Trip from Des Moines, IA to Tripoli, IA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

Distance

135.9 mi

219 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Fair

2 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min

4 AM

2h 50m ★

6 AM

3h 1m

8 AM

3h 24m

10 AM

3h 9m

12 PM

3h 7m

3 PM

3h 10m

5 PM

3h 23m

8 PM

2h 54m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Des Moines, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Tripoli, IA

Agung Pandit Wiguna

Trip Overview

The drive from Des Moines, IA to Tripoli, IA covers 135.9 miles and takes about 3h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Northeast Hubbell Road, Sanford Avenue, Larrabee Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 35.2 miles on Northeast Hubbell Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.25 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

68 miles from Des Moines, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Northeast Hubbell Road	35.2 mi	41m
Sanford Avenue	15.9 mi	21m
Larrabee Avenue	11.3 mi	13m
US 20	11.2 mi	12m
Logan Avenue	6.9 mi	8m
240th Street	6.3 mi	9m
Marsh Avenue	5.9 mi	8m
N Avenue	4.4 mi	6m

Longest stretch: Northeast Hubbell Road — 35.2 mi, about 41m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Des Moines, IA and Tripoli, IA.

Start on East University Avenue

481 ft · 39 sec · East University Avenue

Turn uturn onto East University Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · East University Avenue

Turn right onto US 69

0.4 mi · 57 sec · East 14th Street

Take the ramp

0.8 mi · 1 min

Toward US 69, East 14th Street, East 15th STreet

Merge onto I 235

3.3 mi · 4 min · John MacVicar Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Exit 137A-B Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 39 sec

Exit 137A Toward I 80 East: Davenport Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 80

3.4 mi · 3 min · I 80

Take the exit onto US 65

0.5 mi · 1 min · US 65

Exit 142 Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant Use the slight right lane.

Turn left onto US 65; IA 330

1.2 mi · 1 min · Northeast Hubbell Avenue

Continue on US 65; IA 330

35 mi · 41 min · Northeast Hubbell Road

Turn left onto IA 330

5.9 mi · 8 min · Marsh Avenue

Continue on IA 330

1.2 mi · 1 min · South Main Street

Continue on IA 330

4.3 mi · 5 min · 160th Street

Turn left onto IA 14

16 mi · 21 min · Sanford Avenue

Turn right onto IA 14; IA 175

6.3 mi · 9 min · 240th Street

Turn left onto M Avenue

1.5 mi · 2 min · M Avenue

Continue on County Road T37

1.0 mi · 1 min · County Road T37

Turn sharp right onto 210th Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · 210th Street

Turn left onto IA 14

4.4 mi · 6 min · N Avenue

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 58 sec

Toward US 20 East: Waterloo

Merge onto US 20

11 mi · 12 min · US 20

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min

Toward CR D18: Cedar Falls

Turn left onto Grundy Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · Grundy Road

Continue on University Avenue

3.5 mi · 4 min · University Avenue

Enter roundabout onto Greenhill Road

8 ft · 0 sec · Greenhill Road

Continue on Greenhill Road

1.2 mi · 2 min · Greenhill Road

Turn left onto IA 27; IA 58

2.7 mi · 3 min · Avenue of the Saints

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min

Exit 185 Toward US 218 South: Waterloo Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto US 218

0.7 mi · 48 sec · Leo P Rooff Expressway

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min

Toward Broadway Street: Airport

Turn left onto Airport Boulevard

0.3 mi · 35 sec · Airport Boulevard

Turn right onto West Airline Highway

3.0 mi · 5 min · West Airline Highway

Turn left onto US 63

6.9 mi · 8 min · Logan Avenue

Continue on US 63

11 mi · 13 min · Larrabee Avenue

Turn right onto IA 93

3.5 mi · 5 min · 170th Street

Continue on IA 93

0.5 mi · 50 sec · 7th Avenue Southwest

Turn left onto IA 93

0.4 mi · 35 sec · South Main Street

Arrive at destination

IA 93

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 68 miles from Des Moines, IA, or about 1h 28m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.2 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 30 miles or 39m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 68 miles or 1h 28m 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 29m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tripoli, 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 135.9 miles and 3h.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 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 Northeast Hubbell Road for about 35.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Eldora, IA

68 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

Colfax, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Marshalltown, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 68 miles from Des Moines, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Olympic Flame Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Des Moines, Iowa

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $20 to $30

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+15152434361

Visit website

HoQ Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Des Moines, Iowa

0.8 mi

Melbourne Pub & Pool

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Melbourne, Iowa

0.8 mi

Top Coffee Stop

The Slow Down Coffee Co.

