Sioux Falls, SD → Des Moines, IA · Regional long-distance move

Movers from Sioux Falls to Des Moines

About 247 road miles heading southeast. Typical two-bedroom cost $2,320–$3,450, delivery in 1–2 days, 79 carriers on the Sioux Falls side and 191 in Des Moines.

247 miroad distance
4 h 58 mindriving time
1–2 daysdelivery window
$2,320–$3,4502-bedroom estimate

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

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Route summary

From: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
To: Des Moines, Iowa
Road distance: ≈ 247 miles (209 straight-line)
Drive time: 4 h 58 min
Delivery window: 1–2 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 79 (59 interstate)
Movers at destination: 191 (116 interstate)

Reverse: Des Moines → Sioux Falls

The route from Sioux Falls, SD to Des Moines, IA covers roughly 247 miles by road, a southeast-bound trip that falls into the regional 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 $2,320 to $3,450 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 1 to 2 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 4 h 58 min.

On the Sioux Falls side there are 79 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (59 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.

Sioux Falls has a population of about 213,748 and Des Moines about 212,086. The two cities have comparable density (2,434 and 2,428 people per square mile), so loading and unloading conditions are usually similar at both ends. Note that Iowa does collect a state income tax, unlike South Dakota, so factor that into the cost-of-living comparison.

Cost of moving from Sioux Falls to Des Moines

Full-service estimate for 247 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$1,160	$1,410	$1,720
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$1,390	$1,700	$2,070
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$2,320	$2,830	$3,450
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$3,710	$4,530	$5,530
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$5,110	$6,230	$7,600

Rental truck (DIY)

$400–$570

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

Portable container

$1,240–$1,820

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

Full-service mover

$2,320–$3,450

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Sioux Falls, SD → 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 Sioux Falls (origin)

K & J Trucking INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 171766
MC: 146600
Based in: Sioux Falls, SD 57104 (5 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 132 trucks, 149 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (605) 332-5531 Route Verify on FMCSA

Dakota Carriers INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 492947
MC: 255930
Based in: Sioux Falls, SD 57107 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 85 trucks, 85 drivers
USDOT registered: 1992

Call (605) 338-0002 Route Verify on FMCSA

Rude Transportation INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 1391
MC: 64732
Based in: Sioux Falls, SD 57107 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 68 trucks, 62 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (605) 335-6575 Route Verify on FMCSA

Silver Creek Carriers LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3093770
MC: 73394
Based in: Chancellor, SD 57015 (15 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 34 trucks, 29 drivers
USDOT registered: 2018

Call (605) 647-1380 Route Verify on FMCSA

Lloyd Bultsma Trucking INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 692522
MC: 320802
Based in: Sioux Falls, SD 57104 (5 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 10 trucks, 8 drivers
USDOT registered: 1997

Call (605) 759-2247 Route Verify on FMCSA

Sioux Steel Company

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 66163
MC: 488257
Based in: Sioux Falls, SD 57101 (0 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 9 trucks, 10 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (605) 650-0342 Verify on FMCSA

Nationwide Transfer INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 1741852
MC: 637914
Based in: Sioux Falls, SD 57104 (5 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 8 trucks, 9 drivers
USDOT registered: 2008

Call (605) 333-0620 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mueller Pallets LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 776880
MC: 412614
Based in: Sioux Falls, SD 57108 (5 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 8 trucks, 8 drivers
USDOT registered: 1998

Call (605) 368-2440 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 79 movers in Sioux Falls

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

Plan a first-night kit for Des Moines: bedding, toiletries, a few kitchen basics.
Get three written estimates; at this distance quotes can vary by a third for the same inventory.
Ask whether the carrier will use one truck end to end or transfer your goods at a terminal.
Weigh the cost of full-value protection against the released-value default of 60 cents per pound.

Near Sioux Falls

Near Des Moines

Related routes

Other destinations from Sioux Falls

Other origins to Des Moines

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Sioux Falls to Des Moines?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $1,160 to $1,720 for a studio, $1,390 to $2,070 for a one-bedroom, $2,320 to $3,450 for a two-bedroom, $3,710 to $5,530 for a three-bedroom and $5,110 to $7,600 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Des Moines from Sioux Falls?

About 247 road miles (209 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 4 h 58 min.

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 1 to 2 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 Dakota 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 Sioux Falls to Des Moines?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $400 to $570 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,240 to $1,820. 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 Sioux Falls–Des Moines corridor.