Intestinal mucus provides a significant barrier to transport of orally delivered drug carriers, as well as other particulates (e.g., food, microbes). The relative significance of particle size, surface chemistry, and dosing medium to mucus barrier properties is not well characterized but important in design of delivery systems targeted to the intestinal mucosa. In this study, multiple particle tracking (MPT) was used to study diffusion of 20- to 500-nm diameter carboxylate- and polyethylene glycol- (PEG-) functionalized polystyrene model carriers through intestinal mucus. The impact of exposure to mucus in buffer vs. a partially digested triglyceride mixture was explored. Effective diffusivity of particles in intestinal mucus decreased with increasing particle size less than and more than theoretically (Stokes-Einstein) expected in a homogenous medium when dosed in buffer and model fed state intestinal contents, respectively. For example, effective diffusivity decreased 2.9- vs. 20-fold with increase in particle size from 100 to 500 nm when dosed to mucus in buffer vs. lipid-containing medium. Functionalization with PEG dramatically decreased sensitivity to lipids in dosing medium. The results indicate that reduction of particle size may increase particle transport through intestinal mucus barriers, but these effects are strongly dependent on intestinal contents and particle surface chemistry.