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Des Moines, Iowa

Near the start, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 6:30 am–8 pm

+15156307000

Visit website

Olympic Flame Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $20 to $30

Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+15152434361

Visit website

HoQ Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $30 to $50

Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 5–9 pm

+15152441213

Visit website

Melbourne Pub & Pool

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 38.8

Melbourne, Iowa

Hours: 2 pm–2 am

+16414822034

Burger Shed Restaurant Altoona

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 9.7

Altoona, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+15156307433

Visit website

Cafe at the Meadows

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 9.7

Altoona, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+15159573539

Visit website

Tumea & Sons Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30

Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+15152827976

Visit website

Tsing Tsao Chinese Fast Food

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour Inexpensiv

Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–3 pm

+15152622775

Visit website

Café Madeleine

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $100 or ab

Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 5–8:30 pm

+15158150924

Visit website

The Slow Down Coffee Co.

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10

Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 6:30 am–8 pm

+15156307000

Visit website

Most Wanted Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 48.5

Marshalltown, Iowa

Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm

+16417583380

Grounded

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour $1 to $10 mile 48.5

Marshalltown, Iowa

Hours: 6:30 am–2 pm

+16416548451

Visit website

Red E Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 48.5

Marshalltown, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

Blink Charging Station

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 48.5

Marshalltown, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

University Library Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 10 am–12 pm

+15152550433

Visit website

The Spot

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 48.5

Marshalltown, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–11 pm

+16417526014

Visit website

Sub City

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20 mile 48.5

Marshalltown, Iowa

Hours: 10:30 am–7 pm

+16417521375

The Rhodes Bar

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~12 min detour

5 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20 mile 38.8

Rhodes, Iowa

Hours: 2 pm–2 am

+16414932012

Visit website

Taylor's

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour $1 to $10 mile 48.5

Marshalltown, Iowa

Hours: 10 am–8 pm

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 27

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 108.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | East University Avenue

Turn uturn onto East University Avenue

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

5.1 mi into trip | ~8m in

Take the exit toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 137A-B Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council B...

5.4 mi into trip | ~8m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 East: Davenport

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 137A Toward I 80 East: Davenport

9.1 mi into trip | ~13m in | US 65

Take the exit onto US 65 toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant

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 142 Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Ma...

108.1 mi into trip | ~2h 23m in

Take the exit toward US 218 South: Waterloo

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 185 Toward US 218 South: Waterloo

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$21.25 one way

$42.49 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 48 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$23.33	$46.66
premium	$4.89	$26.15	$52.31
diesel	$5.61	$30.01	$60.01

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 47.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	40.8	$14.27	$6.52
Efficient EV	34	$11.89	$5.44
EV Truck/SUV	54.4	$19.03	$8.70

Gas CO2

48 kg

EV CO2

16 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Des Moines, IA

Afternoon in Des Moines on Saturday

Local time

3:56 PM

CDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Tripoli, IA

Afternoon in Tripoli on Saturday

Local time

3:56 PM

CDT

Current temp

70°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

18 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 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.

What kind of drive is this?

135.9 mi in 3h across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.

39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 35.2 mi on Northeast Hubbell Road.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East University Avenue.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 135.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway 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 5.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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 Tripoli, IA, road signs point toward Bondurant, Cr D18: Cedar Falls and Broadway Street: Airport.

Bondurant

9.1 mi in | ~13m | via US 65

Cr D18: Cedar Falls

99.2 mi in | ~2h 10m

Broadway Street: Airport

109.7 mi in | ~2h 25m

About the Cities

Starting in Des Moines, IA

Full guide →

Des Moines, capital of Iowa, is in the western region of the American Midwest. Des Moines is the largest city in Iowa and the annual site of the Iowa State Fair and numerous cultural festivals during warm weather months. History enthusiasts will find 110 historic sites in and around the city as part of the Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area. The city appeals to travelers with an interest in the arts who marvel at the architecture of the State Capitol with its five domes, including the large main dome with its gleaming 23-karat gold surface. The city has a good art museum, a symphony that performs in the downtown Civic Center (along with opera, ballet, and other performing arts), and a big annual arts festival that draws visitors from across Iowa and beyond.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h. Total distance: 135.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 35.2 miles on Northeast Hubbell Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Tripoli, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Tripoli, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Des Moines, IA to Tripoli, IA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Olympic Flame Restaurant

The Slow Down Coffee Co.

Olympic Flame Restaurant

HoQ Restaurant

Melbourne Pub & Pool

Burger Shed Restaurant Altoona

Cafe at the Meadows

Tumea & Sons Restaurant

Tsing Tsao Chinese Fast Food

Café Madeleine

The Slow Down Coffee Co.

Most Wanted Coffee

Grounded

Red E Charging Station

Blink Charging Station

University Library Cafe

The Spot

Sub City

The Rhodes Bar

Taylor's

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Des Moines, IA

Tripoli, IA

Same local time

18 degrees warmer at arrival

3h on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Des Moines, IA

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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