San Diego, CA → Ames, IA · Cross-country move

Movers from San Diego to Ames

About 1,690 road miles heading northeast. Typical two-bedroom cost $6,720–$9,990, delivery in 5–10 days, 626 carriers on the San Diego side and 55 in Ames.

1,690 miroad distance
29 hours (4 driving days)driving time
5–10 daysdelivery window
$6,720–$9,9902-bedroom estimate

Photo: Dirk DBQ · CC BY 2.0

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Route summary

From: San Diego, California
To: Ames, Iowa
Road distance: ≈ 1,690 miles (1,432 straight-line)
Drive time: 29 hours (4 driving days)
Delivery window: 5–10 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 626 (217 interstate)
Movers at destination: 55 (25 interstate)

Reverse: Ames → San Diego

The route from San Diego, CA to Ames, IA covers roughly 1,690 miles by road, a northeast-bound trip that falls into the cross-country 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 $6,720 to $9,990 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 29 hours (4 driving days).

On the San Diego side there are 626 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (217 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.

San Diego has a population of about 1.4 million and Ames about 66,000. San Diego is considerably denser (4,256 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 California, which tends to make destination-side services such as unpacking or storage cheaper than the same services back home.

Cost of moving from San Diego to Ames

Full-service estimate for 1,690 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$2,690	$3,280	$4,000
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$4,030	$4,920	$6,000
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$6,720	$8,190	$9,990
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$10,750	$13,110	$15,990
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$14,780	$18,020	$21,990

Rental truck (DIY)

$2,340–$3,300

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

Portable container

$2,530–$3,720

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

Full-service mover

$6,720–$9,990

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for San Diego, CA → 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 San Diego (origin)

Mat Express

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Mat Parcel Express INC

USDOT: 927424
MC: 400335
Based in: San Diego, CA 92110 (5 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 50 trucks, 64 drivers
USDOT registered: 2001

Call (619) 849-9600 Route Verify on FMCSA

Magic Mile LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3296634
MC: 1044843
Based in: Poway, CA 92064 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 45 trucks, 70 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (619) 991-9424 Route Verify on FMCSA

Djw Logistics

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Walk With Me INC

USDOT: 3312065
MC: 1052279
Based in: Chula Vista, CA 91910 (13 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 30 trucks, 60 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (858) 294-3804 Route Verify on FMCSA

Zipity LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3476079
MC: 1145709
Based in: Coronado, CA 92118 (9 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 26 trucks, 45 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (949) 929-4199 Route Verify on FMCSA

Ackley Moving Services

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Ackley Enterprises INC

USDOT: 1868365
MC: 675281
Based in: Poway, CA 92064 (14 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 21 trucks, 19 drivers
USDOT registered: 2009

Call (858) 735-9587 Route Verify on FMCSA

Republic Moving & Storage

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Lovejoy'S Family Moving INC

USDOT: 3369820
MC: 778208
Based in: Chula Vista, CA 91914 (15 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 21 trucks, 20 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (951) 541-6710 Route Verify on FMCSA

Allstate Logistics

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Allstate Van & Storage INC

USDOT: 692879
MC: 321079
Based in: Poway, CA 92064 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 18 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered: 1997

Call (858) 746-1000 Route Verify on FMCSA

The Cms Companies

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Sullivan Moving & Storage INC

USDOT: 56181
MC: 127405
Based in: San Diego, CA 92111 (2 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 17 trucks, 42 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (253) 395-5432 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 626 movers in San Diego

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 San Diego

Other origins to Ames

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from San Diego to Ames?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,690 to $4,000 for a studio, $4,030 to $6,000 for a one-bedroom, $6,720 to $9,990 for a two-bedroom, $10,750 to $15,990 for a three-bedroom and $14,780 to $21,990 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Ames from San Diego?

About 1,690 road miles (1,432 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 29 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 San Diego to Ames?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $2,340 to $3,300 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,530 to $3,720. 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 San Diego–Ames corridor.