The drive from Des Moines, IA to Akron, IA covers 227.1 miles and takes about 4h 18m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, I 29, I 880 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 94.8 miles on I 80.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.50 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
113.5 miles from Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 4m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 18m. Total distance: 227.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 18m highway drive covering 227.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and I 29. The longest continuous stretch is about 94.8 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 21 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 94.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 29. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East University Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
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 227.1 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.1 miles (East University Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.2 miles (Pennsylvania Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 104.6 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East University Avenue
Turn uturn onto East University Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Pennsylvania Avenue
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
Navigation decision point
9
104.6 mi into trip|~1h 55m in|I 880
Keep slight right at fork onto I 880 toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 27
Toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux City
6
121.3 mi into trip|~2h 13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 29 North: Sioux City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 0B
Toward I 29 North: Sioux City
6
200.8 mi into trip|~3h 39m in
Take the exit toward IA 12 North: Riverside Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward IA 12 North: Riverside Boulevard
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Des Moines, IA to Akron, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Sioux City along the way.
Sioux City
104.6 mi in|~1h 55m|via I 880
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
94.8 mi
1h 41m
I 29
79.1 mi
1h 25m
I 880
16.7 mi
17m
State Highway 12
16.2 mi
22m
John MacVicar Freeway
9 mi
11m
State Highway 3
4.7 mi
6m
Sioux River Road
2.8 mi
3m
Riverside Boulevard
2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 94.8 mi, about 1h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Moines, IA and Akron, IA.
1
Start on East University Avenue
481 ft·39 sec·East University Avenue
2
Turn uturn onto East University Avenue
0.1 mi·18 sec·East University Avenue
3
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.2 mi·17 sec·Pennsylvania Avenue
4
Continue on East 6th Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·East 6th Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I-235 west
6
Merge onto I 235
9.0 mi·11 min·John MacVicar Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 80
95 mi·1 hr 41 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 880
17 mi·17 min·I 880
Exit 27Toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux CityUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 0BToward I 29 North: Sioux City
10
Merge onto I 29
79 mi·1 hr 25 min·I 29
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward IA 12 North: Riverside BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn right onto IA 12
2.0 mi·4 min·Riverside Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on IA 12
2.8 mi·3 min·Sioux River Road
14
Continue on IA 12
15 mi·21 min·State Highway 12
15
Continue on IA 12
0.2 mi·17 sec·Portland Street
16
Continue on IA 12
0.3 mi·23 sec·State Highway 12
17
Continue on IA 3; IA 12
4.7 mi·6 min·State Highway 3
18
Continue on IA 12
0.4 mi·59 sec·State Highway 12
19
Turn right onto Reed Street
277 ft·17 sec·Reed Street
20
Turn left onto North 2nd Street
54 ft·2 sec·North 2nd Street
21
Arrive at destination
North 2nd Street
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 113.5 miles from Des Moines, IA, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.8 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 50 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.5 miles or 2h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Akron, 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.
+
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 Des Moines, IA
This is one driving day of about 227.1 miles and 4h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Des Moines, 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 94.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 113.5 mi from Des Moines, IA
· 2h 4m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.1
0
$23.85
$10.90
Efficient EV
56.8
0
$19.87
$9.08
EV Truck/SUV
90.8
1
$31.79
$14.53
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Friday
Local time
12:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Akron, IA
Late night
in Akron on Friday
Local time
12:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°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
3 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
4h 18m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Akron, IA covers 227.1 miles and takes about 4h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, I 29, I 880. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 113.5 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 $35.50 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 227.1 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.1 miles (East University Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.2 miles (Pennsylvania Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 104.6 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Des Moines, IA to Akron, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Sioux City along the way.
