Origin
Britt, IA
Late night in Britt on Saturday
Local time
2:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Britt, IA to Des Moines, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 30m
Distance
120.3 mi
194 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 20m
★
6 AM
2h 31m
8 AM
2h 51m
10 AM
2h 38m
12 PM
2h 36m
3 PM
2h 39m
5 PM
2h 50m
8 PM
2h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Britt, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Britt to Des Moines is 120.3 miles and takes about 2h 30m via I 35 and US 69, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. Expect a straightforward drive that’s mostly highway, making it a convenient option for a quick journey. It’s a good choice if you're looking for an easy, no-fuss drive between these two points, ideal for a single-day excursion.
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
60.2 miles from Britt, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 23m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 30m. Total distance: 120.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This drive is primarily highway-focused, with 73% of the route on faster roads like I 35. You'll experience the longest uninterrupted stretch of 59 miles on I 35, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the journey. While the main roads are interstates and US highways, there are also segments on local roads like Sage Avenue, which may offer a slight change in scenery and speed. Overall, it’s a practical drive designed for efficient travel between your starting and ending points.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 59 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Sage Avenue. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 18 / US Highway 18.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 120.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.3 miles (US 18 / US Highway 18): Navigation decision point; at 55.4 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 114.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 18 / US Highway 18
Turn right onto US 18 / US Highway 18
Navigation decision point
5
55.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
114.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
8
119.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 28m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8B
Toward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, Ea...
8
119.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 29m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Aven...
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 59 mi | 1h 4m |
| Sage Avenue | 26.7 mi | 36m |
| US 69 | 15 mi | 20m |
| US Highway 18 | 9.5 mi | 13m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 4 mi | 5m |
| 190th Street | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Main Avenue North | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Pennsylvania Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 59 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Britt, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on Main Avenue North
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Main Avenue North
2
Turn right onto US 18
9.5 mi
·
13 min
·
US Highway 18
3
Turn right onto US 69
27 mi
·
36 min
·
Sage Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 69
15 mi
·
20 min
·
US 69
5
Turn left onto CR D20
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
190th Street
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Toward Somerset Road
7
Merge onto I 35
59 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
9
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 8B
Toward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Village
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
13
Turn left onto East University Avenue
100 ft
·
8 sec
·
East University Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
East University Avenue
Trip Plan
With a drive of just 2.5 hours, this route offers considerable flexibility for when you depart. Leaving Britt in the morning or early afternoon should give you ample time to reach Des Moines without feeling rushed. Since the longest stretch on I 35 is 59 miles, plan for a potential stop around the halfway mark if you prefer to break up the driving, though it's not strictly necessary for such a short trip. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Des Moines, as services can sometimes be more spread out between the smaller towns on US 69.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 60.2 miles from Britt, IA, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59 miles.
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 26 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.2 miles or 1h 23m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Des Moines, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Britt, 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 Britt, IA
This is one driving day of about 120.3 miles and 2h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Britt, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 59 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 60.2 mi from Britt, IA · 1h 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
60 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 60.2 miles from Britt, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Des Moines, IA
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.81 one way
$37.62 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
42 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.65 | $41.30 |
| premium | $4.89 | $23.15 | $46.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.56 | $53.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.1 | 0 | $12.63 | $5.77 |
| Efficient EV | 30.1 | 0 | $10.53 | $4.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48.1 | 0 | $16.84 | $7.70 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (67% 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
Des Moines, IA
Late night in Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
2:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
19 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
2h 30m 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 Britt, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 120.3 miles and takes about 2h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, Sage Avenue, US 69. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 60.2 miles from Britt, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.81 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 120.3 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 18 / US Highway 18): Navigation decision point; at 55.4 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 114.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Britt, IA to Des Moines, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Des Moines, IA
More trips to Des Moines, IA
Explore more options from Britt, IA or browse trips ending in Des Moines, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.