Virginia Beach, VA → Ames, IA · Long-distance move

Movers from Virginia Beach to Ames

About 1,185 road miles heading northwest. Typical two-bedroom cost $5,030–$7,480, delivery in 3–7 days, 230 carriers on the Virginia Beach side and 55 in Ames.

1,185 miroad distance
21 h 8 mindriving time
3–7 daysdelivery window
$5,030–$7,4802-bedroom estimate

Photo: Dirk DBQ · CC BY 2.0

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Route summary

From: Virginia Beach, Virginia
To: Ames, Iowa
Road distance: ≈ 1,185 miles (1,004 straight-line)
Drive time: 21 h 8 min
Delivery window: 3–7 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 230 (147 interstate)
Movers at destination: 55 (25 interstate)

Reverse: Ames → Virginia Beach

The route from Virginia Beach, VA to Ames, IA covers roughly 1,185 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 $5,030 to $7,480 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 21 h 8 min.

On the Virginia Beach side there are 230 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (147 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.

Virginia Beach has a population of about 453,737 and Ames about 66,000. The two cities have comparable density (1,878 and 2,355 people per square mile), so loading and unloading conditions are usually similar at both ends. Labor and living costs run lower in Iowa than in Virginia, which tends to make destination-side services such as unpacking or storage cheaper than the same services back home.

Cost of moving from Virginia Beach to Ames

Full-service estimate for 1,185 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$2,010	$2,450	$2,990
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$3,020	$3,680	$4,490
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$5,030	$6,140	$7,480
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$8,050	$9,820	$11,980
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$11,070	$13,500	$16,470

Rental truck (DIY)

$1,670–$2,350

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

Portable container

$2,080–$3,060

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

Full-service mover

$5,030–$7,480

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Virginia Beach, VA → 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 Virginia Beach (origin)

Service Transfer INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 139659
MC: 135652
Based in: Chesapeake, VA 23324 (14 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 240 trucks, 217 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (757) 543-7800 Route Verify on FMCSA

Highways & Skyways Of Nc

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Givens Transportation INC

USDOT: 1070890
MC: 446371
Based in: Chesapeake, VA 23320 (11 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 170 trucks, 156 drivers
USDOT registered: 2002

Call (757) 233-4300 Route Verify on FMCSA

Atlantic Transport LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3109246
MC: 81782
Based in: Virginia Beach, VA 23455 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 76 trucks, 39 drivers
USDOT registered: 2018

Call (757) 447-8687 Route Verify on FMCSA

Wheels For Work LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3293159
MC: 1090224
Based in: Virginia Beach, VA 23454 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 75 trucks, 75 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (401) 265-7661 Route Verify on FMCSA

Apple Moving

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Accent Relocation Services INC

USDOT: 795385
MC: 354379
Based in: Norfolk, VA 23504 (14 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 21 trucks, 13 drivers
USDOT registered: 1999

Call (757) 625-7631 Route Verify on FMCSA

Maximum Logistics 1 LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3391615
MC: 1094415
Based in: Virginia Bch, VA 23462 (8 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 20 trucks, 20 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (757) 582-5048 Route Verify on FMCSA

Security Storage & Van Company Of Norfolk Va INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 121073
MC: 128699
Based in: Norfolk, VA 23502 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 19 trucks, 10 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (757) 466-9000 Route Verify on FMCSA

Monroe Transfer & Storage Co INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 169188
MC: 129470
Based in: Norfolk, VA 23502 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 18 trucks, 11 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (757) 466-9351 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 230 movers in Virginia Beach

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 Virginia Beach

Other origins to Ames

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Virginia Beach to Ames?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,010 to $2,990 for a studio, $3,020 to $4,490 for a one-bedroom, $5,030 to $7,480 for a two-bedroom, $8,050 to $11,980 for a three-bedroom and $11,070 to $16,470 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Ames from Virginia Beach?

About 1,185 road miles (1,004 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 21 h 8 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 Virginia 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 Virginia Beach to Ames?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $1,670 to $2,350 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,080 to $3,060. 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 Virginia Beach–Ames corridor.