 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 7 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 2001

Call (360) 820-9085 Route Verify on FMCSA

On Time Transportation

Licensed interstate

Legal name: On Time Transportation INC

USDOT: 2568146
MC: 897110
Based in: Bellingham, WA 98225 (2 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 5 trucks, 6 drivers
USDOT registered: 2014

Call (650) 777-7207 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 97 movers in Bellingham

Near Des Moines (destination)

Dhl Freight

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Standard Forwarding LLC

USDOT: 1996747
MC: 16536
Based in: Des Moines, IA 50316 (3 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 302 trucks, 277 drivers
USDOT registered: 2010

Call (800) 447-2012 Route Verify on FMCSA

Jacobson Warehouse Co

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Jacobson Transportation Company INC

USDOT: 241594
MC: 172189
Based in: Clive, IA 50325 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 483 trucks, 459 drivers
USDOT registered: 1984

Call (219) 742-2278 Route Verify on FMCSA

Ntb

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Nationwide Truck Brokers INC

USDOT: 158325
MC: 142245
Based in: Des Moines, IA 50309 (1 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 158 trucks, 165 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (515) 245-2595 Route Verify on FMCSA

Crawford Trucking INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 450195
MC: 232411
Based in: Des Moines, IA 50321 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 70 trucks, 73 drivers
USDOT registered: 1991

Route Verify on FMCSA

Arona Home Essentials

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Arona Corporation

USDOT: 1278309
MC: 33302
Based in: West Des Moines, IA 50265 (8 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 70 trucks, 120 drivers
USDOT registered: 2004

Call (515) 225-9029 Route Verify on FMCSA

Nounou Logistics LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3497497
MC: 1155202
Based in: Des Moines, IA 50313 (6 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 60 trucks, 130 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (515) 201-2579 Route Verify on FMCSA

Vgt Transportation INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2633507
MC: 945435
Based in: West Des Moines, IA 50265 (8 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 45 trucks, 45 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (618) 655-4444 Route Verify on FMCSA

Homemakers Plaza INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4354064
MC: 1702859
Based in: Urbandale, IA 50322 (8 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 32 trucks, 37 drivers
USDOT registered: 2025

Call (515) 309-4637 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 191 movers in Des Moines

Tips for this move

Read the FMCSA 'Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move' booklet the carrier must provide.
Ship the car separately if you plan to fly; auto transport is priced by the mile like household goods.
Confirm which items the mover will not carry (plants, perishables, propane, some batteries).
Expect a delivery spread of one to two weeks; plan temporary housing in Des Moines accordingly.

Near Bellingham

Near Des Moines

Related routes

Other destinations from Bellingham

Other origins to Des Moines

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Bellingham to Des Moines?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,600 to $3,870 for a studio, $3,900 to $5,810 for a one-bedroom, $6,500 to $9,680 for a two-bedroom, $10,400 to $15,480 for a three-bedroom and $14,310 to $21,290 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Des Moines from Bellingham?

About 1,747 road miles (1,480 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 30 hours (4 driving days).

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 5 to 10 days after pickup. Carriers give a spread rather than a fixed date because long-distance trucks carry several shipments; a dedicated truck or expedited service shortens the window for an extra fee.

Does my mover need interstate authority for this move?

Yes. Crossing from Washington into Iowa makes this an interstate move, so the carrier must hold active FMCSA operating authority (an MC number) in addition to its USDOT number. The company cards on this page flag which carriers are authorized for interstate work.

Is it cheaper to rent a truck or use a container for Bellingham to Des Moines?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $2,400 to $3,380 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,580 to $3,790. Both save money versus a full-service crew but you do the loading, and container transit can take longer than a mover's delivery window.

When is the least expensive time to book this move?

Rates are highest in summer and around the last days of any month, when demand peaks. Mid-month, mid-week and winter dates are usually quoted below the standard rate. Booking four to eight weeks ahead gives you the widest choice of carriers on the Bellingham–Des Moines corridor.