Origin
Carter Lake, IA
Afternoon in Carter Lake on Monday
Local time
2:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carter Lake, IA to Des Moines, IA
Drive Time
2h 37m
Distance
137.8 mi
222 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 27m
★
6 AM
2h 37m
8 AM
2h 58m
10 AM
2h 45m
12 PM
2h 42m
3 PM
2h 46m
5 PM
2h 57m
8 PM
2h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carter Lake, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Carter Lake, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 137.8 miles and takes about 2h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, John MacVicar Freeway, US 6 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 118.2 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.93 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
68.9 miles from Carter Lake, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 20m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 2h 37m highway drive covering 137.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and John MacVicar Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 118.2 miles on I 80.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 118.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and John MacVicar Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in near North 14th Street.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 137.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (North 14th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.8 miles (I 80 Local; US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
2.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
North 14th Street
At end of road, turn left onto North 14th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
4.2 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
US 6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 6
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
8.8 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
I 80 Local; US 6
Take the exit onto I 80 Local; US 6 toward I 80 East: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 East: Des Moines
8
128 mi into trip
|
~2h 23m in
|
I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway toward I 235 East: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123A
Toward I 235 East: Des Moines
8
137 mi into trip
|
~2h 35m in
Take the exit toward East Village, East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue
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 Village, East 6th Street, Pennsylva...
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 118.2 mi | 2h 6m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 8.9 mi | 11m |
| US 6 | 4.8 mi | 6m |
| North 11th Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| I 80 Local | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Gerald R Ford Expressway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East Locust Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North 14th Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 118.2 mi, about 2h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carter Lake, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on North 9th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North 9th Street
2
Turn right onto East Locust Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Locust Street
3
Turn left onto North 11th Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North 11th Street
4
Continue on Izard Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Izard Street
5
At end of road, turn left onto North 14th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North 14th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 480 East
7
Merge onto I 480
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Gerald R Ford Expressway
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
US 6
Toward I 29 South: Kansas City
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 6
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
US 6
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto I 80 Local; US 6
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80 Local; US 6
Toward I 80 East: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 80; US 6
118 mi
·
2 hr 6 min
·
I 80; US 6
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 235
8.9 mi
·
11 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
Exit 123A
Toward I 235 East: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 8B
Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
15
Turn left onto East University Avenue
100 ft
·
8 sec
·
East University Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
East University Avenue
Trip Plan
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 68.9 miles from Carter Lake, IA, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118.2 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 80 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.9 miles or 1h 20m 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 7m
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 Carter Lake, 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 Carter Lake, IA
This is one driving day of about 137.8 miles and 2h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Carter Lake, 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 80 for about 118.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 68.9 mi from Carter Lake, IA · 1h 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
69 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 68.9 miles from Carter Lake, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 118.2 miles.
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.93 one way
$41.86 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
48 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $23.07 | $46.15 |
| premium | $4.80 | $26.01 | $52.03 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $30.61 | $61.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.3 | 0 | $14.47 | $6.61 |
| Efficient EV | 34.5 | 0 | $12.06 | $5.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55.1 | 0 | $19.29 | $8.82 |
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Afternoon in Des Moines on Monday
Local time
2:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
47°F
Denison, IA
69 mi in
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
2h 37m 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 Carter Lake, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 137.8 miles and takes about 2h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, John MacVicar Freeway, US 6. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 68.9 miles from Carter Lake, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.93 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 is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 137.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (North 14th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.8 miles (I 80 Local; US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Carter Lake, IA to Des Moines, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route 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 Carter Lake, IA or browse trips ending in Des Moines, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.
Explore maps for Carter Lake, IA or Des Moines, IA on MapSof.net.