The drive from Des Moines, IA to Ackley, IA covers 96.2 miles and takes about 1h 56m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35, US 20, County Highway S56 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 54 miles on I 35.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.04 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.
Midpoint
48.1 miles from Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 56m. Total distance: 96.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 1h 56m highway drive covering 96.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and US 20. The longest continuous stretch is about 54 miles on I 35.
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 54 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 20. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East University Avenue.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 56m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East University Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 miles (I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East University Avenue
Turn uturn onto East University Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward US 69, East 14th Street, East 15th STreet
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 69, East 14th Street, East 15th STree...
5
1.8 mi into trip|~4m in|I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway
Merge onto I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
60.6 mi into trip|~1h 8m in
Take the exit toward US 20 East: Waterloo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
5
88.3 mi into trip|~1h 41m in
Take the exit toward CR S56: Ackley, Eldora
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CR S56: Ackley, Eldora
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Des Moines, IA and Ackley, IA, road signs point toward Cr S56: Ackley and Eldora.
Cr S56: Ackley
88.3 mi in|~1h 41m
Eldora
88.3 mi in|~1h 41m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
54 mi
58m
US 20
27.2 mi
31m
County Highway S56
6.3 mi
11m
John MacVicar Freeway
4.8 mi
5m
Butler Street
0.8 mi
1m
East University Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
East 14th Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Park Avenue
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 54 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Moines, IA and Ackley, IA.
1
Start on East University Avenue
481 ft·39 sec·East University Avenue
2
Turn uturn onto East University Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·East University Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 69
0.4 mi·57 sec·East 14th Street
4
Take the ramp
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward US 69, East 14th Street, East 15th STreet
5
Merge onto I 235
4.8 mi·5 min·John MacVicar Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 35
54 mi·58 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
8
Merge onto US 20
27 mi·31 min·US 20
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·59 sec
Toward CR S56: Ackley, Eldora
10
Turn left onto County Highway S56
6.3 mi·11 min·County Highway S56
11
Continue on Butler Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Butler Street
12
Turn left onto Park Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·Park Avenue
13
Turn slight right onto Main Street
115 ft·5 sec·Main Street
14
Arrive at destination
Main Street
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.1 miles from Des Moines, IA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54 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 21 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.1 miles or 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ackley, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Des Moines, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Des Moines, IA
This is one driving day of about 96.2 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Des Moines, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 54 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 48.1 mi from Des Moines, IA
· 55m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.9
0
$10.10
$4.62
Efficient EV
24.1
0
$8.42
$3.85
EV Truck/SUV
38.5
0
$13.47
$6.16
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Des Moines, IA
Late night
in Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
4:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ackley, IA
Late night
in Ackley on Saturday
Local time
4:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 56m 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 Des Moines, IA to Ackley, IA covers 96.2 miles and takes about 1h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, US 20, County Highway S56. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 48.1 miles from Des Moines, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.04 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.
This is a straightforward 1h 56m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East University Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 miles (I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Des Moines, IA and Ackley, IA, road signs point toward Cr S56: Ackley and Eldora.
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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
