Origin
Des Moines, IA
Afternoon in Des Moines on Monday
Local time
2:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Des Moines, IA to New Hampton, IA
Drive Time
3h 14m
Distance
164.8 mi
265 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 3m
★
6 AM
3h 15m
8 AM
3h 38m
10 AM
3h 23m
12 PM
3h 21m
3 PM
3h 24m
5 PM
3h 37m
8 PM
3h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
New Hampton, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Des Moines, IA to New Hampton, IA covers 164.8 miles and takes about 3h 14m 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 18, 200th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 101.7 miles on I 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.03 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
82.4 miles from Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 31m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 3h 14m highway drive covering 164.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and US 18. The longest continuous stretch is about 101.7 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 23 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 101.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 18. 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 3h 14m drive. You will face about 14 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 14 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.
5
108.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Cha...
5
142.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 39m in
|
US 218 Business
Take the exit onto US 218 Business toward US 218 Business, CR B35: Charles City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 218 Business, CR B35: Charles City
Towns Along This Route
Between Des Moines, IA and New Hampton, IA, road signs point toward Charles City and Cr B35: Charles City.
Charles City
108.4 mi in
|
~1h 59m
Cr B35: Charles City
142.4 mi in
|
~2h 39m
|
via US 218 Business
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 101.7 mi | 1h 49m |
| US 18 | 32.9 mi | 38m |
| 200th Street | 11 mi | 15m |
| 200th Avenue | 5 mi | 6m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| Gilbert Street | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| West Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Kenwood Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 101.7 mi, about 1h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Moines, IA and New Hampton, 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
102 mi
·
1 hr 49 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
8
Merge onto US 18; IA 27
33 mi
·
38 min
·
US 18; IA 27
9
Take the exit onto US 218 Business
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
US 218 Business
Toward US 218 Business, CR B35: Charles City
10
Turn left onto US 218 Business
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
185th Street
11
Turn straight onto US 218 Business
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Gilbert Street
12
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Main Street
13
Turn right onto Clark Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Clark Street
14
Turn left onto US 18
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Brantingham Street
15
Continue on US 18
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
4th Avenue
16
Continue on US 18
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
5th Avenue
17
Continue on US 18
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
200th Avenue
18
Continue on US 18
11 mi
·
15 min
·
200th Street
19
Turn right onto Kenwood Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Kenwood Avenue
20
At end of road, turn left onto 210th Street
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
210th Street
21
Continue on West Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
22
Turn right onto US 63 Business
52 ft
·
1 sec
·
South Linn Avenue
23
Arrive at destination
US 63 Business
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 82.4 miles from Des Moines, IA, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101.7 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 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.4 miles or 1h 31m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Hampton, 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 164.8 miles and 3h 14m.
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 101.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 82.4 mi from Des Moines, IA · 1h 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
82 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 82.4 miles from Des Moines, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 101.7 miles.
Arriving in New Hampton, IA
The final approach into New Hampton, 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 New Hampton, 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
$25.03 one way
$50.06 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
58 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $27.59 | $55.19 |
| premium | $4.80 | $31.11 | $62.22 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $36.61 | $73.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 49.4 | 0 | $17.30 | $7.91 |
| Efficient EV | 41.2 | 0 | $14.42 | $6.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 65.9 | 0 | $23.07 | $10.55 |
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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
New Hampton, IA
Afternoon in New Hampton on Monday
Local time
2:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°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
2 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
3h 14m 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 New Hampton, IA covers 164.8 miles and takes about 3h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, US 18, 200th Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 82.4 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 $25.03 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 14m drive. You will face about 14 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 New Hampton, IA, road signs point toward Charles City and Cr B35: Charles City.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From New Hampton, IA
More trips to New Hampton, IA
Explore more options from Des Moines, IA or browse trips ending in New Hampton, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.
Explore maps for Des Moines, IA or New Hampton, IA on MapSof.net.