Duluth, MN → Des Moines, IA · Regional long-distance move

Movers from Duluth to Des Moines

About 433 road miles heading south. Typical two-bedroom cost $3,080–$4,580, delivery in 1–3 days, 57 carriers on the Duluth side and 191 in Des Moines.

433 miroad distance
8 h 10 mindriving time
1–3 daysdelivery window
$3,080–$4,5802-bedroom estimate

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

Open navigation Google Maps Apple Maps Waze

Route summary

From: Duluth, Minnesota
To: Des Moines, Iowa
Road distance: ≈ 433 miles (367 straight-line)
Drive time: 8 h 10 min
Delivery window: 1–3 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 57 (26 interstate)
Movers at destination: 191 (116 interstate)

Reverse: Des Moines → Duluth

Moving from Duluth to Des Moines is a regional long-distance move of roughly 433 road miles, heading south from Minnesota 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 $3,080 to $4,580 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 1 to 3 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 8 h 10 min.

On the Duluth side there are 57 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (26 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.

Duluth has a population of about 86,000 and Des Moines about 212,086. Des Moines is the denser city (2,428 people per square mile versus 1,210 in Duluth), which often means shuttle trucks, parking restrictions or building move-in windows on delivery day. Labor and living costs run lower in Iowa than in Minnesota, which tends to make destination-side services such as unpacking or storage cheaper than the same services back home.

Cost of moving from Duluth to Des Moines

Full-service estimate for 433 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$1,230	$1,500	$1,830
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$1,850	$2,250	$2,750
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$3,080	$3,750	$4,580
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$4,920	$6,010	$7,330
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$6,770	$8,260	$10,070

Rental truck (DIY)

$590–$840

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

Portable container

$1,410–$2,070

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

Full-service mover

$3,080–$4,580

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

Moving cost calculator

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

—to—

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 Duluth (origin)

Halvor Lines INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 75250
MC: 146133
Based in: Superior, WI 54880 (13 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 687 trucks, 688 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (715) 392-8161 Route Verify on FMCSA

Miner'S Enterprises A Division Of Miner'S Incorporated

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Miner'S Incorporated

USDOT: 268169
MC: 147177
Based in: Hermantown, MN 55811 (6 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 20 trucks, 18 drivers
USDOT registered: 1986

Call (218) 729-3310 Route Verify on FMCSA

Sinex Transport INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2322412
MC: 792780
Based in: Superior, WI 54880 (13 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 20 trucks, 20 drivers
USDOT registered: 2012

Call (218) 227-5528 Route Verify on FMCSA

Wherley Moving Systems INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1778756
MC: 648837
Based in: Duluth, MN 55811 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 13 trucks, 9 drivers
USDOT registered: 2008

Call (218) 727-8811 Route Verify on FMCSA

A-1 Movers INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1129233
MC: 479810
Based in: Superior, WI 54880 (13 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 12 trucks, 12 drivers
USDOT registered: 2003

Call (715) 392-8500 Route Verify on FMCSA

Fdl Star

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Fdl Star Construction LLC

USDOT: 4177839
MC: 1608016
Based in: Superior, WI 54880 (13 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 11 trucks, 17 drivers
USDOT registered: 2024

Call (715) 398-2964 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bachand Group

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Bachand Group Incorporated

USDOT: 2250384
MC: 767610
Based in: Superior, WI 54880 (13 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 5 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2011

Call (715) 394-4667 Route Verify on FMCSA

Skibo Corporation

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4252537
MC: 1651054
Based in: Hermantown, MN 55810 (7 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 4 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 2024

Call (218) 343-1864 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 57 movers in Duluth

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

Related routes

Other destinations from Duluth

Other origins to Des Moines

Frequently asked questions

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

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $1,230 to $1,830 for a studio, $1,850 to $2,750 for a one-bedroom, $3,080 to $4,580 for a two-bedroom, $4,920 to $7,330 for a three-bedroom and $6,770 to $10,070 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Des Moines from Duluth?

About 433 road miles (367 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 8 h 10 min.

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 1 to 3 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 Minnesota 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 Duluth to Des Moines?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $590 to $840 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,410 to $2,070. 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 Duluth–Des Moines corridor.