Portland, OR → Ames, IA · Cross-country move

Movers from Portland to Ames

About 1,723 road miles heading east. Typical two-bedroom cost $6,250–$9,290, delivery in 5–10 days, 645 carriers on the Portland side and 55 in Ames.

1,723 miroad distance
30 hours (4 driving days)driving time
5–10 daysdelivery window
$6,250–$9,2902-bedroom estimate

Photo: Dirk DBQ · CC BY 2.0

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Route summary

From: Portland, Oregon
To: Ames, Iowa
Road distance: ≈ 1,723 miles (1,460 straight-line)
Drive time: 30 hours (4 driving days)
Delivery window: 5–10 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 645 (474 interstate)
Movers at destination: 55 (25 interstate)

Reverse: Ames → Portland

Ames sits about 1,723 miles east of Portland, which makes this an interstate relocation from Oregon to Iowa that most movers classify as a cross-country 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 $6,250 to $9,290 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 30 hours (4 driving days).

On the Portland side there are 645 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (474 of them authorized for interstate work), and 55 around Ames (25 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 Ames.

Portland has a population of about 635,109 and Ames about 66,000. Portland is considerably denser (4,888 people per square mile versus 2,355), 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 Oregon, which tends to make destination-side services such as unpacking or storage cheaper than the same services back home.

Cost of moving from Portland to Ames

Full-service estimate for 1,723 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$2,500	$3,050	$3,720
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$3,750	$4,570	$5,580
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$6,250	$7,620	$9,290
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$9,990	$12,190	$14,870
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$13,740	$16,760	$20,440

Rental truck (DIY)

$2,370–$3,350

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

Portable container

$2,560–$3,760

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

Full-service mover

$6,250–$9,290

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Portland, OR → Ames, 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 Portland (origin)

Global-1-Solutions

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4282676
MC: 1665063
Based in: Portland, OR 97239 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 50,000 trucks, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2024

Call (503) 832-2763 Route Verify on FMCSA

Jacko Logistics LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2580906
MC: 903633
Based in: Vancouver, WA 98665 (10 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 245 trucks, 249 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (844) 307-8551 Route Verify on FMCSA

All Service Moving

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Asm LLC

USDOT: 1863079
MC: 722865
Based in: Portland, OR 97214 (2 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 100 trucks, 140 drivers
USDOT registered: 2009

Call (800) 362-4545 Route Verify on FMCSA

Atlantic & Pacific Freightways INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 381463
MC: 204314
Based in: Vancouver, WA 98665 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 78 trucks, 75 drivers
USDOT registered: 1990

Call (800) 628-6419 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mitchell Bros Truck Line INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 248002
MC: 32882
Based in: Vancouver, WA 98661 (7 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 76 trucks, 64 drivers
USDOT registered: 1984

Call (360) 693-7477 Route Verify on FMCSA

Skyline Transport Group LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 2363186
MC: 810023
Based in: Vancouver, WA 98682 (12 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 62 trucks, 55 drivers
USDOT registered: 2012

Call (360) 719-5660 Route Verify on FMCSA

Gforce Delivery INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3436341
MC: 1119093
Based in: Damascus, OR 97089 (13 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 33 trucks, 60 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (971) 219-8205 Route Verify on FMCSA

Adc Transport

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Airport Drayage Company INC

USDOT: 61733
MC: 581707
Based in: Portland, OR 97220 (5 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 31 trucks, 14 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (503) 253-3859 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 645 movers in Portland

Near Ames (destination)

Central Iowa Towing And Recovery

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Central Iowa Towing And Recovery INC

USDOT: 2359315
MC: 1349765
Based in: Ames, IA 50010 (2 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 88 trucks, 79 drivers
USDOT registered: 2012

Call (515) 290-4188 Route Verify on FMCSA

Hemmen Moving INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 608245
MC: 292343
Based in: Ames, IA 50014 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 8 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered: 1995

Call (515) 268-9090 Route Verify on FMCSA

J T L Transport LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2528339
MC: 887466
Based in: Randall, IA 50231 (15 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 4 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 2014

Call (515) 669-1891 Route Verify on FMCSA

V&c Express Corp

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3635053
MC: 1246860
Based in: Ames, IA 50010 (2 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 2 trucks, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2021

Call (904) 418-8009 Route Verify on FMCSA

Combined Relocation Services LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1666941
MC: 709641
Based in: Huxley, IA 50124 (10 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 2 trucks, 2 drivers
USDOT registered: 2007

Call (515) 276-6674 Route Verify on FMCSA

Alex Moving LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4346742
MC: 1699031
Based in: Ames, IA 50010 (2 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 1 truck, 2 drivers
USDOT registered: 2025

Call (515) 817-4521 Route Verify on FMCSA

Property Service Agency LLC

Intrastate carrier

USDOT: 1433739
Based in: Ames, IA 50010 (2 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 6 trucks, 6 drivers
USDOT registered: 2005

Call (515) 233-1922 Route Verify on FMCSA

M&a Moving And Hauling

Intrastate carrier

Legal name: Myers & Associates LLC

USDOT: 2340775
Based in: Madrid, IA 50156 (13 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 2 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2012

Call (515) 795-3676 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 55 movers in Ames

Related routes

Other destinations from Portland

Other origins to Ames

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Portland to Ames?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,500 to $3,720 for a studio, $3,750 to $5,580 for a one-bedroom, $6,250 to $9,290 for a two-bedroom, $9,990 to $14,870 for a three-bedroom and $13,740 to $20,440 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Ames from Portland?

About 1,723 road miles (1,460 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 30 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 Oregon 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 Portland to Ames?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $2,370 to $3,350 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,560 to $3,760. 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 Portland–Ames corridor.