North Charleston, SC → Des Moines, IA · Long-distance move

Movers from North Charleston to Des Moines

About 1,125 road miles heading northwest. Typical two-bedroom cost $4,640–$6,900, delivery in 3–7 days, 269 carriers on the North Charleston side and 191 in Des Moines.

1,125 miroad distance
20 h 6 mindriving time
3–7 daysdelivery window
$4,640–$6,9002-bedroom estimate

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

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Route summary

From: North Charleston, South Carolina
To: Des Moines, Iowa
Road distance: ≈ 1,125 miles (953 straight-line)
Drive time: 20 h 6 min
Delivery window: 3–7 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 269 (136 interstate)
Movers at destination: 191 (116 interstate)

Reverse: Des Moines → North Charleston

Moving from North Charleston to Des Moines is a long-distance move of roughly 1,125 road miles, heading northwest from South Carolina 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 $4,640 to $6,900 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 20 h 6 min.

On the North Charleston side there are 269 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (136 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.

North Charleston has a population of about 129,245 and Des Moines about 212,086. Des Moines is the denser city (2,428 people per square mile versus 1,480 in North Charleston), which often means shuttle trucks, parking restrictions or building move-in windows on delivery day.

Cost of moving from North Charleston to Des Moines

Full-service estimate for 1,125 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$1,850	$2,260	$2,760
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$2,780	$3,390	$4,140
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$4,640	$5,650	$6,900
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$7,420	$9,050	$11,040
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$10,200	$12,440	$15,180

Rental truck (DIY)

$1,610–$2,270

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

Portable container

$2,020–$2,980

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

Full-service mover

$4,640–$6,900

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for North Charleston, SC → 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 North Charleston (origin)

Antler Transport LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 951978
MC: 407642
Based in: Mt Pleasant, SC 29464 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 143 trucks, 143 drivers
USDOT registered: 2001

Call (843) 849-0451 Route Verify on FMCSA

Harbor Logistics

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Ats Intermodal LLC

USDOT: 776430
MC: 347563
Based in: North Charleston, SC 29418 (2 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 139 trucks, 117 drivers
USDOT registered: 1998

Call (843) 308-9600 Route Verify on FMCSA

Precise Logistical Services INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3298761
MC: 1045896
Based in: N Charleston, SC 29420 (2 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 55 trucks, 55 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (843) 425-3495 Route Verify on FMCSA

Xon Logistic LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3730419
MC: 1316630
Based in: Charleston, SC 29414 (6 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 45 trucks, 49 drivers
USDOT registered: 2021

Call (305) 916-0122 Route Verify on FMCSA

Two Men And A Truck

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Aba Moving & Storage INC

USDOT: 3402685
MC: 1095537
Based in: N Charleston, SC 29406 (2 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 14 trucks, 11 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (843) 529-0220 Route Verify on FMCSA

Harbor Logistics

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Premier Logistics LLC

USDOT: 1220227
MC: 340338
Based in: Hanahan, SC 29410 (3 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 12 trucks, 17 drivers
USDOT registered: 2004

Call (843) 554-7529 Route Verify on FMCSA

All My Sons Moving & Storage Of Charleston LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2276296
MC: 779892
Based in: North Charleston, SC 29405 (7 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 10 trucks, 15 drivers
USDOT registered: 2012

Call (469) 461-5000 Route Verify on FMCSA

Smooth Move

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Go Smooth Move LLC

USDOT: 2357653
MC: 834668
Based in: North Charleston, SC 29405 (7 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 10 trucks, 12 drivers
USDOT registered: 2012

Call (843) 860-9717 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 269 movers in North Charleston

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 North Charleston

Near Des Moines

Related routes

Other destinations from North Charleston

Other origins to Des Moines

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from North Charleston to Des Moines?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $1,850 to $2,760 for a studio, $2,780 to $4,140 for a one-bedroom, $4,640 to $6,900 for a two-bedroom, $7,420 to $11,040 for a three-bedroom and $10,200 to $15,180 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Des Moines from North Charleston?

About 1,125 road miles (953 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 20 h 6 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 South Carolina 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 North Charleston to Des Moines?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $1,610 to $2,270 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,020 to $2,980. 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 North Charleston–Des Moines corridor.