Origin
Alton, IA
Morning in Alton on Monday
Local time
11:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alton, IA to West Des Moines, IA
Drive Time
3h 35m
Distance
209.8 mi
338 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 23m
★
6 AM
3h 36m
8 AM
4h 0m
10 AM
3h 44m
12 PM
3h 42m
3 PM
3h 45m
5 PM
3h 59m
8 PM
3h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alton, IA
Wikimedia Commons
West Des Moines, IA
Daniel Dorfer
Trip Overview
The drive from Alton, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 209.8 miles and takes about 3h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West 10th Street, 3rd Avenue, I 29 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.87 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
104.9 miles from Alton, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 35m drive with frequent turns across 209.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West 10th Street 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 35m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Alton, IA to West Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West 10th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 3rd Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 29 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 29 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 880 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 80 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| John MacVicar Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Windsor Heights | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
West 10th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alton, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on the route
112 ft
·
13 sec
·
the route
2
Turn left onto West 10th Street
157 ft
·
9 sec
·
West 10th Street
3
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
3rd Avenue
4
Take the ramp left
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
5
Merge slight left
13 mi
·
15 min
6
Continue straight
30 mi
·
36 min
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 29: Sioux City, Council Bluffs
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
I 29: Sioux City, Council Bluffs
8
Keep slight left to continue on I 29 South: Council Bluffs, Sioux Gateway Airport
73 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
I 29 South: Council Bluffs, Sioux Gateway Airport
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 880 East: Des Moines
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 880 East: Des Moines
10
Continue straight
16 mi
·
17 min
11
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Des Moines
0.7 mi
·
44 sec
·
I 80 East: Des Moines
12
Merge slight right
95 mi
·
1 hr 41 min
13
Keep slight left to continue on John MacVicar Freeway
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
14
Take the exit slight right toward Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
15
Turn right onto 8th Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
8th Street
16
Turn left onto Vine Street
469 ft
·
13 sec
·
Vine Street
17
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 104.9 miles from Alton, IA, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.9 miles or 1h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Des Moines, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 209.8 miles and 3h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Alton, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 104.9 mi from Alton, IA · 1h 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
105 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 104.9 miles from Alton, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in West Des Moines, IA
The final approach into West 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 West Des Moines, IA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.87 one way
$63.73 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
73 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $35.13 | $70.26 |
| premium | $4.80 | $39.61 | $79.21 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $46.61 | $93.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62.9 | 0 | $22.03 | $10.07 |
| Efficient EV | 52.5 | 0 | $18.36 | $8.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 83.9 | 1 | $29.37 | $13.43 |
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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
West Des Moines, IA
Morning in West Des Moines on Monday
Local time
11:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 35m 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 Alton, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 209.8 miles and takes about 3h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West 10th Street, 3rd Avenue, I 29. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 104.9 miles from Alton, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.87 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 35m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Alton, IA to West Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Alton, IA to West Des Moines, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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