Lane · STEP · Oct 2026

Des Moines, IA to Indianapolis, IN step deck rate

$2,562step deck

+3.3% from last month

Per mile: $5.29
Distance: 484 mi
Typical range: $2,152–$2,972
Transit: 2 days

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Step deck · estimated all-in cost per load · monthly

Des Moines to Indianapolis price history

3 months: +8.6%
1 year: +18.6%
5 years: +24.8%

Cost breakdown

Linehaul: $2,074
Fuel: $488
All-in estimate: $2,562

Return trip

Indianapolis → Des Moines$2,641

This direction runs 3% below the return trip. Leaving IA prices above the national average and arriving in IN prices below it.

Des Moines to Indianapolis by truck type

Estimated cost from Des Moines, IA to Indianapolis, IN by truck type
Truck type	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range
53' dry van	$1,890	$3.90	$1,682 – $2,098
53' refrigerated	$2,255	$4.66	$1,962 – $2,548
48' flatbed	$2,341	$4.84	$2,013 – $2,669
Step deck	$2,562	$5.29	$2,152 – $2,972
Power only	$1,635	$3.38	$1,423 – $1,848
Hotshot	$1,233	$2.55	$1,023 – $1,442
26' box truck	$1,221	$2.52	$1,038 – $1,404
Sprinter van	$756	$1.56	$635 – $877

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The index is an estimate. For a price you can act on, ask connected freight providers for a live 53' dry van rate, or send the load details and get quoted for any truck type.

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More lanes from Des Moines

Step deck lanes from Des Moines, IA
To	Miles	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range	Transit
New York, NY	1,208 mi	$6,455	$5.34	$5,422 – $7,488	3 d
Los Angeles, CA	1,705 mi	$6,398	$3.75	$5,374 – $7,421	4 d
Chicago, IL	361 mi	$2,075	$5.75	$1,743 – $2,407	1 d
Houston, TX	968 mi	$4,184	$4.32	$3,515 – $4,854	3 d
Phoenix, AZ	1,357 mi	$5,832	$4.30	$4,899 – $6,766	3 d
Philadelphia, PA	1,145 mi	$5,884	$5.14	$4,943 – $6,826	3 d
San Antonio, TX	1,039 mi	$4,419	$4.25	$3,712 – $5,126	3 d
San Diego, CA	1,679 mi	$6,315	$3.76	$5,304 – $7,325	4 d

More lanes into Indianapolis

Step deck lanes into Indianapolis, IN
From	Miles	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range	Transit
New York, NY	763 mi	$3,142	$4.12	$2,639 – $3,644	2 d
Los Angeles, CA	2,143 mi	$9,657	$4.51	$8,112 – $11,202	5 d
Chicago, IL	193 mi	$1,756	$9.10	$1,475 – $2,037	1 d
Houston, TX	1,022 mi	$3,679	$3.60	$3,091 – $4,268	3 d
Phoenix, AZ	1,763 mi	$4,686	$2.66	$3,936 – $5,436	4 d
Philadelphia, PA	689 mi	$2,596	$3.77	$2,180 – $3,011	2 d
San Antonio, TX	1,180 mi	$4,119	$3.49	$3,460 – $4,779	3 d
San Diego, CA	2,102 mi	$9,495	$4.52	$7,975 – $11,014	5 d

About this lane

How much does it cost to ship a truckload from Des Moines, IA to Indianapolis, IN?

A Step deck from Des Moines, IA to Indianapolis, IN is estimated at $2,562 all-in in October 2026, or $5.29 a mile over about 484 mi. Quotes typically land between $2,152 and $2,972.

How far is Des Moines, IA from Indianapolis, IN by truck?

About 484 mi by road, estimated from the straight-line distance. A solo driver covers it in roughly 2 days of transit.

How much of the price is fuel?

About $488 of the $2,562 estimate is fuel at the current national diesel price; the remaining $2,074 is linehaul.

Is it cheaper to ship from Indianapolis, IN to Des Moines, IA?

The reverse direction is estimated at $2,641, which makes Des Moines, IA to Indianapolis, IN 3% cheaper. Direction matters because trucks are scarcer leaving some markets than others.

Figures are estimates for a standard full load. Get a firm quote for this lane →