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Trip from Des Moines, IA to Coo n Rapids, IA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 35m

Distance

69.3 mi

112 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 28m ★
6 AM
1h 35m
8 AM
1h 49m
10 AM
1h 40m
12 PM
1h 39m
3 PM
1h 41m
5 PM
1h 49m
8 PM
1h 31m

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

Downtown Des Moines, IA, IA

Des Moines, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Coo n Rapids, IA, IA

Coo n Rapids, IA

Emın Alper

Trip Overview

The drive from Des Moines, IA to Coo n Rapids, IA covers 69.3 miles and takes about 1h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on 2nd Avenue, Northwest 2nd Street, I 35 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.83 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.

Midpoint

34.7 miles from Des Moines, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 69.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 35m drive with frequent turns across 69.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
2nd Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Des Moines, IA to Coo n Rapids, IA is easy. At 1h 35m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Des Moines, IA to Coo n Rapids, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
2nd Avenue
Northwest 2nd Street
I 35 South
IA 141 West
Northwest Urbandale Drive
Southeast Grimes Boulevard
Northeast Grimes Boulevard
Northwest 114th Street

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: 2nd Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Des Moines, IA and Coo n Rapids, 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 Northwest 2nd Street

0.9 mi · 1 min · Northwest 2nd Street
4

Turn left onto I 35 South, I 80 West

0.4 mi · 48 sec · I 35 South, I 80 West
5

Merge slight left

7.3 mi · 8 min
6

Take the exit slight right toward IA 141 West: Urbandale, Grimes

0.4 mi · 54 sec · IA 141 West: Urbandale, Grimes
7

Turn right onto Northwest Urbandale Drive

197 ft · 3 sec · Northwest Urbandale Drive
8

Continue on Southeast Grimes Boulevard

2.6 mi · 3 min · Southeast Grimes Boulevard
9

Continue on Northeast Grimes Boulevard

1.0 mi · 1 min · Northeast Grimes Boulevard
10

Continue on Northwest 114th Street

2.6 mi · 3 min · Northwest 114th Street
11

Continue on Northwest Granger Drive

16 mi · 18 min · Northwest Granger Drive
12

Continue on Northwest Granger Drive

0.9 mi · 1 min · Northwest Granger Drive
13

Continue on George P. Soumas Memorial Highway

21 mi · 28 min · George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
14

Continue on Railway Street

0.5 mi · 55 sec · Railway Street
15

Continue on George P. Soumas Memorial Highway

13 mi · 18 min · George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
16

Turn right onto South 5th Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · South 5th Avenue
17

Turn right onto Main Street

7 ft · Main Street
18

Arrive at your destination

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 34.7 miles from Des Moines, IA, or about 47m into the drive.

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 15 miles or 20m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 34.7 miles or 47m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 20m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Coo n Rapids, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Des Moines, IA

This is one driving day of about 69.3 miles and 1h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Des Moines, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 34.7 mi from Des Moines, IA · 47m into the drive

city in Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Madrid, IA

35 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

Ankeny, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Madrid, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 34.7 miles from Des Moines, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Coo n Rapids, IA

The final approach into Coo n Rapids, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$10.83 one way

$21.67 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 24 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $11.90 $23.79
premium $4.89 $13.34 $26.67
diesel $5.61 $15.30 $30.60

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$11

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$36–$61

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 24.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 20.8 0 $7.28 $3.33
Efficient EV 17.3 0 $6.06 $2.77
EV Truck/SUV 27.7 0 $9.70 $4.44

Gas CO2

24 kg

EV CO2

8 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 Thursday

Local time

11:58 AM

CDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Coo n Rapids, IA

Morning in Coo n Rapids on Thursday

Local time

11:58 AM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

73°F

Madrid, IA

35 mi in

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

22 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

1h 35m 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 Coo n Rapids, IA covers 69.3 miles and takes about 1h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 2nd Avenue, Northwest 2nd Street, I 35 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 34.7 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 $10.83 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.
The drive from Des Moines, IA to Coo n Rapids, IA is easy. At 1h 35m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Des Moines, IA to Coo n Rapids, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Des Moines, IA to Coo n Rapids, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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