Modesto, CA → Iowa City, IA · Cross-country move

Movers from Modesto to Iowa City

About 1,870 road miles heading east. Typical two-bedroom cost $7,030–$10,460, delivery in 5–10 days, 392 carriers on the Modesto side and 43 in Iowa City.

1,870 miroad distance
32 hours (4 driving days)driving time
5–10 daysdelivery window
$7,030–$10,4602-bedroom estimate

Photo: Stevat20 · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Route summary

From: Modesto, California
To: Iowa City, Iowa
Road distance: ≈ 1,870 miles (1,584 straight-line)
Drive time: 32 hours (4 driving days)
Delivery window: 5–10 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 392 (205 interstate)
Movers at destination: 43 (28 interstate)

Reverse: Iowa City → Modesto

Moving from Modesto to Iowa City is a cross-country move of roughly 1,870 road miles, heading east from California 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 $7,030 to $10,460 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 32 hours (4 driving days).

On the Modesto side there are 392 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (205 of them authorized for interstate work), and 43 around Iowa City (28 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 Iowa City.

Modesto has a population of about 219,652 and Iowa City about 75,000. Modesto is considerably denser (5,081 people per square mile versus 2,904), 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 California, which tends to make destination-side services such as unpacking or storage cheaper than the same services back home.

Cost of moving from Modesto to Iowa City

Full-service estimate for 1,870 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$2,810	$3,430	$4,180
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$4,220	$5,140	$6,270
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$7,030	$8,570	$10,460
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$11,240	$13,710	$16,730
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$15,460	$18,850	$23,000

Rental truck (DIY)

$2,670–$3,770

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

Portable container

$2,690–$3,950

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

Full-service mover

$7,030–$10,460

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Modesto, CA → Iowa City, 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 Modesto (origin)

Bivio Transport And Logistics Company LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2611556
MC: 22572
Based in: Ceres, CA 95307 (6 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 120 trucks, 91 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (209) 272-3000 Route Verify on FMCSA

Shekinah Logistics

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3280009
MC: 1036884
Based in: Manteca, CA 95337 (15 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 39 trucks, 87 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (209) 616-3266 Route Verify on FMCSA

Transbay Xpress INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1357829
MC: 520713
Based in: Manteca, CA 95337 (15 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 25 trucks, 25 drivers
USDOT registered: 2005

Call (209) 410-4077 Route Verify on FMCSA

Road King Transport INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2581361
MC: 903865
Based in: Manteca, CA 95337 (15 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 20 trucks, 20 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (916) 275-9974 Route Verify on FMCSA

Modesto A1 Glass Company INC

Interstate carrier

USDOT: 4521889
Based in: Modesto, CA 95350 (2 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 15 trucks, 15 drivers
USDOT registered: 2026

Call (209) 522-1172 Route Verify on FMCSA

Cobb Refrigerated Freight INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 145920
MC: 147824
Based in: Modesto, CA 95351 (1 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 13 trucks, 15 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (209) 576-0327 Route Verify on FMCSA

Khodi Transportation INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2141804
MC: 745315
Based in: Turlock, CA 95382 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 12 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 2011

Call (209) 648-2278 Route Verify on FMCSA

Dino Express INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2896438
MC: 973484
Based in: Keyes, CA 95328 (8 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 10 trucks, 10 drivers
USDOT registered: 2016

Call (916) 541-2371 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 392 movers in Modesto

Near Iowa City (destination)

Adamantine Spine Moving

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Adamantine Spine Moving INC

USDOT: 1471037
MC: 556716
Based in: Iowa City, IA 52240 (2 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 37 trucks, 41 drivers
USDOT registered: 2006

Call (319) 325-6683 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bolton Logistics LLC

Interstate carrier

USDOT: 4766652
Based in: Solon, IA 52333 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 24 trucks, 12 drivers
USDOT registered: 2026

Call (319) 210-4857 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bolton Logistics LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2471478
MC: 61612
Based in: Solon, IA 52333 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 10 trucks, 12 drivers
USDOT registered: 2014

Call (319) 624-2086 Route Verify on FMCSA

Slager Appliances

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2028718
MC: 1754363
Based in: Iowa City, IA 52246 (3 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 8 trucks, 15 drivers
USDOT registered: 2010

Call (319) 337-3800 Route Verify on FMCSA

Asap Towing

Interstate carrier

Legal name: Iowa City Auto Sales LLC

USDOT: 1352324
Based in: Iowa City, IA 52240 (2 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 6 trucks, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2005

Call (319) 330-1629 Route Verify on FMCSA

Stannard Moving & Storage

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 228904
MC: 166228
Based in: Iowa City, IA 52246 (3 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 6 trucks, 8 drivers
USDOT registered: 1983

Call (319) 351-1552 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bee'S Transport

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Brendan Daryl Beachy

USDOT: 2821656
MC: 1068797
Based in: Kalona, IA 52247 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 5 trucks, 11 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (319) 530-1197 Route Verify on FMCSA

Hardy Concierge Services LLC

Interstate carrier

USDOT: 4222688
Based in: North Liberty, IA 52317 (9 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 4 trucks, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2024

Call (319) 382-0721 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 43 movers in Iowa City

Related routes

Other destinations from Modesto

Other origins to Iowa City

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Modesto to Iowa City?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,810 to $4,180 for a studio, $4,220 to $6,270 for a one-bedroom, $7,030 to $10,460 for a two-bedroom, $11,240 to $16,730 for a three-bedroom and $15,460 to $23,000 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Iowa City from Modesto?

About 1,870 road miles (1,584 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 32 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 California 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 Modesto to Iowa City?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $2,670 to $3,770 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,690 to $3,950. 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 Modesto–Iowa City corridor.