Ocala, FL → Des Moines, IA · Long-distance move

Movers from Ocala to Des Moines

About 1,263 road miles heading northwest. Typical two-bedroom cost $5,140–$7,650, delivery in 3–7 days, 186 carriers on the Ocala side and 191 in Des Moines.

1,263 miroad distance
22 h 29 mindriving time
3–7 daysdelivery window
$5,140–$7,6502-bedroom estimate

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

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Route summary

From: Ocala, Florida
To: Des Moines, Iowa
Road distance: ≈ 1,263 miles (1,070 straight-line)
Drive time: 22 h 29 min
Delivery window: 3–7 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 186 (81 interstate)
Movers at destination: 191 (116 interstate)

Reverse: Des Moines → Ocala

The route from Ocala, FL to Des Moines, IA covers roughly 1,263 miles by road, a northwest-bound trip that falls into the long-distance move category for pricing purposes.

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 $5,140 to $7,650 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 22 h 29 min.

On the Ocala side there are 186 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (81 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.

Ocala has a population of about 66,000 and Des Moines about 212,086. Des Moines is the denser city (2,428 people per square mile versus 1,346 in Ocala), 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 Florida, which tends to make destination-side services such as unpacking or storage cheaper than the same services back home. Note that Iowa does collect a state income tax, unlike Florida, so factor that into the cost-of-living comparison.

Cost of moving from Ocala to Des Moines

Full-service estimate for 1,263 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$2,060	$2,510	$3,060
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$3,090	$3,760	$4,590
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$5,140	$6,270	$7,650
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$8,230	$10,040	$12,240
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$11,320	$13,800	$16,830

Rental truck (DIY)

$1,750–$2,470

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

Portable container

$2,150–$3,160

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

Full-service mover

$5,140–$7,650

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Ocala, FL → 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 Ocala (origin)

Edos & Sons Transportation

Interstate carrier

USDOT: 4581369
Based in: Ocala, FL 34473 (13 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 5,450 trucks, 2 drivers
USDOT registered: 2026

Call (954) 646-8972 Route Verify on FMCSA

Skills4lifefl LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2412961
MC: 1136097
Based in: Ocala, FL 34470 (5 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 30 trucks, 30 drivers
USDOT registered: 2013

Call (352) 219-5286 Route Verify on FMCSA

Littlefield Family Trucking

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Lml Logistics LLC

USDOT: 18944
MC: 135575
Based in: Ocala, FL 34482 (9 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 10 trucks, 16 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (352) 237-9799 Route Verify on FMCSA

Ellie & Allie Trucking LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2317599
MC: 794710
Based in: Ocala, FL 34476 (7 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 8 trucks, 8 drivers
USDOT registered: 2012

Call (347) 392-9438 Route Verify on FMCSA

Justo E Gonzalez

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Psa Transport LLC

USDOT: 2453857
MC: 877088
Based in: Ocala, FL 34473 (13 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 8 trucks, 8 drivers
USDOT registered: 2013

Call (352) 433-7225 Route Verify on FMCSA

Marion Trucking LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1522544
MC: 568721
Based in: Ocala, FL 34475 (5 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 6 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2006

Call (352) 629-8889 Route Verify on FMCSA

US Carriers LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4057973
MC: 1539177
Based in: Ocala, FL 34471 (2 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 5 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered: 2023

Call (813) 417-0860 Route Verify on FMCSA

Villager Mover Corporation

Interstate carrier

USDOT: 4348858
MC: 1700955
Based in: Ocala, FL 34470 (5 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 5 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2025

Call (352) 812-6981 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 186 movers in Ocala

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 Ocala

Near Des Moines

Related routes

Other destinations from Ocala

Other origins to Des Moines

Frequently asked questions

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

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,060 to $3,060 for a studio, $3,090 to $4,590 for a one-bedroom, $5,140 to $7,650 for a two-bedroom, $8,230 to $12,240 for a three-bedroom and $11,320 to $16,830 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Des Moines from Ocala?

About 1,263 road miles (1,070 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 22 h 29 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 Florida 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 Ocala to Des Moines?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $1,750 to $2,470 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,150 to $3,160. 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 Ocala–Des Moines corridor.