Virginia Beach, VA → Des Moines, IA · Long-distance move

Movers from Virginia Beach to Des Moines

About 1,175 road miles heading northwest. Typical two-bedroom cost $5,010–$7,450, delivery in 3–7 days, 230 carriers on the Virginia Beach side and 191 in Des Moines.

1,175 miroad distance
20 h 58 mindriving time
3–7 daysdelivery window
$5,010–$7,4502-bedroom estimate

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

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Route summary

From: Virginia Beach, Virginia
To: Des Moines, Iowa
Road distance: ≈ 1,175 miles (996 straight-line)
Drive time: 20 h 58 min
Delivery window: 3–7 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 230 (147 interstate)
Movers at destination: 191 (116 interstate)

Reverse: Des Moines → Virginia Beach

Moving from Virginia Beach to Des Moines is a long-distance move of roughly 1,175 road miles, heading northwest from Virginia 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 $5,010 to $7,450 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 20 h 58 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 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.

Virginia Beach has a population of about 453,737 and Des Moines about 212,086. The two cities have comparable density (1,878 and 2,428 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 Des Moines

Full-service estimate for 1,175 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$2,000	$2,440	$2,980
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$3,000	$3,660	$4,470
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$5,010	$6,110	$7,450
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$8,010	$9,770	$11,920
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$11,010	$13,430	$16,390

Rental truck (DIY)

$1,660–$2,340

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

Portable container

$2,070–$3,040

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

Full-service mover

$5,010–$7,450

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Virginia Beach, VA → Des Moines, 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 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

Insist on a binding or binding-not-to-exceed estimate after an in-home or video survey.
Verify the carrier's USDOT and MC numbers on the FMCSA site before paying a deposit.
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.

Near Virginia Beach

Near Des Moines

Related routes

Other destinations from Virginia Beach

Other origins to Des Moines

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Virginia Beach to Des Moines?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,000 to $2,980 for a studio, $3,000 to $4,470 for a one-bedroom, $5,010 to $7,450 for a two-bedroom, $8,010 to $11,920 for a three-bedroom and $11,010 to $16,390 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Des Moines from Virginia Beach?

About 1,175 road miles (996 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 20 h 58 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 Des Moines?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $1,660 to $2,340 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,070 to $3,040. 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–Des Moines corridor.