The drive from Des Moines, IA to Lake View, IA covers 115.6 miles and takes about 2h 41m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 220th Street, Northwest Granger Drive, County Road N33 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20.5 miles on 220th Street.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.07 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
57.8 miles from Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 41m. Total distance: 115.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Expect a 2h 41m drive with frequent turns across 115.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 36 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
220th Street is the longest continuous segment at about 20.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 4 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 41m drive. You will face about 18 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.4 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
4 mi into trip|~7m in
Turn left toward I 35 South, I 80 West
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South, I 80 West
5
4.4 mi into trip|~8m in|I 80; I 35
Merge onto I 80; I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
11.6 mi into trip|~17m in
Take the exit toward IA 141 West: Urbandale, Grimes
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 127
Toward IA 141 West: Urbandale, Grimes
5
33.9 mi into trip|~45m in
Take the exit toward US 169: Ogden, Adel
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 169: Ogden, Adel
4
36.6 mi into trip|~49m in|335th Street
Turn left onto 335th Street
Navigation decision point
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 Lake View, IA, road signs point toward Grimes and Adel.
Grimes
11.6 mi in|~17m
Adel
33.9 mi in|~45m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
220th Street
20.5 mi
28m
Northwest Granger Drive
15.6 mi
18m
County Road N33
10.3 mi
13m
I 80
7.3 mi
8m
Union Avenue
7 mi
9m
144 Diagonal
6.9 mi
9m
US 71
6.1 mi
8m
330th Street
5 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 20.5 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Moines, IA and Lake View, IA.
1
Start on East University Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·East University Avenue
2
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue
2.5 mi·4 min·2nd Avenue
3
Continue on IA 415
0.9 mi·1 min·Northwest 2nd Street
4
Turn left
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 35 South, I 80 West
5
Merge onto I 80; I 35
7.3 mi·8 min·I 80; I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 127Toward IA 141 West: Urbandale, GrimesUse the slight right lane.
7
Turn right onto IA 141
195 ft·3 sec·Northwest Urbandale Drive
8
Continue on IA 141
2.6 mi·3 min·Southeast Grimes Boulevard
9
Continue on IA 141
1.0 mi·1 min·Northeast Grimes Boulevard
10
Continue on IA 141
2.6 mi·3 min·Northwest 114th Street
11
Continue on IA 141
16 mi·18 min·Northwest Granger Drive
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward US 169: Ogden, Adel
13
Turn right onto US 169
1.8 mi·2 min·N Avenue
14
Continue on US 169
0.5 mi·46 sec·H Avenue
15
Turn left onto 335th Street
3.1 mi·4 min·335th Street
16
At end of road, turn left onto East Avenue
470 ft·12 sec·East Avenue
17
Continue on 335th Street
1.0 mi·2 min·335th Street
18
Turn right onto IA 144
0.9 mi·1 min·D Avenue
19
Turn straight onto IA 144
2.5 mi·3 min·325th Street
20
Turn straight onto IA 144
1.1 mi·1 min·Apple Road
21
Continue on IA 144
6.9 mi·9 min·144 Diagonal
22
Continue on IA 144
3.3 mi·4 min·U Avenue
23
Continue on IA 144
0.3 mi·58 sec·West Main Street
24
Turn left onto IA 144
496 ft·16 sec·South 9th Street
25
Continue on IA 144
0.2 mi·32 sec·9th N Street
26
Turn left onto US 30
21 mi·28 min·220th Street
27
Continue on US 30
10 mi·13 min·County Road N33
28
Continue on US 30
1.0 mi·1 min·US 30
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Turn right onto Noble Avenue
2.0 mi·2 min·Noble Avenue
30
Turn left onto 180th Street
1.9 mi·3 min·180th Street
31
Turn right onto US 71
6.1 mi·8 min·US 71
32
Turn left onto 120th Street
4.0 mi·5 min·120th Street
33
Turn right onto Hawthorne Avenue
1.9 mi·2 min·Hawthorne Avenue
34
Continue on Union Avenue
7.0 mi·9 min·Union Avenue
35
Turn left onto IA 175
5.0 mi·6 min·330th Street
36
Arrive at destination
IA 175
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 57.8 miles from Des Moines, IA, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.5 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 25 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.8 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 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake View, 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 115.6 miles and 2h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 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 220th Street for about 20.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 57.8 mi from Des Moines, IA
· 1h 20m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.07 one way
$36.15 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.84
$39.69
premium
$4.89
$22.25
$44.49
diesel
$5.61
$25.52
$51.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.7
0
$12.14
$5.55
Efficient EV
28.9
0
$10.11
$4.62
EV Truck/SUV
46.2
0
$16.18
$7.40
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (65% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Des Moines, IA
Late night
in Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
12:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 21 mph19% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 17 at 4:52PM CDT until April 17 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued April 17 at 4:50PM CDT until April 17 at 5:00PM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
Destination
Lake View, IA
Late night
in Lake View on Saturday
Local time
12:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°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
7 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 41m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 Lake View, IA covers 115.6 miles and takes about 2h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 220th Street, Northwest Granger Drive, County Road N33. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 57.8 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 $18.07 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 41m drive. You will face about 18 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.4 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Des Moines, IA and Lake View, IA, road signs point toward Grimes and Adel.
