Lane · REEF · Oct 2026

Houston, TX to Iowa City, IA reefer rate

$3,198reefer

−0.3% from last month

Per mile: $3.19
Distance: 1,001 mi
Typical range: $2,782–$3,614
Transit: 2 days

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Reefer · estimated all-in cost per load · monthly

Houston to Iowa City price history

3 months: +1.6%
1 year: +35.8%
5 years: +3.6%

Cost breakdown

Linehaul: $2,172
Fuel: $1,026
All-in estimate: $3,198

Return trip

Iowa City → Houston$3,863

This direction runs 17% below the return trip. Leaving TX prices below the national average and arriving in IA prices below it.

Houston to Iowa City by truck type

Estimated cost from Houston, TX to Iowa City, IA by truck type
Truck type	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range
53' dry van	$2,683	$2.68	$2,388 – $2,978
53' refrigerated	$3,198	$3.19	$2,782 – $3,614
48' flatbed	$3,258	$3.26	$2,802 – $3,715
Step deck	$3,554	$3.55	$2,985 – $4,123
Power only	$2,360	$2.36	$2,053 – $2,667
Hotshot	$1,781	$1.78	$1,478 – $2,083
26' box truck	$1,749	$1.75	$1,486 – $2,011
Sprinter van	$1,073	$1.07	$901 – $1,245

Live market check

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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 Houston

53' refrigerated lanes from Houston, TX
To	Miles	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range	Transit
New York, NY	1,675 mi	$6,549	$3.91	$5,698 – $7,401	4 d
Los Angeles, CA	1,627 mi	$4,760	$2.93	$4,142 – $5,379	4 d
Chicago, IL	1,106 mi	$3,391	$3.07	$2,950 – $3,832	3 d
Phoenix, AZ	1,198 mi	$4,056	$3.39	$3,529 – $4,583	3 d
Philadelphia, PA	1,585 mi	$5,941	$3.75	$5,168 – $6,713	3 d
San Antonio, TX	224 mi	$1,258	$5.62	$1,095 – $1,422	1 d
San Diego, CA	1,532 mi	$4,520	$2.95	$3,933 – $5,108	3 d
Dallas, TX	263 mi	$1,360	$5.17	$1,183 – $1,537	1 d

More lanes into Iowa City

53' refrigerated lanes into Iowa City, IA
From	Miles	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range	Transit
New York, NY	1,081 mi	$3,612	$3.34	$3,143 – $4,082	3 d
Los Angeles, CA	1,830 mi	$7,532	$4.12	$6,552 – $8,511	4 d
Chicago, IL	234 mi	$1,600	$6.84	$1,392 – $1,808	1 d
Phoenix, AZ	1,477 mi	$3,596	$2.43	$3,129 – $4,064	3 d
Philadelphia, PA	1,019 mi	$3,059	$3.00	$2,661 – $3,457	2 d
San Antonio, TX	1,096 mi	$3,439	$3.14	$2,992 – $3,886	3 d
San Diego, CA	1,803 mi	$7,434	$4.12	$6,468 – $8,401	4 d
Dallas, TX	798 mi	$2,682	$3.36	$2,333 – $3,031	2 d

About this lane

How much does it cost to ship a truckload from Houston, TX to Iowa City, IA?

A 53' refrigerated from Houston, TX to Iowa City, IA is estimated at $3,198 all-in in October 2026, or $3.19 a mile over about 1,001 mi. Quotes typically land between $2,782 and $3,614.

How far is Houston, TX from Iowa City, IA by truck?

About 1,001 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 $1,026 of the $3,198 estimate is fuel at the current national diesel price; the remaining $2,172 is linehaul.

Is it cheaper to ship from Iowa City, IA to Houston, TX?

The reverse direction is estimated at $3,863, which makes Houston, TX to Iowa City, IA 17% 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 →