Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 25m
Distance
221.5 mi
357 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alton, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Alton, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 221.5 miles and takes about 4h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 220th Street, I 35, Highway 20 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 93.4 miles on 220th Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.63 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
110.8 miles from Alton, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 19m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 25m. Total distance: 221.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (46%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
The drive from Alton, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 221.5 miles and takes about 4h 25m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in near IA 10 / State Highway 10.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 221.5 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles (IA 10 / State Highway 10): Navigation decision point; at 39.8 miles (US 20 / Highway 20): Lane positioning matters here; at 161.2 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
At end of road, turn right onto IA 10 / State Highway 10
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto US 20 / Highway 20
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Village
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 220th Street | 93.4 mi | 1h 47m |
| I 35 | 54.5 mi | 59m |
| Highway 20 | 19 mi | 22m |
| State Highway 140 | 15.1 mi | 20m |
| United States Highway 20 | 8.3 mi | 10m |
| County Road L14 | 7 mi | 9m |
| Lee Avenue | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| Kiwi Avenue | 5 mi | 6m |
Step-by-step road directions between Alton, IA and Des Moines, IA.
Start on this road
Turn left onto West 10th Street
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue
Turn left onto Division Street
At end of road, turn right onto IA 10
Continue on IA 10
Turn right onto L14
Continue on L14
Continue on IA 140
Turn left onto C66
Turn right onto Shamrock Avenue
Continue on L21
Turn left onto US 20
Continue on US 20
Continue on US 20
Take the exit
Merge onto I 35
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
Turn left onto East University Avenue
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 49 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.8 miles or 2h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Des Moines, IA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Alton, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alton, IA
This is one driving day of about 221.5 miles and 4h 25m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 110.8 mi from Alton, IA · 2h 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
111 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 110.8 miles from Alton, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before 220th Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 93.4 miles.
The final approach into Des Moines, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Des Moines, IA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$34.63 one way
$69.26 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $38.02 | $76.04 |
| premium | $4.89 | $42.63 | $85.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $48.90 | $97.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 66.5 | 0 | $23.26 | $10.63 |
| Efficient EV | 55.4 | 0 | $19.38 | $8.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 88.6 | 1 | $31.01 | $14.18 |
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Alton on Friday
Local time
8:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Morning in Des Moines on Friday
Local time
8:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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