Tuscaloosa, AL → Iowa City, IA · Long-distance move

Movers from Tuscaloosa to Iowa City

About 734 road miles heading north. Typical two-bedroom cost $3,630–$5,390, delivery in 2–5 days, 80 carriers on the Tuscaloosa side and 43 in Iowa City.

734 miroad distance
13 h 21 mindriving time
2–5 daysdelivery window
$3,630–$5,3902-bedroom estimate

Photo: Stevat20 · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Route summary

From: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
To: Iowa City, Iowa
Road distance: ≈ 734 miles (622 straight-line)
Drive time: 13 h 21 min
Delivery window: 2–5 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 80 (39 interstate)
Movers at destination: 43 (28 interstate)

Reverse: Iowa City → Tuscaloosa

The route from Tuscaloosa, AL to Iowa City, IA covers roughly 734 miles by road, a north-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 $3,630 to $5,390 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 2 to 5 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 13 h 21 min.

On the Tuscaloosa side there are 80 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (39 of them authorized for interstate work), and 43 around Iowa City (28 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 Iowa City.

Tuscaloosa has a population of about 114,316 and Iowa City about 75,000. Iowa City is the denser city (2,904 people per square mile versus 1,609 in Tuscaloosa), which often means shuttle trucks, parking restrictions or building move-in windows on delivery day.

Cost of moving from Tuscaloosa to Iowa City

Full-service estimate for 734 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$1,450	$1,770	$2,160
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$2,180	$2,650	$3,240
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$3,630	$4,420	$5,390
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$5,800	$7,080	$8,630
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$7,980	$9,730	$11,870

Rental truck (DIY)

$1,050–$1,490

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

Portable container

$1,680–$2,460

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

Full-service mover

$3,630–$5,390

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Tuscaloosa, AL → Iowa City, 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 Tuscaloosa (origin)

Awesome Moving Services

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4357625
MC: 1704689
Based in: Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 10,014 trucks, 8 drivers
USDOT registered: 2025

Call (205) 413-5196 Route Verify on FMCSA

Two Men And A Truck Of Tuscaloosa

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Jst INC

USDOT: 1310877
MC: 652647
Based in: Northport, AL 35473 (4 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 17 trucks, 17 drivers
USDOT registered: 2004

Call (205) 247-5050 Route Verify on FMCSA

Brittain Trucking INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 362876
MC: 214146
Based in: Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 (6 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 14 trucks, 16 drivers
USDOT registered: 1989

Call (205) 345-0115 Route Verify on FMCSA

B & V Wrecker Service INC

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Cbs Leasing LLC

USDOT: 911424
MC: 606283
Based in: Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 (6 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 4 trucks, 2 drivers
USDOT registered: 2000

Call (205) 345-5511 Route Verify on FMCSA

Cp Logistics LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3060563
MC: 72972907
Based in: Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 (8 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 4 trucks, 8 drivers
USDOT registered: 2017

Call (205) 826-5463 Route Verify on FMCSA

West Alabama Postal Express INC

Interstate carrier Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 301906
Based in: Cottondale, AL 35453 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 4 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 1987

Route Verify on FMCSA

Kmc Trucking LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 2348521
MC: 803764
Based in: Cottondale, AL 35453 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 4 trucks, 4 drivers
USDOT registered: 2012

Call (205) 764-0499 Route Verify on FMCSA

Grs Logistics LLC

Interstate carrier

USDOT: 4492165
MC: 1775920
Based in: Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 (6 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 2 trucks, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2025

Call (205) 534-2027 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 80 movers in Tuscaloosa

Near Iowa City (destination)

Adamantine Spine Moving

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Adamantine Spine Moving INC

USDOT: 1471037
MC: 556716
Based in: Iowa City, IA 52240 (2 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 37 trucks, 41 drivers
USDOT registered: 2006

Call (319) 325-6683 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bolton Logistics LLC

Interstate carrier

USDOT: 4766652
Based in: Solon, IA 52333 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 24 trucks, 12 drivers
USDOT registered: 2026

Call (319) 210-4857 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bolton Logistics LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2471478
MC: 61612
Based in: Solon, IA 52333 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 10 trucks, 12 drivers
USDOT registered: 2014

Call (319) 624-2086 Route Verify on FMCSA

Slager Appliances

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2028718
MC: 1754363
Based in: Iowa City, IA 52246 (3 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 8 trucks, 15 drivers
USDOT registered: 2010

Call (319) 337-3800 Route Verify on FMCSA

Asap Towing

Interstate carrier

Legal name: Iowa City Auto Sales LLC

USDOT: 1352324
Based in: Iowa City, IA 52240 (2 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 6 trucks, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2005

Call (319) 330-1629 Route Verify on FMCSA

Stannard Moving & Storage

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 228904
MC: 166228
Based in: Iowa City, IA 52246 (3 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 6 trucks, 8 drivers
USDOT registered: 1983

Call (319) 351-1552 Route Verify on FMCSA

Bee'S Transport

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Brendan Daryl Beachy

USDOT: 2821656
MC: 1068797
Based in: Kalona, IA 52247 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 5 trucks, 11 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (319) 530-1197 Route Verify on FMCSA

Hardy Concierge Services LLC

Interstate carrier

USDOT: 4222688
Based in: North Liberty, IA 52317 (9 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 4 trucks, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2024

Call (319) 382-0721 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 43 movers in Iowa City

Tips for this move

Ask how the delivery window is calculated and what the delay compensation is.
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 Iowa City if a 53-foot trailer cannot reach your street.
Keep vehicle titles, passports and prescriptions with you; movers cannot carry some items at all.

Near Tuscaloosa

Near Iowa City

Related routes

Other destinations from Tuscaloosa

Other origins to Iowa City

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Tuscaloosa to Iowa City?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $1,450 to $2,160 for a studio, $2,180 to $3,240 for a one-bedroom, $3,630 to $5,390 for a two-bedroom, $5,800 to $8,630 for a three-bedroom and $7,980 to $11,870 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Iowa City from Tuscaloosa?

About 734 road miles (622 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 13 h 21 min.

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 2 to 5 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 Alabama 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 Tuscaloosa to Iowa City?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $1,050 to $1,490 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,680 to $2,460. 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 Tuscaloosa–Iowa City corridor.