Harrisburg, PA → Des Moines, IA · Long-distance move

Movers from Harrisburg to Des Moines

About 1,034 road miles heading west. Typical two-bedroom cost $4,540–$6,760, delivery in 3–7 days, 251 carriers on the Harrisburg side and 191 in Des Moines.

1,034 miroad distance
18 h 32 mindriving time
3–7 daysdelivery window
$4,540–$6,7602-bedroom estimate

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

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Route summary

From: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
To: Des Moines, Iowa
Road distance: ≈ 1,034 miles (876 straight-line)
Drive time: 18 h 32 min
Delivery window: 3–7 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 251 (179 interstate)
Movers at destination: 191 (116 interstate)

Reverse: Des Moines → Harrisburg

Des Moines sits about 1,034 miles west of Harrisburg, which makes this an interstate relocation from Pennsylvania to Iowa that most movers classify as a long-distance move.

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 $4,540 to $6,760 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 3 to 7 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 18 h 32 min.

On the Harrisburg side there are 251 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (179 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.

Harrisburg has a population of about 50,000 and Des Moines about 212,086. Harrisburg is considerably denser (6,171 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.

Cost of moving from Harrisburg to Des Moines

Full-service estimate for 1,034 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$1,820	$2,220	$2,700
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$2,730	$3,320	$4,050
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$4,540	$5,540	$6,760
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$7,270	$8,860	$10,810
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$9,990	$12,190	$14,870

Rental truck (DIY)

$1,510–$2,130

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

Portable container

$1,940–$2,860

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

Full-service mover

$4,540–$6,760

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Harrisburg, PA → 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 Harrisburg (origin)

Napa Transportation INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 446997
MC: 242988
Based in: Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 (9 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 405 trucks, 365 drivers
USDOT registered: 1991

Call (717) 920-9840 Route Verify on FMCSA

Sysco Central Pennsylvania

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 338861
MC: 1099728
Based in: Harrisburg, PA 17109 (3 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 73 trucks, 108 drivers
USDOT registered: 1989

Call (717) 561-4000 Route Verify on FMCSA

Wright Xpress LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3153461
MC: 106240
Based in: New Cumberland, PA 17070 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 46 trucks, 45 drivers
USDOT registered: 2018

Call (717) 932-7874 Route Verify on FMCSA

Edo'S Trucking INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1327266
MC: 512911
Based in: Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 (8 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 40 trucks, 38 drivers
USDOT registered: 2005

Call (717) 761-1349 Route Verify on FMCSA

Hr Trucking LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1859053
MC: 672664
Based in: Harrisburg, PA 17111 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 36 trucks, 36 drivers
USDOT registered: 2009

Call (717) 564-1835 Route Verify on FMCSA

Buk Transportation

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Bukhara USA Company

USDOT: 4125068
MC: 1578434
Based in: Harrisburg, PA 17103 (1 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 35 trucks, 40 drivers
USDOT registered: 2023

Call (878) 978-3268 Route Verify on FMCSA

Geo W Weaver & Son INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 10676
MC: 1635833
Based in: New Cumberland, PA 17070 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 27 trucks, 17 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (717) 774-7835 Route Verify on FMCSA

H&s Towing Service INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 836405
MC: 123813
Based in: Harrisburg, PA 17111 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 25 trucks, 20 drivers
USDOT registered: 1999

Call (717) 657-9941 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 251 movers in Harrisburg

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

Declutter first: long-haul pricing is by weight, so every hundred pounds you sell or donate saves money.
Check whether a shuttle truck is needed in Des Moines if a 53-foot trailer cannot reach your street.
Keep vehicle titles, passports and prescriptions with you; movers cannot carry some items at all.
Insist on a binding or binding-not-to-exceed estimate after an in-home or video survey.

Near Harrisburg

Near Des Moines

Related routes

Other destinations from Harrisburg

Other origins to Des Moines

Frequently asked questions

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

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $1,820 to $2,700 for a studio, $2,730 to $4,050 for a one-bedroom, $4,540 to $6,760 for a two-bedroom, $7,270 to $10,810 for a three-bedroom and $9,990 to $14,870 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Des Moines from Harrisburg?

About 1,034 road miles (876 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 18 h 32 min.

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 3 to 7 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 Pennsylvania 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 Harrisburg to Des Moines?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $1,510 to $2,130 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,940 to $2,860. 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 Harrisburg–Des Moines corridor.