Origin
Des Moines, IA
Late night in Des Moines on Wednesday
Local time
3:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Des Moines, IA to Britt, IA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
2h 32m
Distance
121 mi
195 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 22m
★
6 AM
2h 32m
8 AM
2h 52m
10 AM
2h 39m
12 PM
2h 37m
3 PM
2h 40m
5 PM
2h 51m
8 PM
2h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Britt, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Trip Overview
This 121-mile drive from Des Moines to Britt, Iowa, is a straightforward 2-hour and 32-minute journey that’s perfect for a single-day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $19, it’s an economical option for exploring the Midwest. The route primarily utilizes I-35 and US 69, offering a highway-focused experience. Given its manageable length and duration, you won't need an overnight stay, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. This trip offers a simple, efficient way to travel between two points within Iowa.
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
60.5 miles from Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive on this route, with 81% of the journey taking place on major roads like I-35 and US 69. You'll encounter one significant stretch of 54.3 miles on I-35, providing a consistent pace. While largely interstate, the latter part of the drive may involve navigating US 69 and local roads as you approach Britt. This mix means you'll experience both efficient highway travel and a more localized feel as you near your destination.
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 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 54.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 69. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East University Avenue.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 32m drive. You will face about 11 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 11 key pointsThese 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
60.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
5
111.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 18m in
|
US 18; US 69
At end of road, turn left onto US 18; US 69
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 54.3 mi | 59m |
| US 69 | 25.9 mi | 35m |
| Little Wall Lake Road | 19.5 mi | 26m |
| US 18 | 9.5 mi | 13m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| US 20 | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| 220th Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East University Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 54.3 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Moines, IA and Britt, 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
·
59 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
8
Merge onto US 20
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
US 20
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward US 69
10
Turn right onto US 69
19 mi
·
26 min
·
Little Wall Lake Road
11
Turn right onto US 69; IA 3
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
220th Street
12
Turn straight onto US 69; IA 3
12 mi
·
17 min
·
US 69; IA 3
13
Continue on US 69
14 mi
·
18 min
·
US 69
14
At end of road, turn left onto US 18; US 69
9.5 mi
·
13 min
·
US 18; US 69
15
Turn left onto Main Avenue North
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Main Avenue North
16
Arrive at destination
Main Avenue North
Trip Plan
For this short, 2-hour trip, you have the advantage of flexibility. Aim to depart Des Moines in the morning to maximize your day in Britt, or consider a mid-morning start to avoid early traffic. With only one main recommended stop, you can easily make this a direct drive. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest 54.3-mile stretch on I-35, as services can be spaced out. The relatively low fuel cost of $19 makes this an easy trip to manage financially.
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 60.5 miles from Des Moines, IA, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.3 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 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.5 miles or 1h 8m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Britt, 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 121 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 35 for about 54.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 60.5 mi from Des Moines, IA · 1h 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
61 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
Arriving in Britt, IA
The final approach into Britt, 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 Britt, 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
$18.92 one way
$37.83 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
42 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.77 | $41.54 |
| premium | $4.89 | $23.29 | $46.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.72 | $53.43 |
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: 42.3 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 | 36.3 | 0 | $12.70 | $5.81 |
| Efficient EV | 30.3 | 0 | $10.59 | $4.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48.4 | 0 | $16.94 | $7.74 |
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
Britt, IA
Late night in Britt on Wednesday
Local time
3:09 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
27 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
2h 32m 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 Britt, IA covers 121 miles and takes about 2h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, US 69, Little Wall Lake Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 60.5 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 $18.92 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 straightforward 2h 32m drive. You will face about 11 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.
The route from Des Moines, IA to Britt, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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