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Des Moines, IA

Santa Barbara, CA → Des Moines, IA · Cross-country move

Movers from Santa Barbara to Des Moines

About 1,768 road miles heading northeast. Typical two-bedroom cost $6,850–$10,190, delivery in 5–10 days, 27 carriers on the Santa Barbara side and 191 in Des Moines.

  • 1,768 miroad distance
  • 31 hours (4 driving days)driving time
  • 5–10 daysdelivery window
  • $6,850–$10,1902-bedroom estimate
Photo: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States · CC BY 2.0
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Route summary

Road distance
≈ 1,768 miles (1,498 straight-line)
Drive time
31 hours (4 driving days)
Delivery window
5–10 days
Move type
Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin
27 (9 interstate)
Movers at destination
191 (116 interstate)

Reverse: Des Moines → Santa Barbara

Moving from Santa Barbara to Des Moines is a cross-country move of roughly 1,768 road miles, heading northeast 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 $6,850 to $10,190 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 31 hours (4 driving days).

On the Santa Barbara side there are 27 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (9 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.

Santa Barbara has a population of about 88,000 and Des Moines about 212,086. Santa Barbara is considerably denser (4,549 people per square mile versus 2,428), 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 Santa Barbara to Des Moines

Full-service estimate for 1,768 miles, by home size
Home sizeEst. weightLowTypicalHigh
Studio 2,000 lb $2,740 $3,340 $4,080
1 Bedroom 3,000 lb $4,110 $5,010 $6,120
2 Bedrooms 5,000 lb $6,850 $8,360 $10,190
3 Bedrooms 8,000 lb $10,960 $13,370 $16,310
4+ Bedrooms 11,000 lb $15,070 $18,380 $22,430

Rental truck (DIY)

$2,420–$3,410

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

Portable container

$2,600–$3,820

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

Full-service mover

$6,850–$10,190

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Santa Barbara, CA → 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 Santa Barbara (origin)

Aussie Moving

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Aussie Moving INC

USDOT
2424966
MC
876037
Based in
Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
2 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered
2013
Call (805) 456-6498 Route Verify on FMCSA

Twentyfour7 Msi

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Twenty Four 7 Moving Specialists INC

USDOT
1821147
MC
661157
Based in
Carpinteria, CA 93013 (12 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
2 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered
2008
Call (805) 696-9247 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mammoth Van Lines

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Mammoth Moving Holding Corporation

USDOT
374567
MC
225136
Based in
Santa Barbara, CA 93111 (6 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
1 truck, 2 drivers
USDOT registered
1989
Call (805) 968-8643 Route Verify on FMCSA

All Things Home Services LLC

Interstate carrier
USDOT
8395520
Based in
Santa Barbara, CA 93111 (6 mi from center)
Service
Local & long-distance
Fleet
1 truck, 4 drivers
USDOT registered
2026
Call (805) 245-3822 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bushnell Moving

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Kenneth Lee Bushnell

USDOT
1355626
MC
608117
Based in
Santa Barbara, CA 93105 (9 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
1 truck, 1 drivers
USDOT registered
2005
Call (805) 682-5454 Route Verify on FMCSA

Santa Barbara Home Improvement Center

Intrastate carrier

Legal name: Santa Barbara Home Improvement Center INC

USDOT
2735884
Based in
Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered
2015
Call (805) 963-7825 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mike'S Deliveries

Intrastate carrier

Legal name: Miguel A Barrios

USDOT
3008579
Based in
Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service
Local moves
Fleet
3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered
2017
Call (805) 331-0318 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bright Delivery And Install INC

Intrastate carrier
USDOT
3544323
Based in
Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (1 mi from center)
Service
Long-distance
Fleet
3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered
2021
Call (805) 679-1020 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 27 movers in Santa Barbara

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

Related routes

Other destinations from Santa Barbara

Other origins to Des Moines

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Santa Barbara to Des Moines?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,740 to $4,080 for a studio, $4,110 to $6,120 for a one-bedroom, $6,850 to $10,190 for a two-bedroom, $10,960 to $16,310 for a three-bedroom and $15,070 to $22,430 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Des Moines from Santa Barbara?

About 1,768 road miles (1,498 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 31 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 Santa Barbara to Des Moines?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $2,420 to $3,410 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,600 to $3,820. 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 Santa Barbara–Des Moines corridor.