St. Augustine, FL → Ames, IA · Long-distance move

Movers from St. Augustine to Ames

About 1,277 road miles heading northwest. Typical two-bedroom cost $5,180–$7,700, delivery in 3–7 days, 71 carriers on the St. Augustine side and 55 in Ames.

1,277 miroad distance
22 h 43 mindriving time
3–7 daysdelivery window
$5,180–$7,7002-bedroom estimate

Photo: Dirk DBQ · CC BY 2.0

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Route summary

From: St. Augustine, Florida
To: Ames, Iowa
Road distance: ≈ 1,277 miles (1,082 straight-line)
Drive time: 22 h 43 min
Delivery window: 3–7 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 71 (35 interstate)
Movers at destination: 55 (25 interstate)

Reverse: Ames → St. Augustine

The route from St. Augustine, FL to Ames, IA covers roughly 1,277 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 $5,180 to $7,700 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 43 min.

On the St. Augustine side there are 71 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (35 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.

St. Augustine has a population of about 16,000 and Ames about 66,000. Ames is the denser city (2,355 people per square mile versus 1,505 in St. Augustine), 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 St. Augustine to Ames

Full-service estimate for 1,277 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$2,070	$2,530	$3,080
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$3,110	$3,790	$4,620
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$5,180	$6,310	$7,700
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$8,280	$10,100	$12,320
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$11,390	$13,890	$16,950

Rental truck (DIY)

$1,760–$2,490

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

Portable container

$2,160–$3,180

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

Full-service mover

$5,180–$7,700

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for St. Augustine, FL → 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 St. Augustine (origin)

Champion Transportation INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1633941
MC: 602443
Based in: St Augustine, FL 32092 (13 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 8 trucks, 6 drivers
USDOT registered: 2007

Call (904) 521-6637 Route Verify on FMCSA

Transway Logistics INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2480971
MC: 858578
Based in: Saint Augustine, FL 32095 (12 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 6 trucks, 6 drivers
USDOT registered: 2014

Call (904) 239-1036 Route Verify on FMCSA

Ezcon Services LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4309942
MC: 1679736
Based in: Saint Augustine, FL 32086 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 4 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered: 2024

Call (904) 490-8593 Route Verify on FMCSA

Minorcan Moving & Storage INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 314177
MC: 207187
Based in: St Augustine, FL 32084 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 1988

Call (904) 824-3500 Route Verify on FMCSA

On Time Moving & Storage

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Florida Transfer & Relocation INC

USDOT: 1447613
MC: 547090
Based in: Saint Augusitne, FL 32084 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2006

Call (904) 794-1200 Route Verify on FMCSA

Unitrans LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2014357
MC: 717943
Based in: Saint Augustine, FL 32086 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 3 trucks, 3 drivers
USDOT registered: 2010

Call (904) 294-9024 Route Verify on FMCSA

On Time Moving Van Lines

Interstate carrier

Legal name: T & J Truck Leasing LLC

USDOT: 3262059
MC: 1028487
Based in: St Augustine, FL 32084 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 2 trucks, 2 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (904) 794-1200 Route Verify on FMCSA

Helping Hands Movers Of St Augustine INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4574830
MC: 1820223
Based in: Saint Augustine, FL 32084 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 2 trucks, 2 drivers
USDOT registered: 2026

Call (904) 229-4118 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 71 movers in St. Augustine

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

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 Ames 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 St. Augustine

Near Ames

Related routes

Other destinations from St. Augustine

Other origins to Ames

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from St. Augustine to Ames?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,070 to $3,080 for a studio, $3,110 to $4,620 for a one-bedroom, $5,180 to $7,700 for a two-bedroom, $8,280 to $12,320 for a three-bedroom and $11,390 to $16,950 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Ames from St. Augustine?

About 1,277 road miles (1,082 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 22 h 43 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 St. Augustine to Ames?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $1,760 to $2,490 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,160 to $3,180. 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 St. Augustine–Ames corridor.