West Palm Beach, FL → Ames, IA · Cross-country move

Movers from West Palm Beach to Ames

About 1,537 road miles heading northwest. Typical two-bedroom cost $5,770–$8,590, delivery in 5–10 days, 446 carriers on the West Palm Beach side and 55 in Ames.

1,537 miroad distance
27 hours (4 driving days)driving time
5–10 daysdelivery window
$5,770–$8,5902-bedroom estimate

Photo: Dirk DBQ · CC BY 2.0

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Route summary

From: West Palm Beach, Florida
To: Ames, Iowa
Road distance: ≈ 1,537 miles (1,303 straight-line)
Drive time: 27 hours (4 driving days)
Delivery window: 5–10 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 446 (162 interstate)
Movers at destination: 55 (25 interstate)

Reverse: Ames → West Palm Beach

Moving from West Palm Beach to Ames is a cross-country move of roughly 1,537 road miles, heading northwest from Florida 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 $5,770 to $8,590 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 5 to 10 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 27 hours (4 driving days).

On the West Palm Beach side there are 446 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (162 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.

West Palm Beach has a population of about 127,189 and Ames about 66,000. The two cities have comparable density (2,182 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 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 West Palm Beach to Ames

Full-service estimate for 1,537 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$2,310	$2,820	$3,440
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$3,460	$4,220	$5,150
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$5,770	$7,040	$8,590
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$9,240	$11,270	$13,740
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$12,700	$15,490	$18,900

Rental truck (DIY)

$2,180–$3,080

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

Portable container

$2,390–$3,520

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

Full-service mover

$5,770–$8,590

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for West Palm Beach, 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 West Palm Beach (origin)

Cheney Brothers INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 41648
MC: 895890
Based in: Riviera Beach, FL 33404 (5 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 753 trucks, 975 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (561) 845-4721 Route Verify on FMCSA

Circuit

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Circuit Transit INC

USDOT: 3562459
MC: 1485340
Based in: West Palm Bch, FL 33401 (4 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 192 trucks, 318 drivers
USDOT registered: 2021

Call (646) 504-3733 Route Verify on FMCSA

Good Greek Moving And Storage

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Sfakia LLC

USDOT: 2562486
MC: 894264
Based in: West Palm Beach, FL 33413 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 83 trucks, 70 drivers
USDOT registered: 2014

Call (561) 683-1313 Route Verify on FMCSA

Safebound Moving Storage

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Safebound Logistics LLC

USDOT: 2900155
MC: 975408
Based in: West Palm Beach, FL 33413 (6 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 33 trucks, 34 drivers
USDOT registered: 2016

Call (561) 510-7191 Route Verify on FMCSA

Excelsior Wpb LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3313823
MC: 1054919
Based in: West Palm Beach, FL 33407 (2 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 30 trucks, 60 drivers
USDOT registered: 2019

Call (561) 512-6018 Route Verify on FMCSA

College Hunks Hauling Junk

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Jcal Holdings LLC

USDOT: 2071964
MC: 14116
Based in: Lake Worth, FL 33461 (9 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 16 trucks, 23 drivers
USDOT registered: 2010

Call (561) 687-5005 Route Verify on FMCSA

All My Sons Of The Palm Beaches LLC

Interstate carrier

USDOT: 2785473
MC: 928227
Based in: Riviera Beach, FL 33404 (5 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 9 trucks, 7 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (469) 461-5000 Route Verify on FMCSA

Forward Van Lines

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Zip Transport & Services INC

USDOT: 709590
MC: 327506
Based in: Fort Lauderdale, FL 33409 (3 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 8 trucks, 9 drivers
USDOT registered: 1997

Call (954) 678-4747 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 446 movers in West Palm 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

Tips for this move

Expect a delivery spread of one to two weeks; plan temporary housing in Ames accordingly.
Compare a full-service van line against a container service; for a small household the container often wins.
Ask about consolidated versus dedicated truck options—dedicated is faster but costs more.
Read the FMCSA 'Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move' booklet the carrier must provide.

Near West Palm Beach

Near Ames

Related routes

Other destinations from West Palm Beach

Other origins to Ames

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from West Palm Beach to Ames?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $2,310 to $3,440 for a studio, $3,460 to $5,150 for a one-bedroom, $5,770 to $8,590 for a two-bedroom, $9,240 to $13,740 for a three-bedroom and $12,700 to $18,900 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Ames from West Palm Beach?

About 1,537 road miles (1,303 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 27 hours (4 driving days).

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 5 to 10 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 West Palm Beach to Ames?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $2,180 to $3,080 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,390 to $3,520. 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 West Palm Beach–Ames corridor.