Origin
Alta, IA
Late night in Alta on Thursday
Local time
4:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alta, IA to Storm Lake, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
9m
Distance
5 mi
8 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 8m
★
6 AM
0h 9m
8 AM
0h 11m
10 AM
0h 10m
12 PM
0h 9m
3 PM
0h 10m
5 PM
0h 11m
8 PM
0h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alta, IA
Tara Winstead
Storm Lake, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Alta, IA to Storm Lake, IA covers 5 miles and takes about 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Highway 7, West Milwaukee Avenue, Vestal Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $0.78 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 9m. Total distance: 5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 9m drive with frequent turns across 5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 7 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Highway 7 is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Alta, IA to Storm Lake, IA is easy. At 9m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Alta, IA to Storm Lake, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 7 | — | — |
| West Milwaukee Avenue | — | — |
| Vestal Street | — | — |
| West 5th Street | — | — |
| Grand Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Highway 7
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alta, IA and Storm Lake, IA.
1
Start on 60th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
60th Avenue
2
Turn left onto Highway 7
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Highway 7
3
Continue on West Milwaukee Avenue
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Milwaukee Avenue
4
Turn right onto Vestal Street
0.2 mi
·
55 sec
·
Vestal Street
5
At the end of the road, turn left onto West 5th Street
210 ft
·
9 sec
·
West 5th Street
6
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
0.2 mi
·
54 sec
·
Grand Avenue
7
Arrive at your destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$0.78 one way
$1.56 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
2 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $0.86 | $1.72 |
| premium | $4.89 | $0.96 | $1.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.10 | $2.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 1.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 50% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 1.5 | 0 | $0.52 | $0.24 |
| Efficient EV | 1.3 | 0 | $0.44 | $0.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 2 | 0 | $0.70 | $0.32 |
Gas CO2
2 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (50% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Storm Lake, IA
Late night in Storm Lake on Thursday
Local time
4:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
24 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
9m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Alta, IA to Storm Lake, IA covers 5 miles and takes about 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Highway 7, West Milwaukee Avenue, Vestal Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 2.5 miles from Alta, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $0.78 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Alta, IA to Storm Lake, IA is easy. At 9m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Alta, IA to Storm Lake, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Alta, IA to Storm Lake, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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