The drive from Des Moines, IA to Urbana, IA covers 122 miles and takes about 2h 36m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Lincoln Highway, Northeast Hubbell Road, 73rd Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 37 miles on Lincoln Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.07 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
61 miles from Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 36m. Total distance: 122 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 36m drive with frequent turns across 122 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Lincoln Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 37 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 122 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 1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.1 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.
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...
8
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...
9
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
8
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...
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 Urbana, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Bondurant along the way.
Bondurant
9.1 mi in|~13m|via US 65
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lincoln Highway
37 mi
42m
Northeast Hubbell Road
33.5 mi
39m
73rd Street
11.7 mi
13m
24th Avenue
10 mi
14m
55th Street
7.1 mi
9m
24th Avenue Drive
3.8 mi
5m
I 80
3.4 mi
3m
John MacVicar Freeway
3.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 37 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Moines, IA and Urbana, 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
3.3 mi·4 min·John MacVicar Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 137A-BToward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, DavenportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 137AToward I 80 East: DavenportUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 80
3.4 mi·3 min·I 80
9
Take the exit onto US 65
0.5 mi·1 min·US 65
Exit 142Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, BondurantUse the slight right lane.
10
Turn left onto US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
11
Continue on US 65; IA 330
33 mi·39 min·Northeast Hubbell Road
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
13
Merge onto US 30
37 mi·42 min·Lincoln Highway
14
Continue on US 30
12 mi·13 min·73rd Street
15
Turn left onto CR V66
2.9 mi·5 min·21st Avenue
16
Continue on CR V66
0.1 mi·17 sec·1st Street
17
Turn right onto CR E44
0.3 mi·29 sec·1st Avenue
18
Continue on State Highway 199
0.1 mi·10 sec·State Highway 199
19
Continue on CR E44
2.5 mi·4 min·70th Street
20
Turn left onto US 218
10.0 mi·14 min·24th Avenue
21
Turn straight onto IA 150
0.2 mi·16 sec·State Highway 150
22
Continue on IA 150
1.1 mi·1 min·C Avenue
23
Turn right onto IA 150
0.2 mi·20 sec·West 2nd Street
24
Turn left onto IA 150
3.8 mi·5 min·24th Avenue Drive
25
Turn straight onto IA 150
6.4 mi·8 min·55th Street
26
Enter roundabout onto 55th Street
151 ft·2 sec·55th Street
27
Continue on 55th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·55th Street
28
Turn right onto Ash Avenue
0.2 mi·35 sec·Ash Avenue
29
Turn left onto West Wood Street
427 ft·11 sec·West Wood Street
30
Arrive at destination
West Wood Street
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 61 miles from Des Moines, IA, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37 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 27 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61 miles or 1h 15m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Urbana, 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 122 miles and 2h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 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 Lincoln Highway for about 37 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 61 mi from Des Moines, IA
· 1h 15m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.07 one way
$38.15 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.94
$41.88
premium
$4.89
$23.48
$46.96
diesel
$5.61
$26.94
$53.87
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: 42.7 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
36.6
0
$12.81
$5.86
Efficient EV
30.5
0
$10.67
$4.88
EV Truck/SUV
48.8
0
$17.08
$7.81
Gas CO2
43 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Des Moines, IA
Morning
in Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
6:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Urbana, IA
Morning
in Urbana on Saturday
Local time
6:05 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
2h 36m 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 Urbana, IA covers 122 miles and takes about 2h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Lincoln Highway, Northeast Hubbell Road, 73rd Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 61 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 $19.07 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 demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 122 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.
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 5.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Des Moines, IA to Urbana, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Bondurant along the way.
