Johnson City, TN → Des Moines, IA · Long-distance move

Movers from Johnson City to Des Moines

About 829 road miles heading northwest. Typical two-bedroom cost $3,950–$5,870, delivery in 2–5 days, 93 carriers on the Johnson City side and 191 in Des Moines.

829 miroad distance
15 hdriving time
2–5 daysdelivery window
$3,950–$5,8702-bedroom estimate

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

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Route summary

From: Johnson City, Tennessee
To: Des Moines, Iowa
Road distance: ≈ 829 miles (702 straight-line)
Drive time: 15 h
Delivery window: 2–5 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 93 (59 interstate)
Movers at destination: 191 (116 interstate)

Reverse: Des Moines → Johnson City

Moving from Johnson City to Des Moines is a long-distance move of roughly 829 road miles, heading northwest from Tennessee 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 $3,950 to $5,870 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 2 to 5 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 15 h.

On the Johnson City side there are 93 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (59 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.

Johnson City has a population of about 74,000 and Des Moines about 212,086. Des Moines is the denser city (2,428 people per square mile versus 1,633 in Johnson City), which often means shuttle trucks, parking restrictions or building move-in windows on delivery day. Note that Iowa does collect a state income tax, unlike Tennessee, so factor that into the cost-of-living comparison.

Cost of moving from Johnson City to Des Moines

Full-service estimate for 829 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$1,580	$1,930	$2,350
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$2,370	$2,890	$3,520
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$3,950	$4,810	$5,870
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$6,310	$7,700	$9,390
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$8,680	$10,590	$12,920

Rental truck (DIY)

$1,150–$1,630

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

Portable container

$1,760–$2,590

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

Full-service mover

$3,950–$5,870

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Johnson City, TN → 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 Johnson City (origin)

Cox Disposal INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 701359
MC: 66967
Based in: Bluff City, TN 37618 (13 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 16 trucks, 8 drivers
USDOT registered: 1997

Call (423) 538-4104 Route Verify on FMCSA

Sheepdog Transport

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Black Barn Farm LLC

USDOT: 3545701
MC: 136488
Based in: Elizabethton, TN 37643 (15 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 16 trucks, 16 drivers
USDOT registered: 2021

Call (772) 323-8127 Route Verify on FMCSA

Eastern Tennessee Transport LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2382126
MC: 818191
Based in: Blountville, TN 37617 (13 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 15 trucks, 11 drivers
USDOT registered: 2013

Call (423) 612-3377 Route Verify on FMCSA

Wcp Transportation LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 763762
MC: 343871
Based in: Gray, TN 37615 (6 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 12 trucks, 10 drivers
USDOT registered: 1998

Call (423) 232-0045 Route Verify on FMCSA

Tri City Logistics INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1577982
MC: 598650
Based in: Kingsport, TN 37663 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 12 trucks, 10 drivers
USDOT registered: 2006

Call (423) 279-1771 Route Verify on FMCSA

Olivers Transport LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3981761
MC: 1491041
Based in: Elizabethton, TN 37643 (15 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 12 trucks, 12 drivers
USDOT registered: 2022

Call (423) 543-0028 Route Verify on FMCSA

J & L Trucking INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1411363
MC: 534652
Based in: Piney Flats, TN 37686 (7 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 6 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered: 2005

Call (423) 946-3748 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bennett'S Moving Services

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Bms Enterprises LLC

USDOT: 2917922
MC: 1072695
Based in: Elizabethton, TN 37643 (15 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 6 trucks, 6 drivers
USDOT registered: 2016

Call (423) 512-2850 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 93 movers in Johnson City

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 Johnson City

Near Des Moines

Related routes

Other destinations from Johnson City

Other origins to Des Moines

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Johnson City to Des Moines?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $1,580 to $2,350 for a studio, $2,370 to $3,520 for a one-bedroom, $3,950 to $5,870 for a two-bedroom, $6,310 to $9,390 for a three-bedroom and $8,680 to $12,920 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Des Moines from Johnson City?

About 829 road miles (702 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 15 h.

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 2 to 5 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 Tennessee 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 Johnson City to Des Moines?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $1,150 to $1,630 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,760 to $2,590. 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 Johnson City–Des Moines corridor.