Origin
Bellevue, IA
Afternoon in Bellevue on Monday
Local time
1:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bellevue, IA to West Des Moines, IA
Drive Time
3h 33m
Distance
211.9 mi
341 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 21m
★
6 AM
3h 33m
8 AM
3h 58m
10 AM
3h 42m
12 PM
3h 40m
3 PM
3h 43m
5 PM
3h 57m
8 PM
3h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bellevue, IA
Kelly
West Des Moines, IA
Daniel Dorfer
Trip Overview
The drive from Bellevue, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 211.9 miles and takes about 3h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Great River Road, Main Street, Bellevue Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.19 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
106 miles from Bellevue, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 33m drive with frequent turns across 211.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Great River Road 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 33m 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 Bellevue, IA to West Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Great River Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Bellevue Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 30 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 16th Avenue Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 73rd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lincoln Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| IA 330 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Great River Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bellevue, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on South Riverview Street
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
South Riverview Street
2
Continue on Great River Road
7.6 mi
·
10 min
·
Great River Road
3
Continue on Main Street
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Main Street
4
Continue on Great River Road
9.1 mi
·
12 min
·
Great River Road
5
Continue on Bellevue Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Bellevue Road
6
Turn left
2.9 mi
·
4 min
7
Take the exit slight right
57 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
8
Turn left
1.1 mi
·
1 min
9
Turn right
15 mi
·
19 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
11
Merge slight left onto 16th Avenue Southwest
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
16th Avenue Southwest
12
Continue on 73rd Street
24 mi
·
28 min
·
73rd Street
13
Continue on Lincoln Highway
37 mi
·
43 min
·
Lincoln Highway
14
Take the exit slight right toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
15
Turn left onto Marshalltown Boulevard
34 mi
·
39 min
·
Marshalltown Boulevard
16
Continue on Northeast Hubbell Avenue
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
Northeast Hubbell Avenue
17
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
18
Take the exit slight left toward I 235 West: Des Moines
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 235 West: Des Moines
19
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi
·
12 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
20
Take the exit slight right toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
21
Turn left onto 63rd Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
63rd Street
22
Turn right onto Vine Street
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Vine Street
23
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 106 miles from Bellevue, IA, or about 1h 46m 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 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106 miles or 1h 46m 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 55m
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 Bellevue, 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 Bellevue, IA
This is one driving day of about 211.9 miles and 3h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Bellevue, 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 106 mi from Bellevue, IA · 1h 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
106 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 106 miles from Bellevue, 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
$32.19 one way
$64.37 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
74 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $35.48 | $70.96 |
| premium | $4.80 | $40.00 | $80.00 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $47.08 | $94.15 |
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: 74.1 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 | 63.6 | 0 | $22.25 | $10.17 |
| Efficient EV | 53 | 0 | $18.54 | $8.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 84.8 | 1 | $29.67 | $13.56 |
Gas CO2
74 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
Afternoon in West Des Moines on Monday
Local time
1:57 PM
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
5 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 33m 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 Bellevue, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 211.9 miles and takes about 3h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Great River Road, Main Street, Bellevue Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 106 miles from Bellevue, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.19 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 33m 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 Bellevue, IA to West Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Bellevue, IA to West Des Moines, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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